Politics · Japan · 5 hrs ago
Oita to begin collecting lodging tax in June 2027
Oita Prefecture in southwestern Japan will start collecting a lodging tax on June 1, 2027 from guests staying in hotels, inns and other accommodation.
The tax was approved after the prefecture received consent from Japan’s internal affairs minister in late September.
The nightly charge will range from 100 to 2,000 yen, depending on the room-only rate, with higher-priced rooms paying more.
Oita had planned to start collecting the tax in January, but postponed it because lodging operators needed time to prepare and were handling paperwork for a tourism recovery discount.
The prefecture expects the tax to raise about 1.86 billion yen a year and says it will give municipalities 70% of the revenue remaining after disaster-related and other costs are set aside.
The new revenue is intended to help fund tourism measures in a prefecture where tourism is an important industry.
Officials say they will move ahead with preparations before collection begins.
Oita Prefecture will begin collecting a lodging tax on stays from June 1, 2027.
The prefecture postponed its planned late-January 2027 start because of the burden on lodging operators and the time needed for preparations.
The tax will apply to guests at all hotels, inns and other lodging facilities in the prefecture.
The nightly tax will range from 100 yen to 2,000 yen, depending on the room-only rate.
Oita expects annual revenue of about 1.86 billion yen and plans to distribute 70% of the amount remaining after specified costs to municipalities.
- Who
- Oita Prefecture will collect the tax from guests staying at lodging facilities.
- What
- The prefecture will introduce a tax on overnight stays.
- When
- Collection begins June 1, 2027.
- Where
- Oita Prefecture, in Kyushu, southwestern Japan.
- Why
- The tax is intended to provide funding to promote tourism.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The prefecture obtained the internal affairs minister's consent to introduce the lodging tax.
The prefecture announced that the tax would apply to guests at all lodging facilities and set rates based on room-only prices.
Gov. Kiichiro Sato announced that collection would begin on June 1, 2027.
Collection of the lodging tax is scheduled to begin.
- Start date
- June 1, 2027
- Tax rate
- 100 yen to 2,000 yen per night
- Lowest rate threshold
- Less than 5,000 yen room-only rate
- Highest rate threshold
- 100,000 yen or more room-only rate
- Expected annual revenue
- About 1.86 billion yen
- Municipal share
- 70% of the amount remaining after specified costs
What people are saying
Tourism is an extremely important industry, and because we will have a funding source to promote it, we will be able to pursue tourism measures even more powerfully.
We want to move forward with thorough preparations.
Sources
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