Kyoto Raises Accommodation Tax For Up To 10,000 Yen per Night
Many Japanese cities and municipalities are struggling to cope with the influx of tourists due to the depressed value of Yen Yen, while Western hotels charge outrageous prices. Kyoto has charged an accommodation tax since 2018, but it will significantly increase in 2026, just in […]
Many Japanese cities and municipalities are struggling to cope with the influx of tourists due to the depressed value of Yen Yen, while Western hotels charge outrageous prices.
Kyoto has charged an accommodation tax since 2018, but it will significantly increase in 2026, just in time for next year’s Sakura season.
Accommodation tax structure March 2026:
Less than ¥6,000 per night = ¥200
¥6,000 to ¥19,999 per night = ¥400
¥20,000 to ¥49,999 per night = ¥1,000
¥50,000 to ¥99,999 per night = ¥4,000
¥100,000+ per night = ¥10,000
Kyoto expects to collect 13 billion yen from this tax, which is roughly $83M
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed my six months in Japan in 2020, but the “Golden Triangle” of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto has been an utter circus since the country reopened for tourists and the yen tanked.
The country is still charming, but you must avoid the cities and places that have become tourist traps and visit off-season.
I will be back in the country in March, but I will probably leave before the Sakura season begins later that month.
