The government will try to minimize the restrictions that municipalities concerned about noise and traffic place on private lodging businesses in residential areas, officials said Tuesday.
While local governments are allowed to put limits on the minpaku services, the central government — relying on the services to accommodate a surge in foreign travelers — will require municipalities to regulate the services only in limited areas and for limited periods of time.
In June, the Diet enacted a law that allows property owners to rent out vacant homes or rooms to tourists for up to 180 days per year after notifying municipalities. The law will come into force next June.
Some local governments in popular tourist destinations, including Kyoto and Hokkaido, have been considering introducing their own rules governing the services because they are concerned about detrimental effects.