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Kyoto to tax users of hotels, private lodging services

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Whose pockets will the revenue end up in? Wealthy "consultants"? Obscure "foundations" headed by retired bureaucrats?

The nationwide highway tolls are a forewarning. Long after the costs were covered and the tolls' purpose ended, the levies are kept in place -- because the people (consultants, foundation heads) receiving the income stream refuse to give it up.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

So they are going to tax people for staying at hotels and lodges!!!

what is the next step, taxing people for eating at restaurants and bars?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Maybe Kyoto will put actual Garbage barrels around the city like most cities do.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

In 2016, about 55 million people visited the former Japanese capital, which now faces such problems as traffic jams and noise.

The city is expected to raise some 4.56 billion yen a year by taxing travelers and the revenue is expected to be used to promote tourism.

This made me laugh. With so many tourists, there are traffic jams and noise problems. So you implement a tax on tourists that are causing said problems and then use the money to, wait for it, ..... promote tourism!

I thought they would announce new subway lines, dedicated bus lanes or something to alleviate the problems, but no, as Jeff Lee said, this will just line someone's pockets as usual.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

In 2016, about 55 million people visited the former Japanese capital, which now faces such problems as traffic jams and noise.

The city is expected to raise some 4.56 billion yen a year by taxing travelers and the revenue is expected to be used to promote tourism.

That didn’t quite make sense to me...The first sentence implies the cause of traffic jams and noise is due to the 55 million travelers to the city and the soon to be initiated tax will be used to bring in more...so essentially exacerbating the current problem? Yuuup that sounds just like solid government logic!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The city will have some income to be spend on tourists related expenses.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Be nice for them to use that money for special deals for hardworking (taxpaying) Japanese.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If from one side I can understand the need of such a step, because increased and uncontrolled tourism causes also disruptions and problems to ordinary peoples living, it is really a much hated thing. We have plenty of them in Italy and I can assure that it is very irritating if not compromising, also because it hit anybody that for whatever reaosn has to travel, need to overnight in the city. For Japan in particular, world-wide tourism does not travel shortly like Japanese do... people coming to Japan (not from China/Korea) tend to stay for one week or more, since it is not behind the door. 200/500 yen per person every day makes a difference. The budged of a family with one or two kids will be seriously burdened, to the point that they will probably shorten the stay, if not avoid visiting the city - exactly as I do in Italy (I rather stop in a smaller village outside). I do not understand why governments do not rise taxes paid by hotels and leave hotels deal individually with how to cut expenses or rise revenues, instead of charging directly single travellers, who are already ripped off behind every corner for cheap/repetitive services.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Mass tourism has got to the point where it’s becoming enjoyable only for the super-wealthy who can travel everywhere by comfortable train and taxi, pay for expensive hotels, eat out at high-class restaurants and afford the costs involved in “smoothing out” the experience.

For the rest of us it’s overcrowded, stressful misery. And for the poor locals too. Look at Venice, Amsterdam and Barcelona.

I predict it’ll die a natural death.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

And THIS is why there’s hesitancy to embrace services like AirB&B! Hard to tax. Can’t get the money for the licenses. Publishers can’t get money on the necessary books for said tests, etc.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is normal in Japan for cities to impose an accommodation tax. Tokyo has had such a tax since 2002. Osaka started from Jan 2017. So Kyoto has been slow to implement it. It's easy for hotels to administer and collect this tax, it can just be just programed into their property management systems. But good luck to the city to try and collect this tax from private operators. Regulating minpaku stays is already proving to be nightmare. And this is before the new laws come into effect from next year.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The tax is a good move, however using it to promote more tourism is silly, it should be used to help its residents

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Interestingly Hawaii (USA) had a hotel tax in place for over 10years. If I am not mistaken, it started at 5%and has gone up quietly ever since. The problem is that it is in addition to a Sales Tax on all goods and services that is already running at 8%. In addition all intermediary providers of goods and services to other providers (wholesalers) pay an additional minimum 0.5%. (Combined they are called the General Excise Tax.)

At least in Hawaii, those tax funds are being spent on the new railway system and in improving the shore lines and streets where tourists actually visit.

