Travellers heading from Canada to Japan will soon face higher fees to stay in one of the country&#8217;s most popular cities.
Japan remains a popular destination for tourists from Canada. According to the Japan National Tourism Office of Toronto (JNTO), a record <a href="https://www.paxnews.com/news/events/record-breaking-canadian-visits-fuel-japans-tourism-boom-hidden-gems-take-spotlight" target="_blank">580,000 Canadians visited Japan in 2024</a>, representing a 36 per cent increase from the previous year.
But if you&#8217;re planning a trip to Kyoto, be prepared to pay a much higher accommodation tax. The new rate will reach up to ¥10,000 (C$91.59) a night per person — the highest accommodation tax ever introduced in the country, reports <a href="https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16071465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Asahi Shimbun</a>.
Kyoto first implemented the tax in October 2018 to help improve the city&#8217;s infrastructure, but on Oct. 3, officials approved the steep hike that will take effect on March 1, 2026.
<div id="attachment_2201396" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2201396" class="size-full wp-image-2201396" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-scaled.jpg" alt="canada to japan" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2552772595-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />maodoltee/Shutterstock</div>
Known for its Shinto shrines, gardens, and geisha culture, Kyoto has long been a popular destination for tourists. However, in recent years, the ancient city has been struggling with the impact of overtourism.
The per-person tax hike isn&#8217;t too bad if you&#8217;re staying in budget accommodations, but it goes up significantly for more luxurious spots. Below is the breakdown:
<div id="attachment_2201419" style="width: 772px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2201419" class="size-full wp-image-2201419" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-09-at-3.15.00 PM.png" alt="canada to japan" width="762" height="257" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-09-at-3.15.00 PM.png 762w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-09-at-3.15.00 PM-500x169.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px" />Source: The Asahi Shimbun</div>
The increase is expected to generate an estimated ¥12.6 billion (approximately C$115.4 million) in the next fiscal year. The money raised will be used to enhance the visitor experience in Kyoto, including providing more information services in various languages, implementing etiquette campaigns, and introducing a new bus route from Kyoto Station to the popular Higashiyama District.
&#8220;Tourists also must bear the cost of countermeasures against overtourism,&#8221; stated city officials.
It&#8217;s not the first time that Kyoto officials have taken action to control the effects of tourism in the city.
<div id="attachment_2201401" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2201401" class="size-full wp-image-2201401" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-scaled.jpg" alt="kyoto accommodation tax" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_407135920-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />Lee Yiu Tung/Shutterstock</div>
In April, <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/tourists-to-be-banned-from-private-alleys-in-kyotos-geisha-district?ref=inline-article" target="_blank">tourists were banned</a> from entering private alleys in Gion, Kyoto&#8217;s famous geisha district, after reports of visitors harassing geishas for photos. Elsewhere in Japan, local officials in the town of Fujikawaguchiko <a href="https://dailyhive.com/canada/japan-mount-fuji" target="_blank">blocked a popular view of Mount Fuji</a> as tourists crowded sidewalks and disrupted traffic to capture an iconic shot of a Lawson convenience store with the mountain in the background.
Popular destinations in <a href="https://dailyhive.com/canada/greece-santorini-mykonos-canadian-fee" target="_blank">Greece</a> and <a href="https://dailyhive.com/canada/greece-santorini-mykonos-canadian-fee">Mexico</a> have also begun charging tourists fees to mitigate the impact of tourism.
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Travellers heading from Canada to Japan will soon face higher fees to stay in one of the country's most popular cities.