Kyoto is about to make history. Starting March 1, 2026, the city will charge visitors an overnight accommodation tax that could reach 10,000 yen per person. The move aims to reduce tourist congestion on buses, roads, and historical sites.
This new rate is a big jump from the previous maximum of 1,000 yen. City officials say all the revenue will be spent on improving infrastructure and tackling congestion in Kyoto.
Under the tiered system, guests staying in rooms costing ¥100,000 or more per night will face the full ¥10,000 tax. Lower-priced accommodations will see smaller increases based on nightly rates.
On October 3, Japan's Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications signed the revised plan of Kyoto. Officials confirmed that this would be the highest hotel tax in the country.
City leaders have long grappled with the harms of overtourism. Overcrowded public buses, busy roads, and widespread wear and tear at cultural sites have forced authorities to take action.
Back in March, Kyoto submitted its proposal to the ministry, emphasizing that "visitors should also share the costs of combating overtourism."
This is the first adjustment since the housing tax was implemented in October 2018.
Here’s how the new rates break down:
- Stays under ¥6,000 per night: still ¥200
- ¥6,000 to under ¥20,000: raised from ¥200 to ¥400
- ¥20,000 to under ¥50,000: raised from ¥500 to ¥1,000
- ¥50,000 to under ¥100,000: raised from ¥1,000 to ¥4,000
- ¥100,000 or more: raised from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000
School trip students and their chaperones will remain exempt from the tax.
With the new system, Kyoto expects its lodging tax revenue to nearly double — from about ¥5.91 billion this fiscal year to an estimated ¥12.6 billion next year.
Luxury hotels are opening across the city. Tokyo's Imperial Hotel Co. plans to open the Kyoto Imperial Hotel in Higashiyama in March 2026. The building will feature the preserved façade of Yasaka Kaikan in Gion, a nationally registered cultural property and center of the geisha tradition.
Rooms at the new hotel will start at ¥164,500 per night, which would put them in the highest tax bracket.
