일본, 45년 만에 비자료 5배 인상

Did you know that Japan kept the same visa price for 45 years? That is a long time.

Recently, Japan made a big change. The government raised visa fees. The new fees are five times higher than the old ones. This is the first time Japan raised these fees since 1978. That year was almost half a century ago.

Why did Japan do this? The government wants more money. More visitors come to Japan every year. The country needs money to manage airports, hotels, and roads. Higher fees can help pay for these things.

But will tourists stop coming? The Japanese government does not think so. Officials say the price increase will not hurt tourism. They believe people still want to visit Japan very much. Japan has beautiful temples, delicious food, and friendly people. These things do not change with price.

Tourists spend money when they visit a country. They buy food, stay in hotels, and take tours. This money helps local businesses grow. So the government hopes: higher visa fees plus more visitors equals more money for Japan.

Some people worry, of course. They ask: will expensive visas keep poor travelers away? Will backpackers choose other countries instead? These are good questions. But Japan's leaders believe the country is special enough. People will pay more to come.

Times change. Prices go up. Japan waited a very long time to make this change. Now we will see what happens next.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.