Japan's Kyoto has more hotels than homes, overtourism leaves locals behind

Kyoto Has More Hotels Than Homes: Study Warns of Overtourism Crisis in Japan

The ancient city of Kyoto, once celebrated for its tranquil temples and quiet charm, is now grappling with a modern dilemma, too many hotel rooms, not enough homes. A new study has revealed that in certain neighborhoods of Kyoto, the number of tourist accommodations has outpaced residential housing, raising concerns about overtourism and its impact on local life.

The research, led by Junior Associate Professor Haruka Kato and published in Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, introduces the tourism-accommodation intensity index, a metric that compares the number of hotel rooms to the number of households in a given area. According to the findings, several districts in the southeastern periphery of Kyoto’s historic city center have crossed a critical threshold, where the number of hotel rooms now exceeds the number of homes.

This phenomenon, researchers say, is most pronounced in areas near transportation hubs. Neighborhoods close to Kyoto's main stations are particularly affected, becoming hotspots of commercial tourist activity at the expense of residential stability.

“Tourist accommodation is not inherently negative,” said Dr. Kato, “but when its density surpasses that of local housing, it signals a severe imbalance that can degrade residents' quality of life and hollow out communities.”

While tourism has long been a key economic driver for Kyoto, locals are increasingly finding themselves priced out and pushed aside. Experts warn that without immediate intervention, particularly in the form of strategic zoning regulations, the city's cultural fabric could erode further.

Dr. Kato’s study urges the Kyoto municipal government to adopt tighter zoning controls in and around the historic center to curb uncontrolled tourist accommodation growth and preserve residential spaces.

As global travel rebounds, the findings serve as a cautionary tale for other popular destinations facing similar pressures from overtourism. The question remains: how can cities like Kyoto welcome the world without losing themselves in the process?