A beautiful city in a country frequently named among the friendliest in the world has increased its tourist tax from the start of this month. Kyoto City is the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, located in the Kansai region of Honshu, Japan’s largest island.

Japan generally has a stellar reputation among holidaymakers, with one traveller writing about their experiences on Quora calling it the world’s “friendliest” destination, saying “I, as a tourist, felt like I was treated as a king”. Kyoto City made the top 10 of CN Traveller friendliest cities in the world: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, saying it “stole the hearts of our readers”. Kyoto, which has a population of around 1.4million, is famed for its array of Buddhist temples, shrines, and impressive palaces, and along with Osaka is a popular alternative to visiting the capital, Tokyo.

And while the city is keen to stress that visitors are valued and welcome, its popularity has led to some tourist hotspots being overwhelmed.

It’s expected to come under renewed pressure in the cherry blossom season, a major draw for holidaymakers and content creators.

In a bid to protect important sites and local infrastructure, the city previously introduced an accommodation tax in 2018. It has seen visitors staying in various types of lodgings, including hotels, ryokans, and Airbnbs, charged between ¥200 to ¥1,000 (around 95p to £4.77) per night, with the rate based on the cost of your hotel room per night.

This includes the service charge, but not meals or consumption tax.

But under new rules in effect from Sunday (March 1, 2026), the maximum rate is much higher, rising as high as ¥10,000 (£47.68) per night for luxury options, as per TimeOut.

These are the rates visitors to Kyoto City can expect from now on based on exchange rates at the time of writing.

• Budget hotels with a nightly cost of ¥6,000 (£28.61) are still taxed at ¥200 (95p per night).
• ¥6,000–¥19,999 (£28.61 to £95.36) – ¥400 (£1.90 per night)
• ¥20,000–¥49,999 (£95.37 to 238.42): ¥1,000 (£4.77 per night)
• ¥50,000–¥99,999 (£238.42 to £476.84): ¥4,000 (£19.07p per night)
• ¥100,000 (476.85) and above: ¥10,000 (£47.68 per night

You’ll generally be hit with the charge by the hotel when you check in, but it may be included upfront if you book via a travel agency or booking website.

The Kyoto City Council says the revenue this charges generate will have various benefits for the city, such as addressing overtourism issues, improving infrastructure for visitors and locals, and funding restoration and protection of the city’s rich historical and cultural treasures.

You can find out more about the new tourist tax rates here.