KYOTO - Kyoto plans to introduce dual pricing for admission fees to Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as early as from fiscal 2027, charging out-of-town visitors twice as much as city residents, a source from the city government said Thursday.
The majority of tourists to the castle come from outside the western Japan city and it hopes to use the additional revenue for conservation and renovation purposes.
Currently, a ticket that includes admission to the castle and to view the Ninomaru Palace costs 1,300 yen ($8). Under the two-tier system, those from outside the city will be charged 2,000 yen while residents will pay 1,000 yen, the source said, with hopes that lower fees for locals may encourage them to visit.
About 2.07 million people visited Nijo Castle in fiscal 2025, which ended in March. While detailed residency data are unavailable, a survey held during a limited period in the fall last year found residents accounted for about 2 percent of visitors, according to the city.
The move comes as more tourist destinations in Japan begin implementing dual pricing. Himeji Castle, also a World Heritage site, in Hyogo Prefecture introduced the practice in March this year, raising the adult ticket fee to 2,500 yen for nonresidents while keeping it at 1,000 yen for Himeji locals aged 18 or above.
