Foreigners traveling to Japan’s Himeji Castle may soon have to pay six times more than domestic visitors, as the city’s mayor attempts to combat surging tourism and a weak local currency that makes the country a little too attractive to visitors.
The entrance fee for Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Hyōgo Prefecture, is currently 1,000 yen — roughly $7 — for visitors ages 18 and up. At a news conference Sunday, Himeji Mayor Hideyasu Kiyomoto said he would like foreigners to pay $30 and locals to pay $5, with the intent of putting the money toward castle maintenance.