More Japan tourist hot spots imposing hotel taxes to fund promotions

The collected tax goes toward tourism-related costs, including for maintaining free public Wi-Fi and operating tourism information centers.

With the recent return of international tourists, the total is expected to recover in fiscal 2023 to about 1.7 billion yen, it said. But that figure falls well short of covering the capital's outlay on tourism promotion in the same year, which is forecast to total around 26.4 billion yen.

Do we really need to overspend by nearly 25 billion yen every year for tourism information centers? — particularly when so much information is freely available on the internet these days.

A bit annoying to pay a tax to encourage other people to do something that you are already doing.

Notice anything here?

Okinawa, which DEPENDS on Tourism DOESN’T charge this…at ALL.

Feeling ripped off yet ?

maintaining free public Wi-Fi and operating tourism information centers.

Free Wi-Fi, do they mean Wi-Fi that only can be connected at maximum one hour? They even charged that using Tourist Tax. It's inconvinient to use, it's more comfortable just to rent Wifi.

https://en.wtmnews.net/202206071085

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/07/09/digital/wireless-options-for-visitors-to-tokyo/

The cities of Kanazawa and Kyoto require guests to pay flat fees of 500 yen and 1,000 yen per night, respectively.

Make money out from nothing while they can.

Do we really need to overspend by nearly 25 billion yen every year for tourism information centers? — particularly when so much information is freely available on the internet these days.

One to two staffs on the counter, with tons of useless pamphlet, that's why to get plenty money for anyone that run those centers.

Promoting tourism in Japan is a waste of money and these taxes are annoying. The annoying signs in hotels about the taxes just make the local governments out to be money grabbing idiots with no sense of directive. Granted 100 JPY or 200 JPY are just drops in the bucket to foreigners taking advantage of Japan's extremely weak currency. And, have any of you seen the ridiculous way they advertise local areas? It's pointless, utterly pointless.

cashing in on one of the few industries that generate profits--tourism. I don’t like it when I need a hotel, but I can’t really blame 'em. The last few decades have been an economic free fall.

More taxes! This is why I left Japan. Stagnant salaries for twenty years with taxes and the cost of living ever increasing. You be one a financial prisoner.

There are way too many tourists here now. Anything to deter them from coming is a good thing.

There are way too many tourists here now. Anything to deter them from coming is a good thing.

You’re going to be really annoyed when they quickly make up the 30% they lost compared to pre-Covid.

And even more annoyed when they become the France of Asia. Japan has enormous potential for tourism, it has barely begun to realize it’s potential.

The problem is, the tax not only hits foreign tourists, but anybody who visits these places. There are so many people that travel to Tokyo for business and they have to pay the tax even though it has nothing to do with tourism.

Should not be charged to people who live here.

I am quite sure this is happening under the table throughout Tokyo in some areas of business…

https://youtube.com/shorts/0iOIxYMTUKk?feature=share

well its way how to make more money and milk foreign tourists more.

dont expect that any extra money will end at hotels staff pockets.no barman,no chef,no housekeeper will get single yen more from it.

as these will be used for "promotion" as possibly hotel owner will need buy new Toyota Century...to be used on sunny Sundays at golf outings with friends from business...

The practice of imposing municipal accommodation taxes on hotel guests has been spreading across Japan as popular tourist areas look to generate funds to use in promoting themselves to travelers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On top of the GoTo and government subsidies paid out during the pandemic to hotel owners who had just laid off staff with no support?

And are now moaning about staff shortages?

Socialism for the rich at work.

GREEED

Speed

short and exact.

Okinawa, which DEPENDS on Tourism DOESN’T charge this…at ALL.

People forget that Ishihara Shintaro pushed this through, and Okinawa doesnt have a political leader like him, who can do the same. The hotels and resort owners are going to push back big time on this, and they have plenty of clout over Denny!

GREEED

Sums up the entire agenda.

