Japan imposes tourist tax to tackle overtourism
Faced with surging crowds, Japan is set to impose new tourist taxes, joining countries like the United States, Mexico and Spain in a global trend.
In recent years, Japan has become a hugely popular travel destination, welcoming 36.8 million tourists in 2024,, according to Travel and Tour World. But this influx has strained sites like Mount Fuji, Nara and Kyoto.
'I'm happy there are so many visitors to Japan, but I'm agonizing every day,' Yoshiki Kojima, who owns an IT company, told the Japan Times in January, adding that he struggles to find affordable hotel rooms for his employees when they travel to Tokyo.
The initial step in this process is a fee increase for hikers on Mount Fuji, beginning in May 2025. The new fee for international travelers will be 4,000 yen (approximately $27), which is double the previous amount. Japanese residents are exempt from this fee, Travel and Tour World wrote.
Japan isn't alone in implementing tourist taxes. The United States, Mexico, Canada, Iceland, France, Spain and Thailand also have similar policies.
While the United States does not have a federal tourist tax, many states and cities levy extensive hotel and lodging taxes, according to Travel and Tour World. The cost for tourists varies by location.
For instance, hotel rooms in New York City were subject to a 14.75% occupancy tax plus a nightly fee of $3.50 in 2024, according to Equity. In Los Angeles, visitors faced charges of roughly 15.5% to cover occupancy and tourism taxes.
'Tourist taxes can play a significant role in how destinations manage tourism flows,' UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona told The Mirror. 'But the implementation of these fees is also designed to deliver more of the economic benefits that tourism offers back to the host communities.'
A short movie filming on Cape Cod is looking for actor for the lead role
Recall: Portable charger sold on Amazon linked to fire, burn injuries
This newly found green comet may not have survived its trek past the sun
Playground, restrooms envisioned at Feeding Hills park
Fans breach security barriers after country singer's invite to dance closer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Japanese Bonds Rise as 30-Year Auction Brings Some Relief
(Bloomberg) -- Japanese government bonds rose after an auction of 30-year debt wasn't as bad as many investors had feared. ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract The Global Struggle to Build Safer Cars NYC Residents Want Safer Streets, Cheaper Housing, Survey Says The Buffalo Architect Fighting for Women in Design While immediate market reaction indicated relief — yields edged lower after the sale — the bid-to-cover ratio of 2.92 at Thursday's offering points to a general lack of appetite for longer-maturity debt that is afflicting markets from Japan to Europe and the US. Several auctions of longer tenor Japanese bonds in recent weeks have met shaky demand, with the market flashing a warning that authorities in Tokyo may need to reconsider their issuance plans. The Ministry of Finance is set to meet with primary dealers on June 20, according to people familiar with the matter, just days after the Bank of Japan reviews its bond buying plans. 'The forward-looking attitude that the MOF is moving toward reducing issuance helped out the auction results,' said Takashi Fujiwara, chief fund manager at Resona Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. 'On the other hand, I don't think that supply and demand concerns for super-long bonds have peaked yet.' The 30-year bond extended an earlier gain, with the yield falling seven basis points to 2.875% at one point. The 40-year rate dropped as much as 8.5 basis points to 3.055%. 'With all this talk of issuance cuts, investors see little urgency in establishing large positions in super-long bonds until the Ministry of Finance clarifies its next steps,' said Shoki Omori, chief desk strategist at Mizuho Securities Co. 'The market appears poised for a period of watchful waiting.' Omori added that it seems some people failed to cover short positions going into the auction. What Bloomberg Strategists Say... This price action suggests bond traders were using the contract to pre-hedge the debt sale in case it went as badly as the recent 20-year sale. Traders will be relieved there are not any more long-term auctions to navigate before the BOJ meeting in less than two weeks. — Mark Cranfield, Markets Live strategist. Read more on MLIV. Japanese bonds have seen some relief this week after decent demand at a sale of 10-year notes on Tuesday, and after a rally in the US Treasury market Thursday on soft US economic data. Yields on 30-year Japanese bonds have come down from 3.185% last month, the most since inception. There are indications that the recent rout has pushed rates to attractive levels for some buyers. Investors can pick up bargains in Japanese government bonds despite a wave of recent selling that has spread volatility throughout global debt markets, according to Pacific Investment Management Co. Still, the auction results show how the bond market is concerned that the government's borrowing plans may not be sustainable as the central bank reduces its footprint in the market. Governor Kazuo Ueda hinted at the likelihood that the Bank of Japan will continue to slow the pace of government bond purchases next fiscal year, meaning that the board meeting on June 16-17 will be closely watched. Miki Den, a senior rates strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo, said 'supply-demand concerns will linger' until the MOF's meeting with primary dealers a few days later. 