Hokkaido among nearly 30 Japan localities adopting hotel tax this year

Travel & Leisure

Prefectures and cities seek new funding to cope with surging tourism

About 30 local governments in Japan are set to start charging taxes on hotel stays, in hopes of using the revenue to tackle challenges from heavy tourism. (Photo by Shintaro Ino)

TAIZO WADA

January 8, 2026 07:19 JST

TOKYO — Around 30 local governments in Japan plan to introduce lodging taxes this year, bringing the total to nearly 50, as they seek to secure funding to improve tourism infrastructure.