Japan introduces new tourist tax

The Japanese government has decided to introduce a new tourist tax, specifically an additional tax on accommodation. The new regulations will come into force in autumn 2025 and will only apply to part of Japan: at the moment, it has been confirmed that the new tax will apply in the prefectures of Hiroshima and Miyagi, as well as in five cities in Hokkaido prefecture, two in Gifu prefecture, and one each in Miyagi and Shimane prefectures. The introduction of the tax was approved by Seiichiro Murakami, the Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The amount of the new tax will range from 100 to 500 yen (0.6-3 euros), depending on the decision of the local government. The money raised from the new tax on tourists is to be used to combat overtourism, i.e. the excessive number of tourists who have been visiting Japan in droves since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: kyodonews.net