The mayor is considering raising the entrance fee for foreign visitors to Himeji Castle. (Source: Getty)
Australian tourists could soon be charged up to six times more to visit popular Japanese destinations, as they flock to Japan in droves to take advantage of a weak yen.
According to the Japan Tourism Board, the number of Australians visiting Japan in the first three months of this year reached a record high of 252,900, well above pre-pandemic levels and compared with 172,896 travellers visiting Japan in the same period in 2019.
With tourism booming and the dollar weak, some Japanese government officials believe now is the right time to introduce higher entrance fees for foreign tourists visiting historical sites.
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The mayor of Himeji city in the Kansai region, Kiyomoto Hideyasu, said he was considering raising entrance fees for foreigners to Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which would create a “dual pricing system” for foreigners and local residents.
“Foreign tourists come here at least once in their lifetime, but locals enjoy coming here regularly,” Major Kiyomoto told a news conference.
Currently, admission to the castle is 1,000 yen (about $9 Australian) for all visitors.
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Mayor Kiyomoto said tourists visiting the castle would pay the equivalent of $45, while locals would pay $7.
According to the government, approximately 1.48 million people will visit Himeji Castle in 2023, of which 452,300 will be foreigners.
Like Himeji Castle, Mount Fuji has also faced calls to raise the fees for tourists to climb the mountain. The iconic destination recently imposed a mandatory fee of 2,000 yen (about $18.60) and capped the number of climbers per day at 4,000.
Tourists near the trail to Mount Fuji in Japan. (Credit: Getty)
Meanwhile, some Japanese restaurants have reportedly introduced two-tiered pricing systems for tourists and locals.
The story continues
An all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo, offers local Japanese people a 1,000 yen discount on their meal in exchange for charging foreigners a higher price.
Tamatebako restaurant owner Shogo Yonemitsu told ABC the influx of tourists has forced him to hire English-speaking staff and their wages have risen slightly.
This comes as residents of Gion, Kyoto’s famous entertainment district, urged city authorities to take action amid a surge in complaints that the area’s quaint streets are being turned into “theme parks.”
Local official Ota Isoo said some areas had been closed to tourists and signs had been installed “telling tourists not to enter private roads.”
Camera-toting tourists who arrive hoping to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous kimono-clad geisha and apprentice maiko will be warned that they will be fined 10,000 yen (about 100 Australian dollars).
Bali imposes “tax” on tourists
It’s not the only popular Australian destination cracking down on tourists.
Bali introduced a foreign tourist tax of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (about $15) on February 14 this year. The tax, which tourists pay on top of the $50 visa fee they pay on arrival, was introduced to protect Bali’s cultural heritage and the local environment.
But some now believe the tax is too low, and the local People’s Representative Council has proposed increasing it five-fold, to about $75.
Venice has also introduced a fee for day-trippers visiting the city during peak season and times, which is 5 euros, or about $8.
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