Japan is enjoying a tourism boom: JNTO says the country welcomed 36,869,900 international visitors in 2024, the highest annual total on record. Kyoto, one of Japan’s most famous destinations, is now trying to protect daily life while still welcoming guests. That is why the city raised its accommodation tax for stays from March 1, 2026. Depending on the nightly room price per person, the tax now ranges from 200 yen to 10,000 yen, with the sharpest increase for higher-end hotels. (jnto.go.jp)
Kyoto says this tax is meant to support tourism promotion and sustainable urban development that benefit both residents and visitors. Official information says the money is used for clearer tourist guidance, preservation of scenery and traditional machiya townhouses, congestion relief on roads and walkways, and action against unlicensed private lodging. Kyoto City has also explained that the higher tax will help strengthen measures related to litter, manners, and the balance between tourism and local life. In that sense, the tax is not only a fee; it reflects a bigger shift toward tourism that must give something back. (www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp)
But money alone does not make someone a welcome traveler. Kyoto’s latest visitor guidance asks people to respect Gion as a living neighborhood, not a stage set. Visitors are told not to chase or photograph geiko and maiko without permission, not to enter private property, and not to block streets by walking in large groups. The city also asks travelers to manage trash properly, smoke only in designated places, and use “hands-free” luggage services so buses and streets are less crowded. (kyoto.travel)
So what is the new common sense in the age of overtourism? A good traveler does more than collect famous photos. They notice who lives there, choose quieter times and routes, and try to reduce pressure on crowded places. Kyoto even promotes early-morning sightseeing and practical ways to avoid congestion. For today’s traveler, being welcome means showing curiosity with humility. In Kyoto, quiet respect may matter as much as your travel budget. (kyoto.travel)










