As record numbers of tourists continue to visit Japan, many tourism businesses and destinations across the country are raising prices and charging foreign visitors more to enjoy certain products and experiences.
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | July 4, 2024
Himeji Castle considering major price hike for foreign tourists
Tourists are flocking to Japan to take advantage of the weak yen, and the rise in overseas visitor numbers has led many businesses and tourist attractions to adjust their prices, with people paying more for certain experiences.
Last week, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) revealed that the number of overseas travelers in May increased by 9.6% compared to May 2019, marking the third consecutive month this year in which tourist numbers exceeded three million.
So far this year, Mount Fuji has limited the number of visitors per day to 4,000 and the iconic landmark has also introduced fees for climbing the most popular trails.
Meanwhile, tourist sites, including cultural heritage sites, are considering a two-tier ticket system with a general fee for locals and an increased fee for visiting tourists, with the funds to be used to cover maintenance and preservation costs that locals already pay in taxes.
“Foreign tourists come here once in their lifetime, but locals enjoy it regularly,” said Kiyomoto Hideyasu, mayor of Himeji city, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Himeji Castle. The World Heritage attraction is reportedly considering quadrupling admission fees just for foreign tourists.
Businesses in high-traffic areas have also raised prices, with restaurants and other tourist businesses imposing a steep “foreigner tax” that they say is helping them “keep up with demand.”
Cities such as Osaka are also considering introducing individual hotel fees, especially as the city is set to host the World Expo in 2025 and is expected to see a huge increase in tourism.
Perhaps the most telling statistic about Japan’s tourism boom is the news that it is now the country’s second-largest export, outsourced only to the highly profitable automobile industry. Tourism in Japan has grown five-fold over the past decade.
American tourists in particular are interested in visiting Japan, with 900,000 American tourists visiting Japan in the first five months of 2024, a 17.4% increase from the previous year. Demand is surging across Asia Pacific, attracting travelers from China as well as the United States and other parts of North America. Airbnb also reported a 130% increase in bookings by American guests in Japan compared to the previous year.
