By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-26 10:51:46 | Updated at 2025-03-29 13:52:43
3 days ago
Lawmakers in the Japanese city of Kyoto have approved a plan to significantly increase the accommodation tax for visitors from March next year in a bid to curb overtourism.
The city assembly of the ancient capital on Tuesday passed the government’s proposal to raise the tax, which will be capped at 10,000 yen (US$67) per person each night, according to the Kyodo News agency.
This rate will apply to the most expensive accommodation costing at least 100,000 yen per person each night.
The proposal comes as Kyoto and other Japanese cities continue to experience overtourism as international travellers flock to Japan, taking advantage of the weaker yen. Nearly 37 million foreigners visited Japan last year, according to government data.
Kyoto will have the highest accommodation tax in Japan after the plan is implemented.
With the revision, a tax of 4,000 yen per person each night will apply for rooms costing between 50,000 yen and 99,999 yen.
