The Agency for Cultural Affairs has authorized higher entry fees for overseas tourists at state-run museums.
Junglia Okinawa theme park offers single-day passes at 6,930 yen ($43) for domestic residents and 8,800 yen ($54.45) for international visitors.
British traveler Lauren Kelly expressed reservations, calling dual pricing "segregating" in a mature economy.
Overseas tourist arrivals in Japan surpassed 42 million last year, prompting a target of 60 million annual visitors by 2030.
International visitor spending surged 16% in 2025 to a record 9.5 trillion yen ($59 billion).
The Japan Tourism Agency expanded its budget by over 700% to 10 billion yen ($62 million) for counter-overtourism technology, including AI crowd-detection cameras and smart waste bins.
Two-tier pricing is widely used across Asia, including India's Taj Mahal and Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
The trend is expanding to Europe; Paris's Louvre museum raised entry fees for non-European Economic Area residents by 45% to €32 ($36.40) in January.
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Fujihara acknowledged potential financial pressures on domestic travelers but emphasized the economic contributions of inbound tourism.
