Kamakura to Impose Lodging Tax From Next October

Kamakura, a city in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture, will impose a lodging tax of 300 yen per night starting in October next year to ease overtourism.

A "Slam Dunk" Pilgrimage Site, Now a Drama Location: Kamakura Strained by Tourists

The city plans to submit an ordinance imposing a lodging tax of 300 yen (about 2,600 won) per person per night to a regular session of the city council opening on the 2nd of next month, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and other outlets on the 28th.

Long popular as the setting for the basketball manga and anime "Slam Dunk," Kamakura has drawn even greater interest among South Koreans since the Netflix series "Can This Love Be Translated?" became a hit after its release in January. The Asahi Shimbun reported at the time that Kamakura was already fighting overtourism and had now taken on another overcrowded tourist attraction because of the Korean drama.

The complaints grew because the spot most popular with tourists happened to be a railway crossing right next to a residential area, leaving a once-quiet neighborhood suddenly overrun with visitors from abroad. The Asahi Shimbun reported that resident complaints were increasing as a quiet spot in a residential area drew too many overseas visitors.

The Kamakura city government has been implementing measures against overtourism around the railway tracks in front of Kamakurakokomae Station since 2017. From around 2023, it stepped up its response, adding signs explaining tourist etiquette, including bans on photography near residential areas, and reinforcing on-site security staff.

Even so, conditions did not improve and resident opposition grew stronger. As similar problems recurred, a new term has emerged that goes beyond overtourism: "tourist pollution." The decision to introduce the lodging tax is seen as a last resort to manage the conflict that has built up.

Lodging Tax Revenue to Expand Tourism Infrastructure as Japanese Cities Raise Levies

The tax will apply to 413 establishments in the city, including hotels, ryokan traditional Japanese inns, guesthouses and budget lodgings. The city estimates about 500,000 overnight guests on a cumulative basis and expects the tax to generate about 150 million yen (about 1.29 billion won) in annual revenue.

The revenue will be spent on expanding tourism infrastructure, including road maintenance and public restrooms. The city also plans to use the funds to promote longer stays, moving away from a tourism pattern dominated by day trips, in order to reduce inconvenience for residents and boost local tourism spending.

Across Japan, 62 local governments, including Tokyo and Kyoto, either levy a lodging tax or have confirmed plans to introduce one.

Tokyo has decided to switch its lodging tax from a flat amount to a rate of 3% of the room charge, a change that will take effect in April next year after approval by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Under the new structure, the more expensive the room, the heavier the tax.

Kyoto recently raised its cap on the lodging tax to 10,000 yen (about 95,500 won) from 1,000 yen (about 9,550 won). Kamakura's decision is seen as in line with this nationwide trend.