Accommodation taxes are rapidly expanding across Japan. Starting March 2026, Kyoto will implement a 5-tier flat-rate system with a maximum of ¥10,000 (~$65) per night, doubling tax revenue to ¥12.6 billion. From Tokyo's shift toward percentage-based taxation to international comparisons with Canada and Austria, here's how Japan is funding sustainable tourism through hotel levies.
The Mundo Pixar Experience, the immersive exhibition that has drawn over 3.5 million visitors across seven countries, opened in Tokyo's Toyosu district in March 2026 and now runs through October 12. Life-size sets from Toy Story, Monsters Inc and more, plus tickets, access and what Seoul's edition revealed.
Nearly 1 in 5 Japanese travelers now prefer solo trips, the highest rate among 39 countries. "Suitcase Cancel," a trend of ditching wheeled luggage for a single backpack, is reshaping how Japan travels. We explore the coin locker crisis and the rise of minimal travel.
Disney's largest-ever cruise ship, the 208,000-ton Disney Adventure, is heading to Tokyo. Plus, a dedicated 140,000-ton ship will launch from Tokyo in 2028 with a ¥330 billion ($2.2 billion) investment. Here's how Disney is transforming Japan's cruise industry and what Japanese people think about it.
UNESCO and Relais & Châteaux have launched sustainable gastronomy pilot projects in 4 regions worldwide. Japan's three-Michelin-star L'Effervescence chef Shinobu Namae joins the initiative at Amami Oshima World Heritage Site, combining eco-friendly fishing with seaweed forest restoration. Discover how fine dining is becoming a force for biodiversity.
A former Olympic gold medalist turned commentator was stunned by an Italian hotel’s open-plan shower at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. With no partition, no bathtub, and only a thin curtain, Japanese guests face a real challenge. Explore the fascinating cultural gap between Japanese and European hotel bathroom design.
JTB's new immersive cultural brand "Kagerohi" offers a 3.5-hour multi-sensory journey at Kamakura's Hokokuji Temple for about $920 per person. Blending Noh vocal art, cello, storytelling, and gastronomy, it represents a seismic shift in Japan's luxury inbound tourism from quantity to quality.
Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain began charging a €2 ($2.35) entry fee on February 2, 2026, to manage over 9 million annual visitors. Explore how this overtourism measure compares to similar efforts in Venice, Kyoto, and other global destinations struggling to balance tourism and preservation.
Oigawa Railway's DAY OUT WITH THOMAS 2026 launches its first-ever year-round operation from March 7. Asia's first passenger-carrying Percy steam locomotive joins Thomas through tea fields of Shizuoka. Discover how Japan uniquely blends heritage railways with character collaborations — tickets from about $40 round trip.
A 25-room luxury accommodation is coming to the former grounds of Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara, Japan. Kintetsu Miyako Hotels will build low-rise pavilions across a 12,000 m² site where the ancient Western Gate once stood. Opening fall 2028, the retreat will feature a tea ceremony room, local cuisine restaurant, and immersive cultural experiences. Here's what this historic collaboration means for Nara's tourism future.
A 1908 mansion built by Hakodate's wealthiest merchant is reborn as a 3-room heritage hotel. Japan's new "Kazeno Heritage" brand lets guests sleep inside nationally designated cultural properties — and help preserve them.
