Tokyo’s Shinjuku moves to curb holiday rentals amid overtourism concerns

Tokyo's vibrant Shinjuku district is set to implement a ban on over half of its holiday rentals, including homes on Airbnb, due to growing concerns over overtourism. The decision comes after a surge in complaints from residents about visitors who fail to properly dispose of rubbish, smoke in prohibited areas, and create excessive noise.

Currently, there are approximately 4,000 short-term rentals in Shinjuku, which make up nearly 10% of Japan's total. The new rules will only apply to existing rentals and are expected to close around 2,000 properties, including an unknown number of Airbnb listings. The policy will be formally announced by Shinjuku's mayor on Tuesday.

Japan aims to attract 60 million foreign tourists by 2030, but the country is grappling with the issue of overtourism, particularly in popular destinations like Kyoto. In response, authorities in Japan and other global cities are implementing stricter regulations on short-term rentals.