For alcohol products and tobacco and gasoline, there are additional taxes that keeps on changing depending on the needed funds. Then there are import taxes on products being shipped on vessels that provide the goods to that island state. The exact percentage I am not aware at this time. Now they are even considering taxing all items sold on the internet.

Now combine that with other Federal, State and City taxes... and, you have something similar to what is happening to Kyoto.

Problem is that in Japan, the legalized gambling is another tax source while legalized marijuana (one an illegal drug) is now being taxed at the maximum.

If that was not enough, now in Honolulu, they fine those who are caught walking while using smartphones.

I imagine that people in Hawaii are paying over 65% of their income in the form of open and hidden taxes.

I for one in Japan paid about 70% of my income several years ago. That included Income Tax (Federal, Prefecture, City), Elderly Care funds, Health care funds, Shared Retirement funds, etc., all before calculating the 5% Consumption Tax at that time, prior to my retirement only because I went over a certain threshold of about US$ 60,000 for that year. Imagine that I had to pay more each time I went on the freeway and made purchases.

Now imagine if I had to pay a hotel tax when visiting Kyoto.

Taxation all over the world does not make sense... especially when there is no "open accounting and disclosure" by those who use it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What's the matter with these people, don't they want tourists? And what difference will it make to the city's income where unlicensed lodgings are concerned, as their owners will not feel obliged to report customers in case their existence becomes known to the authorities.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They’ll use the money to print up more English maps and pay for information centers but who knows where the rest goes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The city is expected to raise some 4.56 billion yen a year by taxing travelers and the revenue is expected to be used to promote tourism.

I'll bet none of this money makes its way into the tourism industry.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The Japanese blame the tourists for overcrowding when it is the very tourists that are spending vast amounts of money helping the economy!

And now taxing people renting out a room or two?

I'll never invest in Japan with such shortsighted small-mindedness !

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why do tourists bother to go to Kyoto?

been there a few times over the years. Used to be a cheap sleepy town with Machiya houses, and warm small local izakayas. soba lunch ¥380. Now ¥800-1000. Rice ball, ¥98, now ¥180.

Go to a tourist place like Arashiyama, you won't see a Japanese person.overcrowded. Expensive. Machiya houses disappear on a daily basis to change to 3 storiy 1DLK apartments. Small local business changed to big expensive hotels.

tour buses add 10-15 mins to drive around, taxis with no manners stop where they like. Local people look at tourists as either a nuisance or money.

this minpaku tax is better used on teaching Kyoto people to stop changing into a concrete faceless city and preserve their ancient culture.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Easy fix: stay in Shiga! It’s a small commute, the people are friendly and it’s cheaper. No need to stay in Kyoto unless you plan to be out all night.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Maybe Kyoto will put actual Garbage barrels around the city like most cities do. No No that would mean they have to pay somebody to sort the rubbish, plastics, food, paper, burnables etc. Much easier to make the J public do it at their homes for free!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

stay in Shiga! It’s a small commute, the people are friendly and it’s cheaper. No need to stay in Kyoto unless you plan to be out all night. exactly let the neighboring cities take all the accommodation business and then a day trip to Kyoto to visit the sights, Kyotos loss anothers gain

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I think every poster here would happily pay the extra tax.... if they had the slightest hope that is would be used in a meaningful way... but this is Japan where the National Debt is over $10 Trillion or $80,000 per citizen. $10 Trillion.... they don't have a massive military to support, the country is overall quite small, healthcare is socialized and not massively expensive, very few social programs, retirement pensions are small, so where did it all go? $10 Trillion Dollars in Debt.... and that is just on the National Level. So when people fret about paying extra tax.... they've a right... because you cannot trust any Government entity in Japan.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

 200 yen for travelers staying in accommodations that charge less than 20,000 yen per night per person, 500 yen for more than 20,000 yen and less than 50,000 yen and 1,000 yen for more than 50,000 yen

What is with this step-function nonsense? So someone staying in a 2000 yen per night dormitory pays the government 10% and some LDP bigwig in a top-class ryokan pays 2%?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's typical Japan - you pay per room per person, and an overly inflated amount too. This is a protectionist measure ... and hopefully will be brought up during discussions upon international trade practices.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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