Japan’s city of Kyoto is tightening tourism controls after record visitor numbers placed pressure on its infrastructure and historic districts, with authorities confirming new access restrictions and a significant increase in accommodation taxes.
The city recorded about 11 million visitors in 2024, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, following a nationwide surge that saw 3.3 million tourists enter Japan in September alone.
In response, officials have restricted tourist access to certain alleyways where geisha work and approved a new per-night accommodation tax due to take effect in March, with the highest hotel tier facing a tenfold increase and lower tiers seeing doubled or quadrupled charges.
The measures are aimed at managing over-tourism, protecting cultural areas, and easing congestion at popular sites such as temples, markets and historic neighbourhoods, as Kyoto continues to experience sustained growth in international and domestic tourism.
Image credit: Sorasak
