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Nov 17, 2025 19:33 (JST)
Tokyo, Nov. 17 (Jiji Press)–The Osaka prefectural government and some municipalities in the western Japan prefecture on Monday submitted to the Japanese government a proposal to stop accepting new applications for “minpaku” private lodging services in special zones, starting May 30, 2026.
The proposal was made at an area meeting of the national strategic special zones held at the Cabinet Office, in response to repeated complaints from residents in some areas about the behavior of some foreign guests staying at private accommodations used as minpaku facilities.
The prefectural government and the municipalities will decide whether to resume accepting minpaku applications, based on central government reforms aimed at strengthening local governments’ authority to provide guidance and supervision.
The suspension would cover the city of Osaka and 29 municipalities under the prefecture’s jurisdiction. Yao and Neyagawa, both ordinance-designated core cities in Osaka, will stop taking new applications after receiving central government approval.
The minpaku special zones were established as an exemption from the hotel business law to address a shortage of accommodations amid rising inbound tourism.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Jiji Press
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