Towns of Japan are increasing the overnight bathing tax for onsen from 150 yen to 300 yen to address declining revenues and the costs associated with an aging population. The tax hike is expected to have little impact on foreign visitors due to the weak yen.
People enjoy the onsen in Japan ’s Wakayama prefecture. - Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images - South China Morning Post
This tax has been raised in regions including Hokkaido, Beppu in Oita prefecture, and Shizuoka, according to local reports, to help fund conservation projects and protect hot spring resources. “I can imagine there might be some domestic pushback as local people also have to pay the new tax and they are not getting the advantage of the weak yen, but there are ways they can benefit,” Harvey told This Week in Asia. “Funds can be set aside, for example, for a free bus service to the local onsen for people over the age of 60.
According to TheAsahi Shimbun, originally set at 150 yen , the tax has been raised in several regions with some cities even increasing the tax to 300 yen or more. In Hokkaido’s Kushiro city, the authorities raised the bathing tax to 250 yen for overnight stays at some resorts, with plans to increase it to 300 yen, the outlet reported.
A couple of years ago, Yutaka Seki of the Japan Onsen Association told The Japan Times that without proper management, the increased use of these natural resources in modern times will significantly impact the surrounding environment.
Japan Onsen Tax Increase Aging Population Tourism Hot Springs
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