Got more than my fill of "tourist hot spots" years ago. When they start taxing the shoreline walkways, beaches and pubs, then I'll have to throw up my hands and utter a few harrumphs in frustration.

So, let me see if I get this. Hotels and other places offer promotions. However, they are taxing the tourists for these promotions. Is that right? That sucks! I'll let my friends overseas know about this and other extra charges. This seems similar to my last company that was supposedly going to give us our salary bonus. However, that bonus was based on their calculations based on their bonus tax and percentage based on the classes we taught, rather than the traditional 15 months salary for 12 months work. Thank goodness this company is out of business.

Just further proof of how badly Japan fumbled its reopening.

It doesn't matter, though. No matter how much they screw up, Japan will get a million more chances because of the sheer extent to which their pop culture has infiltrated the rest of the world. Just goes to show, that if you're a foreigner, even if you're only here for like a week, they will find a way to leech every last yen they can out of you.

100 yen per person per night for stays costing between 10,000 yen and 15,000 yen and 200 yen per night for rooms over 15,000 yen.

The cities of Kanazawa and Kyoto require guests to pay flat fees of 500 yen and 1,000 yen per night, respectively.

So at most a tourist has to pay about $7 for the tax. If they can’t afford $7 they should not be in Japan.

cashing in on one of the few industries that generate profits

Really?

Major Japanese firms expect FY2023 net profit to rise 4% to record high

https://japantoday.com/category/business/major-japan-firms-expect-fy-2023-net-profit-to-rise-4-to-record-high

Being a tourist itself is already doing promotions about the place I visit in Japan. That tax should be paid to me too because I also promote Japan in my own way. Rip off!

So, let me see if I get this. Hotels and other places offer promotions.

No. The cities are promoting themselves and creating common infrastructure for tourists.

However, they are taxing the tourists for these promotions. Is that right?

Yes, that is generally how accomodation taxes work.

Accomodation taxes are not a concept unique to Japan. Why is everyone so shellshocked about this? Because the hotels and the cities tell you about them?

The collected tax goes toward tourism-related costs, including for maintaining free public Wi-Fi

Whilst out and about in Tokyo or anywhere else in Japan, I have never had wifi service that actually works well or is easy to use. The supposed service is somewhat lacking compared to Europe and has been for years.

Seems that this tax is being misused.

Tons of misconceptions and flat out wrong information on both the article and posts. Here are three:

The cities of Kanazawa and Kyoto require guests to pay flat fees of 500 yen and 1,000 yen per night, respectively.

The actual Kyoto City Accom Tax:

Accommodation Fee Person Per Night

Under 20,000 JPY200

Over 20,000 JPY to 49,999 JPY500

Over 50,000 JPY1,000

All hotel guests are liable to pay accommodation tax if it is applied, not just in-bound tourists. It applies equally to domestic travellers as well, both nationals and residents.

The collection of these taxes is very strictly enforced by the city or prefecture in question and there is no way these funds can go to the hotel owners or staff. Yes, there have been cases of this happening in the past but if caught, the penalty is for big fines and or jail time.

I support this, because I do not support ordinary people, living in Japan who pay for their own wifi, having to pay for free wifi for tourists. I do not support tourists getting consumption tax refunds on small purchases, as little as 5000 yen in the supermarket, either.

I saw a thing on tv about a tourist information center last week and while obviously glorifying it in the way tv always reports things, it showed them answering all kinds of questions from tourists. What struck me was that such questions, "where can I buy a Totoro doll?" etc, should really be answered by front desk staff at hotels as part of their hospitality. Some hotels now have automated check ins, and with an Airbnb, you may only have a key code for the front door with no staff interaction at all. This basically means private businesses are outsourcing their face-to-face hospitality to taxpayer funded information centers. The solution to all business costs or things businesses find mendo kusai should not be dump it on the taxpayer.

Accomodation taxes are not a concept unique to Japan. Why is everyone so shellshocked about this? Because the hotels and the cities tell you about them?