'I expect super-long term yields to remain flat or rise slightly,' he said. The bid-to-cover ratio at the sale was lower than 3.07 the previous month, and the 12-month average of 3.39. The lowest price was below that of a Bloomberg survey. 'The auction wasn't good, but within the acceptable range,' said Masayuki Koguchi, executive chief fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. The tail, or the gap between average and lowest-accepted prices, came in at 0.49, indicating weaker demand than at the prior auction. However, it was still shorter than at April's bond sale, which was seen as positive by the market, said Koguchi. --With assistance from Masahiro Hidaka, Masaki Kondo and Hidenori Yamanaka. (Updates with comment in fourth paragraph.) Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Wants to Donate His Billions—and Walk Again YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
German Factory Orders Rose Even After US Tariff Announcement
(Bloomberg) -- German factory orders kept rising after President Donald Trump's announcement of US reciprocal tariffs, defying expectations for a setback. ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract The Global Struggle to Build Safer Cars NYC Residents Want Safer Streets, Cheaper Housing, Survey Says The Buffalo Architect Fighting for Women in Design Demand increased 0.6% in April from the previous month, while economists had predicted a 1.5% decline in a Bloomberg survey. Without large-scale orders, they were still 0.3% higher, the statistics office said Thursday. The unexpected increase is due to 'substantial growth' in demand for computer, electronic and optical products, Destatis said. Orders for aircraft, ships, trains and military vehicles 'also had a positive effect.' The data add to evidence that the full impact of Trump's tariffs has yet to hit Europe's economy. While private-sector activity has slowed in the last two months, it continued to expand slightly, according to business surveys by S&P Global. Frontloading of demand probably played a role in the Germany's robust first-quarter performance, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said last month, adding that he sees momentum weakening during the remainder of the year. Germany's manufacturing sector is heavily exposed to the trade tensions because of its reliance on exports. The economy is expected to stagnate this year following two straight years of contraction. But a planned spending boost by the new government should usher in quicker expansion in 2026. The European Central Bank is also about to provide more support later Thursday with its eighth interest-rate reduction in a year. Economists predict another such move in September. 'The trend in orders is now pointing upwards,' said Commerzbank Chief Economist Joerg Kraemer. 'The German economy is benefiting from the ECB rate cuts, even if Trump's tariff increases are dampening the upward trend.' --With assistance from Joel Rinneby, Harumi Ichikura, Kristian Siedenburg, Jana Randow and Mark Schroers. (Updates with economist comment in final paragraph) Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Wants to Donate His Billions—and Walk Again YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
10 Teppanyaki restaurants in Singapore for an interactive dining experience [Jun 2025 Update]
Who doesn't like teppanyaki? You get to choose your own ingredients, watch your food being cooked right in front of you, and eat everything while it's still hot. Teppanyaki is a Japanese style of cooking that mainly involves cooking up pieces of seafood, meats and vegetables on a hot pan in front of diners. Here's a list of 10 teppanyaki restaurants in Singapore that you can visit for an interactive dining experience. As someone who's so accustomed to predictable set menus at a teppanyaki restaurant, the Japanese-style no-menu concept at MINSUIZEN RAKU Omakase Teppanyaki reignited that childlike excitement I thought I'd outgrown. The restaurant surroundings feature a serene garden and an illuminated fountain courtyard. Watch chefs perform culinary artistry at the open teppan counter, paired with elegant Japanese tableware for a full sensory immersion. Reservation required to savor the experience — your seat is secured only when booked ahead. Located on the 3rd