Regulations on  Vacation Rental Accommodation in Kyoto City

　Kyoto City has finally begun taking steps to regulate vacation rental accommodation (minpaku in Japanese). A draft amendment to the by-laws, which would effectively ban new businesses from opening in residential-only and industrial zones, is expected to be debated in the city council next financial year.

　In addition, amendments are expected to be made requiring existing vacation rental providers and guesthouse such as ours to have staff permanently stationed either on the premises or in an adjacent building. The key difference between vacation rental and guesthouse lies in the licensing requirements. Whilst vacation rental requires only a notification, guesthouse is subject to inspections under the Hotel Business Act, and a licence is granted only upon passing these inspections. Whilst vacation rental can currently be operated anywhere, including residential areas, guesthouse cannot be operated in residential areas.

　The fact that regulations are being considered even for licensed guesthouse is clear evidence that the presence of vacation rental and guesthouse is causing significant nuisance to neighbouring communities. Furthermore, just as it is said that nearly 90 per cent of vacation rental in Osaka is run by Chineses, I believe a major factor is that the economic benefits to the local community are scarcely recognised in Kyoto either.

　I am myself both the owner of a guesthouse and a resident who serves as the chair of my neighbourhood association; I believe that stricter regulations are unavoidable in order to weed out unscrupulous operators.

　I feel that, compared to the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, these stricter regulations are not unreasonable. I will continue to comply with the law and strive to provide the most comfortable environment possible for everyone.