Shinjuku to Ban Over Half of Its Vacation Rentals After Resident Complaints Rise

Shinjuku, a busy commercial and entertainment hub in Tokyo, hosts about 4,000 short‑term rentals, according to the ward’s official website. This represents almost 10 % of all such rentals in Japan.

Local residents have become increasingly frustrated with visitors who leave rubbish, smoke in prohibited areas and create loud disturbances. The official said the number of complaints about trash disposal, smoking and noise rose about 40 % in the fiscal year ending March.

A Shinjuku official supervising holiday rentals told AFP on Monday that the district is planning to revise the current ordinance to ban private lodging in residential zones and near schools.

The official said more than 50 % of Shinjuku’s short‑term rentals will face a ban under the new rules, and that the plan would be formally announced by the Shinjuku mayor on Tuesday.

The policy will apply only to existing rentals and is likely to close around 2,000 properties. The exact number of affected Airbnb listings is unknown.

The move reflects growing concerns about overtourism in popular Japanese destinations, even as the country aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors by 2030.

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