Photo/Illutration Kyoto Mayor Koji Matsui shares his reservations with reporters about charging foreign visitors more than domestic tourists during a news conference on July 10 in the city’s Nakagyo Ward. (Fuka Takei)

KYOTO--Despite growing opposition to overtourism, Kyoto Mayor Koji Matsui questioned the fairness of a dual pricing system for foreign tourists, stating that such practices could be discriminatory.

“How much can we justify treating foreign tourists differently from domestic ones?” Matsui said at a news conference on July 10.

His comments come in response to the ongoing debate surrounding Himeji Castle's proposal to differentiate entrance fees based on nationality.

Officials of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, are considering a significant price hike for foreign tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site, potentially raising the admission fee to four times the current cost for Japanese visitors.

When asked if Kyoto would follow Himeji's example, Matsui emphasized that "welcoming both domestic and international visitors with hospitality is at the heart of the city’s identity," indicating a cautious stance against different admission rates based on nationality.

However, the mayor reiterated his support for a policy that would charge visitors from outside Kyoto higher public transportation fares than local residents. He argues that local taxpayers subsidize the city's infrastructure.

To enable a dual pricing system for visitors on the municipal bus network, Kyoto officials are seeking national government support for regulatory changes.

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