Travellers to Hokkaido, Japan to pay lodging tax of S$0.81-S$4.05 from Apr. 1, 2026

Travellers visiting Hokkaido, Japan will have to pay an accommodation tax from Apr. 1, 2026.

Visitors may be charged up to 500 yen (S$4.05) per night, and some may also be required to pay a municipal accommodation tax depending on the area of lodging, according to the Hokkaido accommodation tax website.

Rates depend on the cost of lodging

The highest accommodation tax rate of 500 yen (S$4.05) is applicable for lodging costing more than 50,000 yen (S$404.75) per night.

For stays that cost between 20,000 yen (S$161.90) and 49,999 yen ($S404.74) per night, the tax rate costs 200 yen (S$1.62).

For stays below 19,999 yen (S$161.89), the tax rate costs 100 yen (S$0.81).

In addition, visitors may be required to pay a respective municipal accommodation tax depending on the place of lodging.

However, children, students, and chaperones participating in school trips or other events organised by schools and childcare centres, excluding universities, are exempted from the levies.

Issue of over-tourism

Like many popular areas in Japan, the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido is also grappling with over-tourism, which reportedly places pressure on city infrastructure, the environment, and residents’ quality of life.

In 2024, Hokkaido welcomed 8.92 million international visitors, a 46 per cent increase from 2023.

According to Japan Travel, the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly passed a bill in December 2024 to introduce the accommodation tax in response to the surge in tourism.

Becoming the norm

Around 30 local governments in Japan plan to introduce lodging taxes in 2026, Nikkei Asia reported in January 2026.

This brings total to nearly 50 local governments.

Accommodation taxes in Japan are set and collected by local governments.

They can also be raised after getting approval.

Such levies are getting more popular due to a rise in tourism.

Over 39.06 million tourists from overseas visited Japan in the first 11 months of 2025 alone, higher than the 36.87 million in 2024, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Levies on accommodations will be used to address concerns such as jams and littering, and to entice visitors to other locations.

Advantages of lodging taxes

Lodging taxes are an attractive revenue source.

Tax allocations to local governments are usually reduced when tax income increases. 

But special ordinance-based taxes, such as lodging taxes, can go up without affecting other funding allocations.

Taxes revised upward

Prefectures and cities that already have lodging taxes are also moving to raise them to increase revenue.

The city of Kyoto was slated to raise its maximum levy on accommodations to 10,000 yen (S$81) from 1,000 yen ($8.10) in March.

In April, the Hokkaido ski resort town of Kutchan will raise its tax rate for lodging from 2 per cent to 3 per cent.

Tokyo charges flat fees of 100 yen (S$0.81) to 200 yen (S$1.62), but has plans to change to a rate of 3 per cent across the board by fiscal 2027.

Top photo via Unsplash