Kyoto, Japan's historic city and popular tourist destination, will double bus fares for visitors as it grapples with overtourism.
Kyoto Mayor Koji Matsui announced at a city council session on the 25th that municipal bus fares in the city center will be differentiated between residents and non-residents.
The city plans to set resident fares at 200 yen (approximately 1,830 won) while tourists and other non-residents will pay 350 to 400 yen (approximately 3,200 to 3,600 won). Current municipal bus fare stands at 230 yen (approximately 2,100 won). Under the new system, tourist fares would be roughly double those for residents. Kyoto plans to implement the new fare structure as early as April 2027.
Kyoto is reportedly the first city in Japan to differentiate bus fares due to overtourism. Additionally, the city will raise its per-person accommodation tax from a maximum of 1,000 yen (approximately 9,140 won) to a maximum of 10,000 yen (approximately 91,400 won) starting next month.
Korean tourism to Japan continues to surge, driven by geographic proximity and the weak yen. According to January statistics released by the Japan National Tourism Organization, 3.5975 million foreigners visited Japan in January this year, with nearly one-third—1.176 million—being Korean nationals. This represents a 21.6% increase year-over-year, marking the highest monthly figure on record.
Kyoto ranks among the most popular destinations for Japanese travel. According to Japanese travel platform Rakuten Travel, Kyoto accommodation bookings during last year's Chuseok holiday period surged 235% compared to the previous year's holiday period.