May 22 (NHK) - A new law that's set take effect in Japan next month in principle allows anyone to rent out their property as private lodging if they register with local authorities. It's seen as a way to accommodate a growing number of tourists, but so far only a small number of home owners have signed up.
The Japan Tourism Agency says there were about 700 registrations nationwide as of May 11th, with only a few weeks left until the law comes into force.
The exact number of private lodgings for rent in Japan is unknown. But one leading tourist accommodation website has some 62,000 properties listed throughout the country.
Agency officials say property owners may think the law, and additional rules set by local governments, are too strict. They say some may be opting for a different type of license to circumvent the new law's limit on the number of business days they can operate.
People running private lodging businesses without registering will be fined under the new law. Agency officials are urging interested parties to file as soon as possible.