floor of Frasers Tower in the heart of the CBD, this Taiwan-based restaurant not only has outlets in Taipei and Kaohsiung but also in Japan, Hong Kong, and now, finally, Singapore! The brand has ambitious expansion plans, with upcoming openings targeted in South Korea, the United States, Canada, and China, where they are currently exploring strategic locations. For 3 years, it's been renowned to be the most popular omakase teppanyaki brand in Taiwan, boasting 8,000+ Google reviews globally with an average rating of 4.8 stars. Besides being reputed for offering its customers excellent value, it's also part of the world's largest directly operated omakase teppanyaki chain — now, that's impressive! The chefs utilise the simplest seasoning to emphasise the original taste of premium ingredients. Each dish undergoes over 3 months of continuous testing and multiple evaluations before making it onto the menu. Every 2 months, new creations or subtle adjustments are introduced, ensuring that each visit feels fresh and different. Chef Stanley embarked us on our 12-course S$88++ & S$138++ menu that began with a trio of starters — a 6-hour long simmered lala soup, a truffle-infused angel hair pasta with sakura shrimps and tobiko, and a chawanmushi with truffle paste and a drizzling of Japanese chilli oil. One of the highlights was the grilled Hokkaido Scallop with Mala Sauce and Fried Tofu, finished off with a crowning of opulent salmon roe. Another dish that won us over was the Grilled black tiger prawns — served with their legs on, they were skillet-grilled to a satisfying crisp. The sauce was a sinful but yummy prawn head butter, sautéed and chopped. For the S$138++ menu, it comes with an unctuous and juicy Beef Slider. Sandwiched between 2 fluffy, grilled brioche buns, the meat patty was accentuated by a slice of parmesan crisp that was made on the spot. The slightly savoury and aromatic crisp paired really well with the tasty beef patty that was bursting with flavour. I was also served the luxurious, well-marbled Japanese Kumamato A5 Wagyu. It was flambéed, grilled to our desired doneness, and precisely portioned into bite-sized cubes. The dish was served with a rich red wine sauce and roasted garlic cloves. Each bite melted in my mouth like soft butter, perfuming my palate with an unsurpassed fragrance that's only derived from Wagyu. However, if some customers aren't accustomed to the rich and fatty taste of A5, they can opt for the A4 instead. It comes with slightly less fat and tastes meatier. Dine at MINSUIZEN RAKU Omakase Teppanyaki during your birthday month and enjoy a complimentary signature dessert from the chef as a special birthday treat. It's also a perfect spot to celebrate your wedding anniversary. Click here to book a table. +65 6514 1990 182 Cecil Street, Frasers Tower, #03-01/02, Singapore 069547 Daily: 12.30pm – 3pm & 5.15pm – 10pm Facebook | Instagram | Website The vision of Benihana Singapore at Millenia Walk started from a Japanese guy, Rocky Aoki, whose parents evolved their humble coffee shop into a full-fledged restaurant. He wanted patrons to have an exceptional dining experience, and thus in 1964, he opened the first Benihara restaurant on New York's West 56th street. There are 3 options from their menu starting from S$78++ for you to take your pick. The mid-tier (S$98++) set starts off with a cold salad, a hot appetiser and the Beni Egg Roll, For seafood, choose between the Jumbo Tiger Prawn and Hokkaido Scallop and you'll also enjoy the Aus M5 Wagyu Steak or Aus Lamb Steak. The feast doesn't stop there, you'll also sink your teeth into the Vegetable Volcano, Beni Onion Soup, Garlic Fried Rice, and a dessert. For a little more action and theatrics, you can also top up extra seafood such as Lobster Tail (+S$58), Korean Abalone (+S$38) and Norwegian Salmon Steak (+S$15). 9 Raffles Boulevard, Millenia Walk, #01-41/42/42A/43, Singapore 039596 Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm & 6pm – 10pm Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10pm | Whoever said teppanyaki can't be eaten alone, clearly has not heard of Gochiya. Recently opened, Gochiya offers individual teppanyaki sets with options for hamburg, tonkatsu and more from just S$14.80. Grill your favourite meats on a personal iron plate and savour the goodness all by yourself! Some of their best-sellers include the Signature Hamburg Combo (S$22.90), made from a blend of highly-prized meats, with 60% Iberico and Mexico pork and 40% Rubia Gallega beef, as well as their Thick Iberico Loin (S$19.90). They come with sides and sauces, making this meal a bang for your buck. 1 Bukit Batok Central, Westmall, #B1-14, Singapore 658713 Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 9.30pm Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 10pm Here's one for the Easties! Nestled at a void deck in Tampines is this cosy izakaya run by an ex-fine dining chef. They offer a range of meats for their teppanyaki, from the premium Beef Steak (S$26.90 for 200g) to more affordable bites like the (chicken thigh) (S$12.90) or (S$12.90). Choose between the Teppanyaki or Black Pepper sauce to complement the juicy meat! All teppanyaki sets come with a bowl of pearly Japanese rice, but I'd recommend topping up S$2 to complete your set that includes miso soup and a variety of side dishes. Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo 824 Tampines Street 81, Block 824, #01-22, Singapore 520824 +65 6904 0866 Daily: 11.30am – 10pm | With several outlets around Singapore, Express Teppanyaki aims to reach out to the masses by bringing affordable teppanyaki into our daily lives. You can choose from the customised sets or a la carte ingredients. The choice of ingredients includes tenderloin, fish fillets, beef ribs and scallops, just to name a few. It can get quite crowded during dinner time though, so get there early to avoid the queue! For a list of locations and opening hours, click here. Website 17 affordable Japanese food in Singapore that will make you go Oishii! Ajiya Okonomiyaki is popular for its DIY okonomiyaki but you can also opt to have teppanyaki. Choose from meats like the Kurobuta Pork (S$25.50 per 150g), U.S. Short Prime Rib (S$37.50 per 150g) and A5 Japanese Beef (S$60 per 150g), then cook it yourself at the teppanyaki counter top or get the chef to cook it for you. For those who choose not to sit by the teppanyaki table, the meats will be cooked and served on a plate before serving to you. 104 Jalan Jurong Kechil, Singapore 598603 +65 6463 3461 Tue to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm Sat & Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm Closed on Mon | | Located in Pan Pacific Hotel, Keyaki Japanese Restaurant offers an extensive menu consisting of a mix of set courses and a la carte dishes. Find a variety of omakase, kaiseki, teppanyaki, sashimi, appetisers, grilled dishes, sushi and fried dishes. Their Classic Multi-Course is a selection of five set courses starting from S$220. Each set comes with an amuse bouche, a choice of sashimi or tempura, a range of seafood, wagyu, seasonal veggies and fried rice for the teppanyaki, finished off with miso soup and dessert. If that's not enough, try the a la carte dishes like the US Beef Tongue (S$35 per 100g), (S$50 for 2 pc), Whole Lobster (S$28 per 100g), Oyster (S$40) and Garlic Fried Rice (S$11). Besides teppanyaki, the range of sashimi Keyaki offers will leave you spoilt for choice: Scallop (S$10), Ark Shell (S$18) and Tuna Belly (S$23) galore. 7 Raffles Blvd, Pan Pacific Hotel Level 4, Singapore 039595 +65 6826 8240 Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm | | Not sure where to eat in Orchard Road without spending your entire month's salary? Here's another affordable teppanyaki stall situated in 2 Food Republics, one at 313@Somerset and the other at Wisma Atria. Sit by the counter top and you get to watch the chefs in action, flipping and cooking your ingredients on the teppan. From an affordable S$12.90, get your hands on the Black Pepper Sliced Chicken/Pork value set. Or if you're feeling a little more bougie, go for the Signature Black Pepper Beef Tenderloin Steak (S$18.80). Each set also comes with teppan vegetables, white rice, salad and the soup of the day. Sounds good right? Order Delivery: foodpanda For a list of locations, click . Sun to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm | Pokemon-shaped okonomiyaki? I'm sold! Seiwaa Okonomiyaki and Teppanyaki is the place to unleash your creativity and DIY your Japanese savoury pancake on the teppan. Choose from a selection of Pork (S$15), Seafood (S$18), Beef (S$18) or Mix (S$20) and have fun cooking it yourself. There is also the Ocean Seafood Grill Set for 2 pax at S$86. It comes with salmon, squid, prawns, oysters, scallops and vegetables. Meat lovers can opt for the Flavour Meat Grill Plate (S$68) with pork, marinated chicken, bacon, lamb, beef and vegetables. Trust me when I say that you won't leave this place hungry – a slew of side dishes, noodles and rice will keep you full and satisfied. 72 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209400 +65 6291 6084 Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm Closed on Sun | | Tatsu Teppanyaki is a cosy restaurant offering premium dishes with quality and freshness. There are four types of teppanyaki set courses to choose from, ranging from S$68 to S$178. Go for the affordable Set A (S$68) which will get you king prawns, beef, and an assortment of side dishes including garlic fried rice and Asari miso soup. Choose to sit by the counter and watch the chefs cook your dishes. The level of finesse and skill here is unparalleled! 30 Victoria Street, CHIJMES, #01-08, Singapore 187996 +65 6332 5868 Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm | | 19 best Korean BBQ restaurants in Singapore [May 2025 update] The post 10 Teppanyaki restaurants in Singapore for an interactive dining experience [Jun 2025 Update] appeared first on
