Residents in Kyoto neighborhood ban short-term rentals

Residents of the Shimoseizoguchicho address in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, have received city approval for neighborhood bylaws that will ban Airbnb-style rentals, apartment buildings and enforce strict height limits.

This is expected to be a model case for neighborhoods struggling with a rise in short-term accommodation facilities and apartment development.

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by Zoe Ward

Shinjuku plans to ban short-term accommodation on weekdays

Tokyo’s Shinjuku district is finalizing plans that will impose stricter limitations on short-term accommodation in some residential zones. The city is currently in the process of seeking public comments that will help shape the final regulations.

Under the proposal, properties located in exclusive residential zones cannot be let out to guests from Monday through Thursday, limiting the maximum allowable nights per year to 156, below the national government’s proposed limit of 180 nights per year.

What are exclusive residential zones?Read more

by Zoe Ward

Daiwa to build 3,000 apartments for short-term letting

According to the Nikkei Shimbun, Daiwa House Industry is planning to develop 3,000 serviced apartments nationwide to tap into the growing demand for comfortable, short-term accommodation for foreign tourists. The apartment hotels, or serviced apartments, will include kitchens, rooms for up to 4 ~ 6 guests, and allow guests to stay for as little as one night.Read more

by Zoe Ward

32 million Yen lawsuit filed against illegal Airbnb hosts in Osaka apartment building

The owners association of a condominium in Osaka’s Minami district have filed a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court seeking 32,670,000 Yen (approx. 300,000 USD) in damages from hosts providing illegal overnight accommodation in the building.

According to the association, 5 of the 100 apartments in the 10 year old building have been rented out to overnight guests using online booking sites, contravening the building management bylaws. The association made attempts to have the hosts, who also owned the apartments, stop the activity by imposing fines of 50,000 Yen per day and putting up posters in the building. However, their attempts were ignored.

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by Zoe Ward

Local groups seek ban on unlicensed short-term letting in Hakuba

Hakuba’s local tourism associations are seeking a ban on short-term Airbnb-type accommodation because it could threaten the already-low operational rates of the village’s existing inns and hotels.

Hakuba’s Kirikubo and Shinden districts at the foot of the Hakuba Iwatake Ski Resort have 68 licensed lodgings that have operating ratios of around 15 ~ 20%, as reported by the Iwatake Tourism Association. The president of the Association says the village already has enough accommodation options for foreign and domestic tourists and believes that the new model of short-term Airbnb-type lettings is something more suited to a large city.

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by Zoe Ward

Short-term accommodation hosts to be hit with 180 day limit

The Japanese government is currently in the process of introducing a new law to govern the rapidly growing market of short-term letting of individual homes and apartments, and will be imposing strict rules on hosts. The maximum number of days that a property can be let out is expected to be capped at 180 days a year, while maximum fines will be lifted from 30,000 Yen to 1,000,000 Yen for hosts found to be violating the new law.

Accommodation listing sites may be obligated to impose checks on hosts and remove listings once a property has reached the 180 day limit. Local governments will also have the power to reduce the annual limit even further, even to 0 days a year.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Taiwan company buys building in Ota-ku for short-term accommodation

Tokyo-based real estate developer, Best Way, has sold one of their apartment buildings in Ota-ku to Taiwanese corporation Wellglory.

The building is currently under construction and due for completion in January 2017. The property was sold in anticipation of a potential further relaxation the the short-term leasing rules in Japan.

Earlier this year Best Way announced that they were building a 5-storey apartment building in Ota-ku that was specifically designed for short-term rentals. The building will contain 17 studio-type apartments. Units will feature connecting doors that allow flexibility and to cater to changing needs from occupants. It will also have additional security features as well sound-proofing and a coin laundry for guests to use.Read more

by Zoe Ward