(ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS) – The city of Himeji in Japan city is contemplating increasing the admission fee at Himeji Castle for non-Japanese tourists aged 18 or older, according to Mayor Hideyasu Kiyomoto of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture during an international convention recently.
The proposed increase aims to manage overtourism and fund necessary repairs to the castle, a designated World Heritage site.
Presently, the admission fee for individuals aged 18 or older is JPY1,000 (approximately USD7).
“I’m considering raising the fee,” Mayor Kiyomoto stated. “I’d propose foreign visitors pay around USD30, while Himeji residents pay approximately USD5.”
With the current exchange rate of JPY157 to the US dollar, the existing fee for individuals aged 18 or older equates to about USD7.
In the fiscal year 2023, the castle welcomed 1.48 million visitors, with approximately 30 per cent—a record of about 450,000—being tourists from overseas, as per the city’s website.
