Osaka Faces Turmoil Over Short-Term Rental Clampdown

Oct 10, 2025 | News On Japan

OSAKA - Osaka is grappling with a wave of confusion and last-minute activity after announcing it would halt new approvals for special “minpaku” short-term rental properties in response to mounting complaints over noise and garbage. One week after the policy shift, application counters are fully booked, with wait times stretching to two months.

The city has increased temporary staff to cope, but real estate operators warn the decision could slash profits by 30 percent and force a shift from minpaku operations to traditional rentals.

Unlike regular minpaku, which are limited to 180 days of operation per year, Osaka’s special district minpaku have no such cap, making them a vital accommodation alternative in a city with high inbound tourism. To meet surging demand, Osaka’s public health office expanded application counters in August and hired nine additional temporary staff last month. The city expects applications to rise further as businesses rush to submit before the suspension takes full effect, and is preparing additional support to handle the influx.

Among those affected is Li Dianlong, a real estate operator in Osaka’s Nishinari Ward. Originally from China, Li began operating special minpaku five years ago and now runs an 83-room building that is fully booked by foreign visitors. He had planned to build two more dedicated minpaku properties in the area, but those plans are now on hold. Instead, the new buildings will be converted into rental apartments, a change he estimates will reduce revenue by about 30 percent.

The impact of the city’s decision extends beyond individual businesses. The Japanese government aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors annually by 2030 — more than 1.6 times the record set last year — raising questions about how Osaka and other major destinations will meet future accommodation demand. The future of the city’s special minpaku system remains uncertain as authorities and businesses navigate the fallout.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS

Okinawa Braces for Powerful Typhoon No. 18

A very strong Typhoon No. 18 is moving west-northwest over waters south of Japan and is forecast to pass near Minamidaito Island on August 25 before approaching Okinawa and the Amami Islands, raising concerns over prolonged violent winds and heavy rain. As of 9 a.m. on August 24, the typhoon was moving west-northwest at 35 kilometers per hour while maintaining very strong intensity.

Lawson to Cut Onigiri Prices by 10 Yen

Lawson plans to cut prices on its main line of onigiri rice balls by 10 yen from September 29 as falling rice prices begin to feed through to retail costs.

Taiji Boosts Security Against Anti-Whaling Activists

Police have established a temporary police post in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, ahead of the September 1 opening of the annual drive hunt for whales and dolphins.

Taiwanese Woman Accused of Pouring Oil on National Treasure

A 39-year-old woman from Taiwan has been arrested on suspicion of pouring an oil-like liquid on the national treasure Buddha Footprint Stone at Yakushiji Temple in Nara in April, police said.

Death Row Inmate Executed for Deadly Pachinko Parlor Fire

Japan executed 58-year-old death row inmate Sunao Takami on August 21 for setting fire to a pachinko parlor in Osaka in 2009, killing five people and injuring 10 others, in the first execution carried out under the Takaichi administration.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Suzuki Unveils Kei EV Prototype With 310-Kilometer Range

Suzuki has unveiled a prototype of its first kei-class electric vehicle, the e SKY, which is scheduled to go on sale during the current fiscal year with a driving range of 310 kilometers, among the longest offered by a domestically produced kei EV.

Okinawa Taxi Drivers Seek 60% Higher Pay

Following the fare revision, a labor union representing taxi drivers in the prefecture and other groups held a news conference calling for the proportion of operating revenue paid to drivers to be raised from its current level to at least 60%.

China's Rare-Earth Magnet Exports to Japan Halve in July

China's exports of rare-earth magnets to Japan fell by more than half in July from a year earlier, while shipments of tungsten carbide remained at zero for a sixth consecutive month, according to trade data released by Chinese customs authorities.

Japan Consumer Prices Rise 1.8% in July as Food Costs Climb

Japan's nationwide core consumer price index rose 1.8% in July from a year earlier, with the pace of inflation accelerating for a second consecutive month as higher food prices and a rebound in energy costs outweighed a sharp decline in rice prices.

Mitsubishi Electric to Acquire U.S. Software Firm for Record 220 Billion Yen

Mitsubishi Electric said on August 20 that it will acquire U.S.-based PCI Energy Solutions, a developer of software used to manage electricity trading and other energy operations, in a deal worth about 220 billion yen, the largest acquisition in the Japanese company's history.

Nikkei Rebounds 890 Points as U.S. Bond Relief Lifts Risk Appetite

Tokyo stocks rebounded on August 20, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,216.79, up 890.37 points, or 1.36%, as gains in U.S. equities, a sharp rally in South Korean semiconductor shares and easing global bond-market stress encouraged investors to buy back Japanese shares after two days of heavy selling.

Japan's Revised Labor Guidelines Focus on Workers' Health

Japan's labor ministry will revise its guidance on overtime from September 1, moving away from a uniform recommendation that workplaces keep overtime within 45 hours a month and placing greater emphasis on whether employers have adequate measures in place to protect workers' health.

Whistleblowers Face Multimillion-Yen Lawsuits

Whistleblowers who expose suspected wrongdoing at companies and other organizations in Japan are increasingly finding themselves targeted by multimillion-yen damages claims, raising questions over whether the country's legal system adequately protects people who report misconduct.

< 2 3 4 5 >