Charge Foreigners More: Japan to Expand Two-Tiered Pricing at Tourist Sites 

Japan is moving to charge visitors more than residents across a range of tourist sites, with the Tourism Agency announcing plans to publish formal guidelines by March 2027. 

An expert panel has begun gathering inputs from cities and operators who have already implemented two-tier pricing, with the goal of scaling a  credible tool to fight overtourism while generating the revenue needed to protect aging historical assets.

A weak yen has pushed inbound tourism to record levels. Japan received over 10.6 million tourists in the first three months of 2026, a 1.4% year-over-year increase, despite a 55% drop in Chinese arrivals. While the tourism boom has been a boon for the economy, it has been a strain on popular sites.

Japan’s major national museums, including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Art Center, are expected