Do tourists pay more in Japan?

At a short but growing list of places, yes. As of 2026-10-16 this checker tracks 27 places with dual pricing in force. The best known is Himeji Castle: since March 1, 2026 adults pay ¥2,500 unless they live in Himeji City (¥1,000), and under-18s are free. Most shops, restaurants, trains and temples still charge everyone the same price.

Almost never. Japanese dual pricing is based on where you are registered as living: the city (Himeji, Odawara, Kitakyushu, Kagoshima, Sapporo), the prefecture (Nara Prison Museum's Nara rate) or Japan as a whole (JUNGLIA, Nanzoin, the planned national-museum prices). A Japanese visitor from Tokyo pays the same ¥2,500 at Himeji Castle as a tourist from abroad, and a foreign resident of Himeji pays ¥1,000.

Usually not. If you live in Japan with a residence card and a registered address, you get the resident price wherever the test is 'lives in Japan' (Nanzoin is free, JUNGLIA is ¥6,930 instead of ¥8,800, Nara Prison Museum ¥2,500 instead of ¥3,500). Where the test is a specific city, you need an address in that city, like any Japanese citizen. Carry your residence card or My Number card.

¥2,500 for adults (18+) who do not live in Himeji City, which includes tourists from abroad and people from the rest of Japan. Himeji residents pay ¥1,000 and verify with a My Number card (digital ticket) or ID at the booth. Under-18s are free for everyone. Groups of 30+: ¥2,000 (non-residents). Himeji Castle + Kōko-en combo ¥2,600.

Yes, it is planned. On October 1, 2026 Kyoto's mayor announced that the entry + Ninomaru Palace set ticket (¥1,300 today) will become ¥1,000 for Kyoto City residents and ¥2,000 for everyone else during FY2027 (April 2027 to March 2028). The ordinance goes to the city council in November 2026. Until then everyone pays ¥1,300.

That is the plan. Kyoto City's 'citizen-priority fare' (市民優先価格) would make the flat-zone bus fare ¥200 for registered Kyoto City residents and ¥360 for everyone else (today ¥230 for all), from FY2027, subject to national approval. Residents would link a My Number card to an IC card; cash payers pay the non-resident fare. Residents of neighbouring cities would also pay ¥360.

In force: Himeji Castle, Odawara Castle keep, Nanzoin Temple (Reclining Buddha), JUNGLIA Okinawa (theme park), Nara Prison Museum by Hoshino Resorts, Sapporo TV Tower observation deck, Asahiyama Zoo, Takeshima Aquarium, Chidorigafuchi boat rental (cherry-blossom season), Hakoyu public bath (Shuzenji), and more (see the checker). Announced: Nijo Castle and Kyoto City Bus (FY2027), national museums and art museums (by March 2031). Under review: Kenrokuen (committee from October 2026). Dropped: Osaka Castle (¥1,200 for everyone).

Not yet. The Agency for Cultural Affairs decided in 2026 that national museums and art museums (Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto, Nara, Kyushu, the National Museum of Western Art and others) will introduce a higher price for visitors who do not live in Japan by the end of FY2030 (March 2031). No museum has set a price; reports of up to ¥3,000 at the Tokyo National Museum (¥1,000 today) are not official. Foreign residents are not supposed to pay the higher price.

This checker only lists places with an official, documented resident / non-resident price. Many 'foreigner price' stories online are really local-resident discounts (a lower price for people registered in the town) or seasonal pricing that applies to everyone. If a place is not listed here, assume one price and check the operator's current price list.

Something showing your address: a My Number card, driver's license, health insurance card or residence card. Some places (Kagoshima City, Himeji) also accept a digital ID. Without proof you pay the general price, even if you live there.

There is no law against it, and each facility decides. The Japan Tourism Agency set up a study group on tourist-site pricing in April 2026 and plans guidelines for public facilities by March 2027, so more places are expected to follow. Osaka Prefecture considered and dropped a foreigner levy in 2025.

Yes. Free, no key, CORS open: GET https://japan-dual-pricing.vercel.app/api/check?places=himeji-castle,odawara-castle,nanzoin&residence=overseas returns what you pay at each place, the cheapest resident price, the difference, planned prices, proof rules and sources. All data at https://japan-dual-pricing.vercel.app/api/rules, OpenAPI at https://japan-dual-pricing.vercel.app/openapi.json, and the japan_dual_pricing_check tool on https://free-agent-tools.vercel.app/mcp.

姫路城（姫路市民1,000円／市民以外2,500円、2026年3月〜）、小田原城（市民500円／市民以外1,000円）、南蔵院（日本在住者は無料／海外からの参拝者500円）、ジャングリア沖縄（国内在住者6,930円／一般8,800円）、奈良監獄ミュージアム（奈良県民2,000円／日本在住2,500円／海外在住3,500円）、さっぽろテレビ塔、北九州市の4施設、鹿児島市の14施設などです。二条城（市民1,000円／市民以外2,000円）と京都市バス（市民200円／市民以外360円）は2027年度の導入予定です。

多くの施設は国籍ではなく住所（住民登録）で判定します。日本在住が条件の施設（南蔵院、ジャングリア沖縄など）では在留カード等で住所が確認できれば在住者料金、市民料金の施設（姫路城など）ではその市に住所がある人だけが市民料金です。他市に住む日本人も市民以外の料金になります。