Take the time to think about it for two minutes, it shouldn't be difficult to figure it out even for you. Instead of being triggered every time people dare to have a critical point of view of Japan.

 I spoke to quite a few during the Covid years, and most were unaware that not just tourists but foreigners/nonresidents in general were barred from entering.

BS! Your anecdotical circle of people does not make a fact. The fact that the borders were closed were heavily covered by the Japanese media during their COVID circus moreover when they opened them, they made another big circus of it like they were opening the borders to some aliens or something. Typical grotesque stuff here. No way most of the population didn't know about it. A lot did not the details around it, but they certainly knew the country was closed.

Instead of being triggered every time people dare to have a critical point of view of Japan.

I have no problem with a critical view of Japan. But I seriously ask why an accomodation tax is such a big deal. Would you prefer the cities put the tax on the hotels, which in turn intransparently price the tax into your room fee? Because that's the alternative.

Case in point: Did you know you have to pay a ¥1000 "departure tax" when you leave Japan? No, you didn't, because you're never told, it is silently priced into your plane ticket.

No way most of the population didn't know about it. A lot did not the details around it

And that's, if you cared to read what I wrote instead of lashing out, is exactly what I am saying.

"More Japan tourist hot spots imposing hotel taxes to fund promotions"

By definition tourism hot spots are already popular so they obviously dont really need more promotion.

The city councils of those places should use the funds to improve infrastructure, facilities etc rather than more promotion.

We’re going to hit you with another needless tax. Here you are!

My concern about the proper allocation of taxes and how they are used to fund public services is a constant issue. Many people share similar sentiments, especially when they perceive inefficiencies or mismanagement in government spending. Government is way too big, and take too much money - not to mention waste too much money as well. It is not my duty nor my obligation to fund ineffective government structure. They can very well downsize, they can provide us with the essential services that they were mandated to provide us in the first place.

ripping off taxes...

@Asiaman7

Do we really need to overspend by nearly 25 billion yen every year for tourism information centers? — particularly when so much information is freely available on the internet these days.

I seem to recall that, during the pandemic, large travel agencies (e.g. JTB) were tasked with keeping tabs on visitors. This was unpopular, of course, but at least it has some basis in reason. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the tourism information centers, but it might.

This isn't the worst idea around, because it's essentially user-pays in that the people who are benefiting from infrastructure, such as public wifi and tourist information offices, are the ones footing the bill for it instead of locals who are already taxed to the eyeballs. This is all good if the money collected is spent appropriately instead of wasted on overcharging consultants and amakudari fee-skimmers.

And even more annoyed when they become the France of Asia. Japan has enormous potential for tourism, it has barely begun to realize it’s potential.

More likely, out-Thailand Thailand. 3rd world country dependent on cheap tourists.

Hotel taxes are common in many places. Hawaii is quite expensive for it. Too bad they don't use it to make public toilets a dignified place to use.

The best free wifi in Japan is at or outside of Starbucks or McDonald's. Other than that it is hit or miss in a restaurant. Public wifi is terrible and always cut off, just like on the Shinkansen.

Perhaps they need to put out a spreadsheet showing where these taxes are used.

I’m from the government and I’m here to help. ( by help I mean put my hand in your pocket )

What a comments and complains again.

This system already exists in other countries.

https://visaguide.world/news/list-of-countries-that-require-visitors-to-pay-tourist-taxes-in-2023/

Let's also complain about the high tips you pay in America etc.

What a TURN OFF.

Tourism is Japans cash cow as when Covid hit the country suffered so they are implementing catch up fees for the losses. Eventually it will become very expensive to travel to Japan as I have read many tourist are starting to skip Japan and head to South Korea.

factcheckerJuly 25  07:17 am JST

There are way too many tourists here now. Anything to deter them from coming is a good thing.

I am sure hotels and their staff would disagree. Same with many restaurants, bars and amusement places