Look out, Canadians: if you’re heading to Japan, you’ll have to fork over some extra cash to stay in a certain popular city.
But this doesn’t just apply to Canada’s residents. In an effort to decrease overtourism, all tourists will have to pay more if they want to bunk down in one of Japan’s most iconic locations.
Accommodation Tax In Kyoto
Although the accommodation tax is not new to Japan, this is the highest it has ever been in the country. Specifically, this price increase is coming to Kyoto, Japan’s other most-visited city besides the legendary Tokyo.
The tax applies specifically to hotels– accommodations– and will increase gradually depending on your hotel’s nightly rates. The highest tax you can be hit with is ¥10,000, which is about C$88. But that’s only if you’re staying in accommodations that are $916 CAD and up. If you’re staying in cheaper hotels, then the tax can be as low as $1.83 CAD a night. Below is a breakdown of all the tax ranges from Kyoto City Tourism Association.
- Accommodation rate: Under ¥6,000 (C$53)
- Tax per person per night: ¥200 (C$1.80)
- Accommodation rate: ¥6,000 (C$53) to less than ¥20,000 (C$176)
- Tax per person per night: ¥400 (C$3.50)
- Accommodation rate: ¥20,000 (C$176) to less than ¥50,000 (C$439)
- Tax per person per night: ¥1,000 (C$8.80)
- Accommodation rate: ¥50,000 (C$439) to less than ¥100,000 ($878)
- Tax per person per night: ¥4,000 (C$35)
- Accommodation rate: ¥100,000 ($878) and more
- Tax per person per night: ¥10,000 ($88)
While the lower end tax ranges are definitely not terrible, this increase is a sign that Kyoto is cracking down on its overtourism problem.
Overtourism In Kyoto
Kyoto isn’t one of Japan’s biggest hot spots for no reason. The country’s previous capital, this city is known for its rich history, beautiful architecture, and the feeling that you’re stepping straight into Japan’s past. While Tokyo is all about that modern city life, Kyoto is more for that heritage experience.
But with that comes tourists– a lot of them. Japan is one of Canada’s more popular travel destinations with 580,000 Canadians having visited in 2024, a record-breaking high.
In April, Kyoto’s geisha district Gion experienced a number of reports of tourists bothering geishas for photos. Tourists were then banned from entering private alleys, sparking further conversation on Kyoto’s overtourism problem.
The accommodation tax in Kyoto is set to go into effect on March 1, 2026, and was approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
