Hokkaido sites debut resident discounts, charging tourists more

Travel & Leisure

Northern Japan prefecture sidesteps concerns over discrimination by nationality

The Sapporo TV Tower has raised entry fees for nonresidents to cover higher operating costs. (Photo by Yasuaki Takao)

YASUAKI TAKAO

February 18, 2026 02:44 JST

SAPPORO, Japan — In the northernmost Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido, discounts based on local residency have become the mainstream model for implementing two-tiered pricing structures for tourists.