Japan mulling mandatory “Minpakuˮ biz holidays

September 9, 2017

TOKYO- The Japan Tourism Agency is considering requesting municipalities to designate periods during which "minpaku" private lodging services must be shut in their regions, Jiji Press learned Friday.

Municipalities will be free to decide when to set such local minpaku business holidays, according to the agency's draft guidelines for municipalities on the new breed of lodging services.

The agency plans to finalize by the end of March 2018 the guidelines, which will encourage municipalities to set their own rules under ordinances to make minpaku services suitable for local circumstances.

The draft guidelines cited examples of prohibited places and periods, such as areas near schools and nurseries on weekdays and mountain settlements during the autumn leaf season and other periods of heavy traffic.

In June this year, Japan enacted a law that spells out rules for minpaku services.

Under the law, to be implemented by June 2018, minpaku business operators will be allowed to do business for up to 180 days per year.

The law will also enable the prefectural and other local governments to shorten the maximum operating period in selected areas in order to prevent local living environments from deteriorating.

Expectations are running high for minpaku services as foreign visitors to Japan are increasing. Meanwhile, concerns are mounting that such businesses may cause noise, garbage and other problems to neighbors. Jiji Press