Visitor tax starts at popular west Japan island Miyajima in bid to combat overtourism – The Mainichi

5 comments

1. Will be interesting to see how this is implemented. People living in Miyajima will obviously be exempt, what about the rest of Hiroshima? Is this for domestic tourists too or only overseas visitors? Will you need to show your ID to prove you’re a resident of Miyajima or Hiroshima when entering? Will it be no check and visitors are expected to pay out of gratitude? I have so many questions

2. One day in the far future, only the rich would be able to afford travel.

3. its getting out of control any popular place here. Start to miss so bad the covid restrictions. But happy to see ppl visiting Japan again.

4. This type of system is nothing new. Although it’s not done in the form of a ‘tax’, you will find that most man-made tourist attractions in Japan such as museums, onsens, temples/shrines (with entry fees), and even cultural events with entrance costs, will offer a cheaper entry price for local residents (if you can prove it with ID), than visiting tourists – domestic or international. Some places may even have two discounted entry fees: cheapest one for local residents – living in that specific city/municipal, and one for residents who live in neighboring cities, within the same prefecture, and/or even certain neighboring prefectures; and some places local residents won’t even be charged a single yen. Some places will advertise this, but many don’t so you won’t be aware unless you show your ID and ask. The tax system for Miyajima is just another example of this, just on a larger scale.

5. 100 yen per person? That’ll stop people coming!