Japan Expands Dual Pricing at Himeji Castle and Other Sites

On 1 March 2026 Himeji Castle raised non-resident admission to 2,500 yen, while city residents pay 1,000 yen. Similar two-tier rates now apply at museums, the Junglia Okinawa theme park and ferries.

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Overseas arrivals rose from just over 10 million in 2013 to more than 42 million in 2025, creating congestion. The government targets 60 million visitors by 2030 and seeks revenue for anti-littering, crowd-management and maintenance.

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Kensuke Tsushi, Himeji Castle spokesperson, explains the pricing; Yoko Fujihara, a Nagano resident, comments on price differences; Lauren Kelly, a British expatriate, voices tourist concerns. The Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Tourism Agency shape the policy.

The Guardian

In 2025 Himeji Castle recorded 547,000 overseas visitors, up from 387,000 in 2018. Admissions fell 17 % after the price rise, yet ticket revenue more than doubled. Tourist spending hit 9.5 trillion yen, a 16 % rise, and the Japan Tourism Agency’s budget grew 700 % to 10 billion yen for crowd-control.

The Guardian

The Agency for Cultural Affairs announced higher fees for overseas tourists at museums and galleries, citing funding for anti-littering and AI crowd-detection. The Japan Tourism Agency’s budget will support booking systems that cap numbers, park-and-ride and waste-management. Officials say tiered pricing protects heritage while sustaining economic benefits.

The Guardian

Visitors from outside Himeji question why only city residents receive the discount, noting the castle is funded by taxes. Kyoto and Nagano residents warn higher fees may widen inequality and affect onsen visits. Foreign tourists describe the system as “segregating,” fearing it could deter repeat visits.

The Guardian

In the first month after Himeji’s price change, admissions fell 17 % while ticket revenue more than doubled, indicating a trade-off. Management reports most complaints came from domestic, non-resident Japanese rather than foreign tourists.

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Revenue gains are clear, yet the admission decline raises questions about visitor impact. No data have been released on how dual pricing affects foreign-tourist patterns at other sites, leaving a gap in evaluating effectiveness.

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• “there were voices cautioning that it might damage the castle’s image” — Kensuke Tsushi, Himeji Castle management bureau

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• “It’s often reported as ‘dual pricing’, but we see it as a flat 2,500 yen with a discount for city residents who show ID,” — Kensuke Tsushi

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• “What we hear from Japanese visitors is: it’s a national treasure, it receives national tax money, so why do only Himeji residents get the discount … we just explain our reasoning and try to get them to understand.” — Kensuke Tsushi

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• “There are onsen I go to where non-residents have to pay 200 yen ($1.25) more. It makes sense as some local people don’t have baths at home and so go there every day – it’s fine for others to pay more when they visit,” — Yoko Fujihara, Nagano resident

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• “It feels quite segregating,” — Lauren Kelly, British expatriate

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• “Of course, I want people to come and enjoy Japan,” — Yoko Fujihara

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The Japan Tourism Agency will deploy AI crowd-detection cameras, enforce visitor caps via booking, expand park-and-ride and promote travel to less-visited regions. Monitoring will assess the impact of tiered pricing on tourism flows.

The Guardian