Tourism Horyuji joins ranks of Nara temples charging higher fees

One of Japan's most renowned Buddhist temples, Horyuji, is set to increase its admission fees to offset rising management and staffing costs. Temple administrators attributed the need for a fee hike to the decline in visitor numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing expenses of preserving its cultural treasures and maintaining its staff. The UNESCO World Heritage site currently charges JPY 1,500 (USD 11) for visitors aged in junior high school and above. Starting next March, adult visitors and university and senior high school students must pay JPY 2,000 (USD 14). Junior high school students will pay JPY 1,700 (USD 12), while elementary school students will see their fees increase from JPY 750 (USD 5.3) to 1,000 (USD 7).

This is the first time since January 2015 that Horyuji will raise its admission fees. Temple officials say the increase is needed to pass down its precious cultural assets to the next generation. Todaiji and Yakushiji in the ancient capital of Nara have also raised their fees this year. Kohfukuji plans to do so starting next April.

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