Kyoto tackles overtourism with new $65 per night hotel tax starting 2026

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Japan’s ancient capital is taking drastic steps to rein in overtourism.

Starting in March 2026, Kyoto will introduce the highest accommodation tax in Japan, charging visitors more to stay in the city’s hotels, inns and guesthouses.

Under the new system, tourists at high-end hotels could pay up to ¥10,000 (about $65) per person, per night, in tourism taxes: a tenfold increase from current rates.

Budget travelers will also see jumps from about ¥200 to ¥400 (about $1.30 to $2.60), while mid-range rooms will jump from ¥500 to ¥1,000 (about $3.30 to $6.50) per person.

COASTAL CITY GREENLIGHTS NEW VISITOR TAX AMID WIDESPREAD OVERTOURISM TREND

Woman traveling checking in at desk.

Hotel rates across Kyoto are expected to climb as the city doubles down on funding for infrastructure and crowd control. (iStock)

City officials say the extra funds are expected to more than double Kyoto’s tourism tax revenue and will go toward managing crowds, preserving cultural sites, and easing strain on local infrastructure.

LOCALS RANT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD NOW ‘LIKE DISNEYLAND’ AS POST-OLYMPICS TOURISM SURGES

When applying to hike the fee, Kyoto travel authorities insisted that tourists should bear the cost of maintaining the very attractions that draw them into the city.

People enjoying a beautiful day in Kyoto, Japan.

Locals in Kyoto neighborhoods have complained of overcrowding and disrespectful tourist behavior. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images)

While tourism drives Kyoto’s economy, many residents say the city has become nearly unlivable in peak seasons. Narrow streets clogged with selfie-snapping visitors, and popular districts like Gion, known for its traditional tea houses and geisha, have attempted to crack down on tourists after incidents of trespassing and aggressive photography. Japanese media reports these efforts have been unsuccessful.

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The new tax aims to fund enforcement and reduce friction between visitors and locals, but critics warn it may not go far enough. Japan welcomed more than 35 million foreign tourists in 2024, and officials hope to reach 60 million by 2030.

Suitcases loaded onto a bus.

The city hopes higher hotel fees will fund crowd control and protect Kyoto’s cultural heritage from mass tourism. (iStock)

Kyoto isn’t alone in feeling the squeeze. Fox News Digital previously reported that Mount Fuji, another of Japan’s iconic destinations, is dealing with its own side effects of booming tourism.

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Trash, overcrowding and safety concerns have grown so severe that officials have begun calling the landmark a “trash mountain.”