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Travelers know to expect the unexpected when it comes to hotel bills. Even the most seasoned globetrotter has probably faced a head-scratching add-on at checkout, like a vaguely worded resort fee<\/a>\u00a0or a hefty cleaning charge. Japan is no exception, but the good news is that the fee you’ll encounter most often is straightforward and relatively small. It’s the accommodation tax, a government-imposed charge that most tourists to the country will pay. To make sure you’re not caught off-guard when it appears on your bill, it’s worth knowing where it applies, how much the tax is, and why it exists.<\/p>\n You may have seen recent headlines claiming that Japan is introducing a brand-new tourist tax. But the truth is, in many parts of Japan, the accommodation tax has been around for years. It was first introduced in Tokyo all the way back in 2002, and other popular spots, including buzzing Osaka and historic Kyoto, followed in 2017 and 2018, respectively. And in most places, it doesn’t just apply to hotels but to private lodgings (think Airbnbs), too.<\/p>\n What is new in 2025 is the expansion of this tax to new cities and municipalities. In March 2025, 11 new places joined the list, ranging from cities on the northern island of Hokkaido to Hiroshima Prefecture near the tip of Honshu. More regions look set to follow in the near future.<\/p>\n