Busy Kyoto plans to hoist tourism tax

Kyoto is one of the Japanese cities overwhelmed by tourists: much like Venice in Italy.

The ancient city, the former capital, plans to hike hotel tax rates in a bid to reduce the number of visitors it receives.

From next year guests at hotels and other accommodations could pay as much as 10,000 yen (just over $100 Aus) per person per night, news portal Travel Mole reports.

Kyoto city implemented a tax five years ago and it is charged on a sliding scale based on the nightly room rates.

Currently, guests pay 200 yen per night for a room costing less than 20,000 yen; 500 yen for one priced up to 49,999 yen; and 1,000 yen for a stay of 50,000 yen or more.

Kyoto city officials are planning to implement the new hotel tax rates - which will then be based on five pricing tiers - in 2026.

Guests will pay 200 yen per night for a stay costing less 6,000 yen up to a maximum of 10,000 yen for accommodation costing 100,000 yen or more.

The city’s government expects the new fees to double revenue to tackle over-tourism issues.

Kyoto is a small city, but is one of the top tourist destinations in Japan. It has multi-lingual signage to aid visitors to navigate around the main points of interest.

Kyoto’s proposed 10,000 yen tax would be the highest flat-rate hotel tax in the country.