Bimyō (微妙) is an essential concept in Japanese culture. An embrace of ambiguity, of subtlety, of nuance, the word explains everyday conversations where nobody says exactly what they mean, and many Japanese arts, like flower arranging, where the space between the blossoms is considered as important as the petals, stems, and colors.
What's not bimyō in Japan right now is the country's treatment of visitors. With the subtlety of a sumo wrestler slamming an opponent to the mat, a growing number of attractions are charging non-Japanese visitors a higher fee to enter or take part in iconic activities.
The latest to adopt this policy is Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, a famed site for viewing cherry blossoms in spring. To see the sakura trees in bloom, people can rent boats and drift along the park's waterways while taking in the scenery.
But this year, during Japan's unusually early cherry blossom season, the ticket machines at Chidorigafuchi pier prompted would-be boat renters to disclose whether or not they are local residents. If they aren't, the prices increased.
IDs and tickets were then checked when renters entered the boat paddock. If at least one member of a group in the boat is a local, all participants get the local rate. Parties composed solely of out-of-towners pay more.
This follows famed Himeji Castle adding a similar two-tier system for entry fees earlier this month. Likewise, Niseko United resorts in Hokkaido added surcharges to lift fees for non-Japanese skiers. And Junglia theme park in Okinawa sells English speakers a pass that is $12 pricier than regular admission.
Restaurant reservations in Japan may also carry a fee that locals don’t have to pay. The country's largest reservation service, Tabelog, has a service fee of ¥440 ($2.75) per person per booking on its English-language, Chinese, and Korean platforms—but none on the Japanese version.
It has been widely reported that other local governments in the country are considering pricing increases for visitors as well.
Why is Japan charging international tourists extra?
Generally, the increase in fees for visitors has been explained as a way to combat overtourism.
Japan saw a 16% increase in foreign visitation between 2024 and 2025, welcoming about 42.7 million visitors last year—a new record.
In the case of Chiyoda Ward, officials have said that having to hire multilingual staff is driving up operating costs for boat rentals.
We should note that Japan isn't alone in adding these sorts of fees.
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut get in free, while all other museumgoers have to pay $30 for entry.
There are also higher fees for nonlocal visitors at the Louvre in Paris, India's Taj Mahal, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Egypt's pyramids, and dozens of other sites worldwide.
In perhaps the most startling example of this trend, international visitors at 11 of the most popular U.S. national parks now have to pay a surcharge of $100 for entry.
Given the growing prevalence of such policies (though few are as draconian as the national parks measure adopted in the U.S.), there are two steps international travelers should consider taking.
First, before you set a budget do an internet search for attraction prices. They're going up rapidly, especially for out-of-country visitors, and you'll need to plan accordingly.
The second tip is more fun: Make local friends when you travel. Residents often get prioritzied for entry, and—as in the case of the park in Tokyo—they might be allowed to bring along outsiders for a lower price.
Not to mention that getting to know the people you're traveling among can enrich your trip in all sorts of intangible ways, too.