Hotel and ryokan prices in popular Japanese cities have risen sharply. What’s a lesser-known reason beyond simple demand?
Question 5 of 5
Beyond simple supply and demand, Kyoto raised its accommodation tax dramatically starting March 1, 2026, moving from a maximum of ¥1,000 per person per night to as much as ¥10,000 for stays priced at ¥100,000 or more, a roughly tenfold jump at the luxury end, with smaller increases across every price tier. City officials say the extra revenue, expected to more than double what the tax previously raised, will fund crowd-management measures, infrastructure, and preservation of historic sites strained by record visitor numbers. Kyoto isn't alone: Japan's national departure tax, charged to everyone leaving the country, also tripled from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 as of July 1, 2026. None of this shows up in the advertised nightly room rate, so it's worth budgeting extra per night and per person on a multi-city Japan trip.
Next question
