Editorial Desk
Kyoto announced on the 15th that it will pilot a “quietness tax” for tourists who speak loudly near popular destinations before 7 a.m. The charge will be ¥300 per incident in temple districts and historic areas.
The city says the revenue will fund early-morning cleaning and the preservation of “audible temple bells.” An official involved in designing the program said, “People assume quiet is free, but someone has to protect it.”
“Quiet guides” carrying sound meters will collect the fee. Sleep-talking and birdsong are exempt. Anyone disputing a reading may file an appeal in a whisper on the spot.
The pilot runs through March, after which the city will review feedback from residents and travelers. This article and the policy described are fictional.
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