Old hotels closing due to earthquake-resistance concerns
More and more old hotels across Japan are starting to close down following the introduction of new laws which require public-use buildings over a certain scale to meet current earthquake-resistant construction codes. Hotels, ryokans, department stores, theatres, and hospitals built before 1981, over 3-storeys, and with a total floor area of over 5,000 sqm are the target of the new laws.
Building inspections were required to be carried out before the end of 2015, after which hotels would be required to carry out earthquake retrofitting if necessary. Subsidies from prefectural governments are available to cover a portion of the cost of inspections and retrofitting although the majority must be covered by the property owner or hotel operator.
The introduction of these new rules has led to the closure of the following hotels:Read more