Kyoto's Acute Accommodation Shortage

Above, a view of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In October 2015, we visited Kyoto, Japan. But we didn't stay there.

Instead, we booked a room in Osaka, which is less than an hour away via commuter train. We had no problem in finding accommodations in Osaka.

However, visitors to Japan are finding it difficult to find accommodations in Kyoto.

According to Japan Today:

KYOTO —Kyoto, deemed one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, is facing a pressing problem—an acute shortage of accommodation. 

“More than 55 million tourists visit Kyoto annually,” said Mayo Mieno, a Kyoto city government official. The increase in foreign visitors has been so steep in recent years that Japanese travelers have started complaining of being unable to find places to stay, she said. 

There are many foreign visitors in group tours who have no other choice but to stay as far away as in Mie or Okayama prefectures, when visiting the ancient capital of Japan, according to Mieno. 

Major hotels in Kyoto are almost fully booked with occupancy rates standing at around 90 percent all year round.

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