Sunday, December 29, 2024 Hokkaido will introduce a lodging tax of up to 500 yen per night starting April 2026, using the revenue to enhance infrastructure amid a tourism boom. Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island celebrated for its vibrant tourism appeal, is set to implement a new lodging tax starting April 2026. This tax, which can go up to 500 yen (approximately US$3) per night, aims to bolster funding for infrastructure and transportation improvements in response to the region’s growing influx of visitors.
The tax rollout will involve around 20 local governments across Hokkaido, including Sapporo, the prefectural capital. Travelers staying in hotels and inns in these areas could face double taxation. Under a regulation passed by the Hokkaido assembly in December, the tax structure is tiered: visitors will pay 100 yen per night for room charges under 20,000 yen, 200 yen for charges between 20,000 and 50,000 yen, and 500 yen for nightly rates exceeding 50,000 yen.
The measure is projected to generate approximately 4.5 billion yen annually for the prefectural government. Sapporo is set to introduce its own accommodation tax, with guests paying 200 yen per night for rooms priced under 50,000 yen and 500 yen for those exceeding this threshold.
For instance, a traveler staying in a room costing 50,000 yen per night would face a total lodging tax of 1,000 yen. In Kutchan, home to the renowned Niseko ski resort, a flat tax rate of 2% of the room charge is already in place for vi.
