Japan has emerged as a ‘must-visit’ country for international tourists in recent years, with the Land of the Rising Sun recording 36,869,900 foreign visitors, including 506,800 Malaysians in 2024, both figures being the highest in its history.
However, with the country planning to triple its tourist tax next year, your next trip to Japan’s capital will be much costlier for another reason, as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced plans to revise the accommodation tax in the megacity.
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Tokyo is planning to change its accommodation tax to a fixed 3% rate rather than the current “pocket change” fee
According to NHK World-Japan, the international arm of the Japanese public broadcaster, the revision would implement a fixed percentage rate for the accommodation tax, rather than the current “virtually pocket change” flat-rate system.
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Details of the plan were revealed in a draft proposal by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government yesterday (26 November), which is to charge a fixed 3% rate.
Furthermore, the new tax would also be extended to private lodging and common lodging houses, which are currently excluded.
The current accommodation tax is capped at ~RM5.30 per night
Introduced in 2022, the tax currently charges JPY100 (~RM2.65) per night for room rates between JPY10,000 (~RM265) and JPY14,999 (~RM397), and JPY200 (~RM5.30) per night for rates above JPY14,999.
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However, the plan would only see accommodations with a rate of JPY13,000 (~RM344) or above per night being charged the 3% tax.
According to Market Watch, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is soliciting public opinion on the draft proposal until 26 December 2025.
Should it obtain approval from the country’s Internal Affairs and Communications Minister, Tokyo plans to implement the new tax after April 2027.
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So, what do you guys think of the draft proposal? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
