Short answer: in Japan, official “dual pricing” so far means residents of a city pay less than everyone else. It is based on your address, not your passport. Himeji Castle is the best-known example: ¥2,500 for visitors and ¥1,000 for Himeji residents since 1 March 2026. Odawara Castle and 14 Kagoshima City facilities (sights and halls) do the same. Kyoto is proposing two-tier prices for city buses and Nijo Castle from fiscal 2027, but neither is approved yet.
Only prices with an official source are listed, checked on 10 October 2026. Proposals are labelled, and anything reported only by media is marked as press.
Where visitors pay more now (official)
| Place | Visitor price | Resident price | Who counts as a resident | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Himeji Castle (Hyogo) | ¥2,500 (age 18+) | ¥1,000 (age 18+) | People with an address in Himeji City | 1 Mar 2026 | Himeji City |
| Odawara Castle keep (Kanagawa) | Adult ¥1,000 · child (elementary/junior high) ¥300 | Adult ¥500 · child ¥200 | People with an address in Odawara City | 1 Mar 2026 | Odawara Castle (official); Odawara City Ordinance No. 30 (PDF) |
| Kagoshima City: 14 facilities (sights and halls), incl. Hirakawa Zoo, the city aquarium (io World) and the city art museum | “Non-resident price” (examples below) | “Resident price” | Kagoshima City residents (ID with address) | October 2025 | Kagoshima City |
Himeji Castle ticket details
- General (18+): ¥2,500. Groups of 30+: ¥2,000.
- Himeji residents (18+): ¥1,000. Groups of 30+: ¥800.
- Under 18 (including until the end of March after turning 18): free.
- Himeji Castle + Kokoen garden combined ticket: ¥2,600.
- Annual pass: ¥5,000.
- Residents prove their address with a My Number Card, a driving licence, or another official photo ID showing name and address (a residence card is accepted).
- Digital tickets are sold through the castle’s official ticket site, linked from the city page.
Source: Himeji City, as of 10 Oct 2026.
Odawara Castle details
The keep ticket now also covers the SAMURAI-kan exhibition room. Preschool children are free. The separate NINJA-kan costs ¥500 adult / ¥200 child (residents ¥300 / ¥100). Groups of 30+ get lower rates. Source: Odawara Castle, as of 10 Oct 2026.
Kagoshima City examples (adult general admission)
| Facility | Non-resident | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Hirakawa Zoological Park | ¥1,000 | ¥750 |
| Kagoshima City Aquarium (io World) | ¥2,000 | ¥1,500 |
| Museum of the Meiji Restoration (Ishin Furusato-kan) | ¥600 | ¥450 |
| Kagoshima City Science Hall | ¥800 | ¥600 |
| Kagoshima City Museum of Art (permanent exhibition) | ¥600 | ¥450 |
Source: Kagoshima City fee revision list (PDF, Japanese), prices from October 2025. Check each facility’s site before you go.
Proposed: not in force
| Place | Proposal | Current price | Target | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto City buses (flat-fare zone) | Non-residents about ¥350–400; residents ¥200 (children half) | ¥230 | During fiscal 2027 (Apr 2027–Mar 2028) | Proposed. The city has published an official outline, but the fare still needs a city ordinance change and national approval. Residents would be identified by linking a My Number Card to an IC card, and cash and coupon tickets would pay the non-resident fare. Source: Kyoto City Transportation Bureau (Japanese). Kyodo, citing a city government source, reports ¥360 [press]; not confirmed in an official document. |
| Nijo Castle (Kyoto), castle + Ninomaru Palace | Non-residents ¥2,000; Kyoto residents ¥1,000 [press] | ¥1,300 for everyone (official) | Fiscal 2027 [press] | Proposed, press only. Announced by the mayor on 1 Oct 2026; an ordinance amendment is due at the November city assembly (Jiji Press via Nippon.com, Kyodo). Current price: Nijo Castle official site. |
We’ll move a row to “official” only when the city publishes the approved price.
What this means for your trip
- It’s about where you live, not your nationality. Japanese visitors from other cities pay the higher price too. Foreign residents with an address in the city can usually get the resident price; Himeji explicitly accepts a residence card.
- Budget the visitor price. A family of two adults visiting Himeji Castle pays ¥5,000. Children under 18 are free, so teenagers cost nothing at Himeji.
- Combination tickets can soften it. Himeji’s castle + Kokoen ticket is ¥2,600, only ¥100 more than the castle alone.
- Private businesses are a different story. Restaurants, theme parks or tours that set their own “tourist” prices are not covered here. We list only public facilities with official prices.
FAQ
How much is Himeji Castle for tourists?
¥2,500 for anyone aged 18 or over who does not live in Himeji City, since 1 March 2026. Himeji residents pay ¥1,000, and under-18s are free.
Do foreign residents of Japan pay the resident price?
Only for the city they live in. The resident price is based on having an address in that city, and Himeji accepts a residence card as proof. A foreign resident of Osaka pays the visitor price at Himeji, just like a Japanese visitor from Tokyo.
Is Japan charging foreigners more than Japanese people?
Not in the official cases we found. Himeji, Odawara and Kagoshima City charge by residence: non-residents pay more whatever their nationality.
Will Kyoto charge tourists more for buses and Nijo Castle?
It is proposed, not decided. Kyoto’s official outline puts the non-resident bus fare at about ¥350–400 during fiscal 2027, and press reports say Nijo Castle would cost ¥2,000 for non-residents. Both still need approval.
How do I prove I am a resident?
Show official ID with your name and address. Himeji accepts a My Number Card, a driving licence or a residence card; Kagoshima City lists similar documents, and photocopies of photo ID are accepted there.
Related guides
- Hotel and departure taxes are rising too: see our Japan tourist tax tracker.
- Add entry fees to your Japan trip cost plan.
- Deciding where to go? Start with the best places to visit in Japan.
Changelog
- 10 Oct 2026: page published; official prices checked; Kyoto proposals labelled.
