Famous for its vibrant commercial and entertainment areas, Shinjuku currently has about 4,000 short-term rental facilities, accounting for nearly 10% of the total number of facilities of this type in Japan.
A local official in charge of managing short-term rental activities said that the district is planning to amend current regulations, in the direction of banning this type in residential areas and areas near schools.
More than 50% of existing facilities will be banned under new regulations. The plan is expected to be announced by Shinjuku Mayor on September 8 and will only apply to operating facilities. About 2,000 locations may have to close, including some facilities promoted on the Airbnb platform.
The increase in the number of private accommodation businesses has led to an increase in complaints and related issues. The number of complaints at Shinjuku increased by about 40% in the 12 months up to March this year. Many complaints are related to improper garbage disposal, smoking in prohibited places, causing noise and illegal entry.
Some owners at Shinjuku have not yet commented on this issue when contacted by AFP.
Japan aims to welcome 60 million international visitors by 2030, up from 42 million in 2025. However, the increasing number of tourists is becoming a major challenge for this country.
In Kyoto and many other famous tourist destinations, people are complaining about congestion, traffic jams and rising land prices. Kyoto is also considering banning the opening of new short-term rental facilities in residential and industrial areas.
Last July, the Japan Tourism Organization empowered local authorities to manage short-term rental activities if the living and educational environment is threatened or this activity affects the long-term maintenance of the community.
Many cities around the world have also tightened management of this type due to concerns about the increasing number of tourists and the impact on housing supply. Barcelona (Spain) aims to ban tourists from renting apartments by 2029. In New York (USA), regulations from 2023 prohibit renting houses under 30 days, except for homeowners living in real estate.
