Tourism Japanese municipalities to gain more control over private lodgings

[thomas]

The JTA plans to inform local governments later this month that they may use local ordinances to effectively ban minpaku (民泊) private lodging in certain areas. The move is intended to help communities address complaints about noise, rubbish, and other issues linked to short-term rentals in residential neighbourhoods.

If issued, the notice would represent a shift in the agency's position. Until now, it had generally argued that outright restrictions on private lodging were inappropriate given the government's efforts to promote the sector. Under Japanese law, owners may rent out vacant homes or spare rooms to tourists for up to 180 days a year. The service has grown steadily in recent years, with around 40,700 properties registered as of May 2026. Some local governments have already sought ways to limit or effectively prohibit minpaku operations in response to residents' concerns. In a few cases, municipalities have used ordinances to reduce the annual operating limit from 180 days to zero.

The Japanese government, however, has taken the view in its guidelines for local governments that prohibiting it is "inappropriate" and "deviates" from the purpose of the law. The agency's new notice would say local governments may introduce regulations if the number of private lodgings is expected to increase around residential areas or in the vicinity of educational institutions and they are feared to worsen the living environment. It would also state that local governments can restrict existing ones in cases where the negative consequences of having private lodgings around have already emerged. They can also make it mandatory for operators to install sound-level meters and surveillance cameras.

Japan to clear way for local gov'ts to effectively ban private lodgings - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japan Tourism Agency plans to notify local governments that they may effectively ban

mainichi.jp

 

[Ukigumo]

Capitalism should mean you can do anything reasonable to make money. I'm not a fan of 100% capitalism

 

[mdchachi]

Just the other day in Birmingham (not the UK) there was an incident caused by an enterprising capitalist.

Birmingham officials are investigating a weekend pool party that has made quite a splash.

The gathering was held at a home in the 300 block of Westchester Way near Cranbrook and Maple Roads in the city on June 13, according to authorities.

More than 100 people were at the event, according to media reports. Traffic to the party blocked streets, and neighbors allegedly called police at least a dozen times to complain, the reports said. They also said women were dancing provocatively on top of vehicles.
City officials said Tuesday that the homeowner rented the pool in the yard to a third party, which then rented it out for the weekend gathering.

"Following a review of this emerging type of residential rental activity, city officials determined that renting a private residential pool to a third party violates zoning regulations governing single-family residential properties," the officials said in a statement. "Multiple citations are being issued to both the property owner and the individual who rented the pool and hosted the event. The conduct and behavior associated with the party were unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Birmingham neighborhoods."

And from the same article a mention of an only-in-America incident that surprises no one and is pretty much unremarkable news around here.

Last month, the city said it was cracking down on short-term rentals in residential areas after a shooting this spring at an Airbnb. Police said an argument during a party at a short-term rental home escalated into the shooting.

 

[johnnyG]

Swimming pools are liability disasters waiting to happen, esp if at a rental.