Kyoto announces two-tier admission price plan for Nijo Castle, non-residents would pay twice as much
First-of-its-kind system for Kyoto would raise maintenance funding and fight overtourism, proponents say, but will it really reduce crowd sizes? Many of Japan’s castles were built by a local samurai lord, but Kyoto’s Nijo Castle is an exception in that it was built specifically for use by out-of-towners. Constructed in 1624, Nijo Castle, and the […]
Kyoto has announced a two-tier admission pricing system for Nijo Castle, with non-residents required to pay twice as much, according to Mayor Koji Matsui. The decision aims to generate additional funds for maintenance and alleviate overtourism. Nijo Castle, built in 1624 for Tokugawa Ieyasu's residence, differs from many Japanese castles as it was constructed specifically for out-of-towners.
Currently priced at 1,300 yen (US$8.15) for both castle and palace, residents of Kyoto City will pay 1,000 yen, while non-residents will pay 2,000 yen. The new system positions Nijo Castle as the first tourism facility in Kyoto with a two-tier admission structure. Despite Kyoto receiving an estimated 2.07 million visitors to Nijo Castle in 2025, the majority (around 2 percent) were non-residents.
Kyoto's international popularity and the weak yen have attracted many tourists, making a 700 yen (less than US$4.50) increase less likely to deter them. The new pricing system will be introduced in a city council meeting next month and implemented in the spring of the following year.
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