Koreans planning trips to the United States are worried about privacy intrusions, but many are also turning to self-censorship. Posts are piling up on U.S.-travel community sites, including comments like, “I have to go to the United States, so I deleted all my social media posts,” and, “I’m worried even my YouTube comments could cause problems.”
Kyoto, a city beloved by Koreans, will raise its lodging tax tenfold, from the current maximum of 1,000 yen ($6.31) per person per night to 10,000 yen starting March 1. In April, Hokkaido will introduce a lodging tax, with a rate of up to 500 yen, and 13 municipalities, including Sapporo, will also impose their own lodging taxes.
I’m missing the exact tax rate. A maximum doesn’t really mean much, does it? If the tax rate is, I don’t know, 1% of the price for one night (it’s probably more, I’ll assume, but let’s say for argument’s sake) and you reach that maximum of 10,000 yen, I’m not sure I have a lot of sympathy with your rich ass.
I’m confused. 10k yen is $63 dollars. Where is the “rich” part of this? Maybe I don’t understand. Or is that the point? That the tax is basically not high at all?
10k Yen lodging tax is only for rooms that cost more than $630 per person per night. For rooms that cost less than $130 per person per night, the tax is only 200 Yen or $1.26 with a couple tiers in between but it isn’t ‘expensive’ until you’re paying at least $300 pp/pn for your lodging.
Well, it seems that people are complaining that the tax is making stays in Kyoto too expensive. If the tax rate is 1%, the stay has to be very expensive on its own already for the additional tax to even reach the maximum of 10,000 yen. If you’re able to afford that kind of hotel, tax or not, I’d consider you rich and wouldn’t like to hear you complain.
I don’t know if the tax is high or not though, that’s what I’m trying to find out because it’s a lot more meaningful than just the maximum amount.
Ah, I get what you’re saying now. Haven’t had coffee yet. Thanks for the help.