Tokyo tourist hotspot bans short-term rentals amid surge in complaints
Shinjuku ward targets accommodation in residential areas and near cultural sites as locals complain visitors disposing of rubbish improperly and being too noisy
TL;DR
- Shinjuku ward, Tokyo, will ban short-term rentals in residential areas and near schools and cultural sites.
- The ban is a response to over 1,300 complaints from residents regarding tourist behavior, including improper trash disposal and noise.
- Shinjuku has the largest number of private lodgings (minpaku) in Japan, with 3,775 units, almost half of which are in residential areas.
- The number of minpaku in Shinjuku has nearly tripled since 2022.
- The ward plans to reduce the maximum rental days per year for minpaku in residential areas from 180 to 120.
- Other cities like Kyoto are also implementing stricter regulations on short-term rentals to mitigate 'tourism pollution'.
- Japan recorded a record 42 million visitors in the previous year, with a target of 60 million by 2030.