S/ Hakone Mayor Katsumata Hiroyuki / As for the community development that our town envisions, a truly necessary and most effective new source of revenue is lodging tax.

The mayor of Hakone told a town assembly meeting on June 10 that the local government aims to introduce lodging tax by April 2028 for tourists who stay at accommodation facilities in the town.

Known for its hot springs, Hakone is a major Japanese tourist destination located in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo.

With the number of tourists in Hakone increasing in recent years, the town is faced with having to expand its infrastructure for aspects like garbage disposal and sewerage capacity to scopes that are much larger than its population.

The mayor said the town government will work on designing the tax system, with a review meeting group set to decide on details including the specific tax rate.