Japan's popular castle increases ticket prices by 200% for non-locals.

So, Himeji Castle’s making major moves with a new tiered ticket pricing system, and let me tell you, if you're not local, it’s gonna cost you big time. This is Japan's most stunning castle, and right now, locals pay just 1,000 yen for adults, but tourists not from Himeji? We're talking an increase to between 2,000 and 3,000 yen. Yeah, they’re doubling or even tripling those fees! They’re claiming it’s to fund extra earthquake-proofing, but uh, it definitely feels like they're trying to cash in on tourists. Imagine flipping from student rates of 300 yen for high school kids to 1,000 yen for locals just over a birthday!

But hey, there’s a silver lining for kids under 17—it’s free admission for them, no matter where they’re from. Great for children from around the world, but a bummer for 18-year-olds still in high school, who suddenly face hefty fees. And the responses online are buzzing. People are saying things like, “See ya, Himeji” and “Who wants to pay that much?” The bottom line? While foreign tourists might shrug off the price hike as part of their grand Japanese adventure, local visitors? Not so much. Himeji might just become the least desirable spot for day trippers if it continues down this road.

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