Kyoto to Hike Lodging Taxes to 10,000 Yen Per Night in Five Tiers Starting March 2026

Jan 14, 2025, 09:20 AM

Kyoto, a popular tourist destination in Japan, plans to increase its lodging taxes starting in March 2026. The city's authorities announced that the maximum rate for the accommodation tax will be raised to 10,000 yen per person per night, marking a significant hike from the current maximum of 1,000 yen. The new tax structure will be divided into five tiers, with rates ranging from 200 yen for rooms costing less than 6,000 yen per night to the new top rate of 10,000 yen for accommodations priced at 100,000 yen or more per night. The increase aims to address issues related to overtourism and to fund sustainable tourism initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and disaster preparedness measures. The move is expected to double the city's tax revenue from lodging to about 12.6 billion yen annually.