Tokyo’s hotel tax is about to stop being loose change. From April 2027, the capital plans to replace its flat ¥100 or ¥200 per person per night accommodation tax with a 3% charge on the room rate, with the tax-free threshold lifted to ¥13,000 a night, and to extend it for the first time to private holiday rentals and Airbnb-style stays. SoraNews24’s worked example shows why this matters: a ¥30,000 room for two currently carries ¥400 in tax and would carry ¥900 under the new system, more than double. One caveat up front: reports say the proposal still needs final approval from the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and Japan’s internal affairs minister, so check the status before you book.
📋 Quick Navigation: How the tax works today · What changes in April 2027 · Airbnb and minpaku · Booking strategy · FAQ
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Open the Traveler Hub →How Tokyo’s accommodation tax works today
Until March 2027 the system is a flat per-person, per-night fee based on the room rate:
- Rooms under ¥10,000 a night: exempt.
- Rooms from ¥10,000 to under ¥15,000: ¥100 per person per night.
- Rooms of ¥15,000 and above: ¥200 per person per night.
What changes in April 2027
- Rate: 3% of the room charge.
- Threshold: stays priced under ¥13,000 a night are exempt, up from ¥10,000 today.
- Who it covers: hotels, ryokan, capsule hotels and minpaku-style private lodgings.
- Where the money goes: Tokyo expects roughly ¥19 billion a year for tourism and sustainable-tourism initiatives.
The effect is lopsided. Budget travelers in rooms under ¥13,000 pay nothing, as before and now with a higher exemption. Anyone in a mid-range or luxury room pays more, and the higher the room rate, the bigger the jump, because a percentage grows with the price while the old fee was capped at ¥200 per person. On SoraNews24’s example, a ¥30,000 room for two goes from ¥400 to ¥900 in tax per night.
⚠️ Check approval status before you plan around it
Japan Travel reports the proposal still needs approval from the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and the internal affairs minister. The April 2027 start and the figures above are the plan as reported, not a finished law. Confirm with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government or your hotel before booking stays after March 2027.
Airbnb and minpaku are now in
The biggest structural change is scope. Private holiday rentals and guesthouses, including Airbnb-style licensed rentals, were previously outside Tokyo’s accommodation tax and are slated to be covered. If you rent apartments for visiting family or friends, the “cheaper than a hotel” math gets thinner for pricier listings.
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- Stays through March 2027: the old flat fee applies, so the tax is not a reason to rush or delay.
- Stays from April 2027: compare the all-in cost, not just the nightly rate, because a ¥29,000 and a ¥31,000 room now differ by more than ¥2,000.
- Rooms under ¥13,000: exempt on the reported plan, which makes business hotels and hostels relatively cheaper than before.
- Other cities: Tokyo is not alone. Kyoto and other destinations have their own accommodation taxes, covered in our Japan Overtourism and Tourist Tax guide and Japan Tourist Tax 2026 explainer.
Prices can also change on your side of the till: if you are shopping during the trip, the new refund-at-the-airport system matters. Read our Japan Tax-Free Shopping November 2026 guide so the savings on shopping offset the extra tax on your room.
Tokyo lodging tax 2027 FAQ
When does Tokyo’s new lodging tax start? It is planned to start in April 2027, with the current flat-fee tax continuing until March 2027.
How much is the new Tokyo accommodation tax? 3% of the room charge for stays priced above ¥13,000 per night.
Which stays are exempt? Stays priced under ¥13,000 per night are exempt, up from the current ¥10,000 threshold.
Does the tax apply to Airbnb and private rentals? Yes. Private holiday rentals, guesthouses, capsule hotels and licensed minpaku lodgings are slated to be covered.
How much is the tax today? ¥100 per person per night for rooms from ¥10,000 to under ¥15,000 and ¥200 per person per night for rooms of ¥15,000 or more.
Is the new tax final? Not yet. Reports say it still needs approval from the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and Japan’s internal affairs minister.
Quick reference
- Planned start: April 2027 (approval pending)
- Rate: 3% of room charge above ¥13,000 a night
- Old system: ¥100 / ¥200 per person per night
- New in scope: Airbnb, minpaku, guesthouses, capsule hotels
- Related: Japan Overtourism 2026 tourist tax guide | Japan Tourist Tax 2026 | TIFE Traveler Hub
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