Kyoto imposes massive tourism tax on visitors

The Japanese city of Kyoto, struggling to deal with overwhelming crowds of tourists, this week unveiled plans for a whopping increased accommodation tax. 

Taxes will rise to up to 10,000 yen (about $100) per person, per night - starting from March 1, city officials announced.

The new rate, a tenfold jump from the current 1,000 yen/$10 maximum, is designed to fund infrastructure improvements and initiatives aimed at easing congestion across the city’s popular districts, news hub Travel Mole reported. .

Under the new tiered system, the 10,000-yen levy will apply to hotel stays costing 100,000 yen or more per night. Kyoto will then have the highest lodging tax in Japan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.

City officials say the measure comes after years of frustration over constant tourist crowds; from packed city buses to throngs of visitors overwhelming historic sites and narrow streets.

In its application to the ministry earlier this year, Kyoto argued that “tourists must also share the cost of measures against overtourism.” The increase marks the first adjustment since the tax was introduced in 2018.

Students and teachers on school trips will remain exempt from the taxes.

Following the increase, Kyoto expects its annual lodging tax revenue to nearly double from 5.9 billion yen this fiscal year to 12.6 billion yen next year, based on city projections. 

The change comes amid a surge in luxury hotel development. Tokyo-based Imperial Hotel Ltd. is set to open Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, in March 2026 in the city’s Higashiyama Ward. 

The property will incorporate the façade of Yasaka Hall, a registered cultural property in Kyoto’s Gion district; regarded as the heart of geisha culture. Room rates are expected to start at 164,500 yen per night.

Images: Winsor Dobbin

Busy Kyoto plans to hoist tourism tax

Kyoto is one of the Japanese cities overwhelmed by tourists: much like Venice in Italy.

The ancient city, the former capital, plans to hike hotel tax rates in a bid to reduce the number of visitors it receives.

From next year guests at hotels and other accommodations could pay as much as 10,000 yen (just over $100 Aus) per person per night, news portal Travel Mole reports.

Kyoto city implemented a tax five years ago and it is charged on a sliding scale based on the nightly room rates.

Currently, guests pay 200 yen per night for a room costing less than 20,000 yen; 500 yen for one priced up to 49,999 yen; and 1,000 yen for a stay of 50,000 yen or more.

Kyoto city officials are planning to implement the new hotel tax rates - which will then be based on five pricing tiers - in 2026.

Guests will pay 200 yen per night for a stay costing less 6,000 yen up to a maximum of 10,000 yen for accommodation costing 100,000 yen or more.

The city’s government expects the new fees to double revenue to tackle over-tourism issues.

Kyoto is a small city, but is one of the top tourist destinations in Japan. It has multi-lingual signage to aid visitors to navigate around the main points of interest.

Kyoto’s proposed 10,000 yen tax would be the highest flat-rate hotel tax in the country.

When tourists cannot behave themselves

Just like Venice and Machu Picchu in Peru, the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto has had enough of badly behaved tourists.

Visitors will be banned from entering private alleys in Kyoto's famous geisha district, as the ancient city tackles over-tourism, The Japan Times reported.

Kyoto residents have long expressed frustration with tourists, especially in the city's Gion district, home to teahouses where geiko - as geisha are locally known - and their young maiko apprentices, perform their duties.

In December, a Gion district council comprised of residents urged the city of Kyoto to tackle the issue, saying their neighbourhood "is not a theme park".

One member previously told Japanese media about an instance of a maiko's kimono being torn and another who had a cigarette butt put in her collar.

Overcrowding and ‘unruly’ behaviour, including tourists eager to get selfies with geishas, are at the heart of the problem.

“We don’t want to do this, but we’re desperate,” local council member Isokazu Ota said.

“We are going to put up signs in April that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets.”

The rest of this captivating city of many temples welcomes tourists. See https://kyoto.travel/en/ for suggestions, 

Kyoto is calling all Nintendo fans

Japanese electronics and video game company Nintendo has unveiled plans to convert one of its former factories into the world’s first Nintendo museum. 

The Nintendo Uji Ogura Plant in Kyoto, which is to be the site of the new museum, is one of Nintendo’s older factories. 

Constructed in 1969, the Uji Ogura Plant was used to make playing cards and hanafuda cards, a traditional game played in Japan and throughout Asia that is sometimes referred to as “the battle of the flowers” for its floral designs, as well as for product repairs, Travel Mole reported. 

The building has been empty since its functions were transferred to a new Uji plant in 2016.

Nintendo, which began as a producer of playing cards in 1889, has achieved success with its game consoles as well as with the Mario, Legend of Zelda and Pokémon media franchises.

In 2020 Nintendo was named Japan’s richest company. 

The release of the new game Animal Crossing, New Horizons coincided with the pandemic lockdown, which contributed to record sales of the Nintendo Switch handheld gaming system. 

Profits increased by 34% as the company earned over $16 billion in sales.

Pokémon playing cards have also found renewed interest during the pandemic, with a rare sealed Pokémon card set fetching $408,000 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas.

The museum, tentatively titled the Nintendo Gallery, will showcase the company’s historic products as well as related exhibits and game experiences. It is scheduled to open in 2024, Nintendo said in a press release.