Japan to clear way for local gov'ts to effectively ban private lodgings

The notice to be sent later this month would mark a reversal of the agency's longstanding stance that banning private lodging is inappropriate from the viewpoint of promoting the service.Owners can rent out vacant homes or rooms to tourists for up to 180 days per year under a relevant Japanese law. The service has gained popularity in recent years, with around 40,700 properties registered for private lodging use as of May.Japan has seen some moves at the local level to effectively ban the service to address residents' concerns, including by setting the 180-day operating limit to zero throug…READ FULL ARTICLE