Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward is set to ban more than half of short-term vacation rentals in response to a surge in complaints from residents, according to multiple reports. The move targets listings used by tourists, including those on platforms such as Airbnb, particularly in residential areas and near sensitive locations.
Shinjuku is known for major commercial and entertainment areas and high visitor traffic, including the Kabukicho district and Tokyo’s busiest railway station. Outlets report that the ward has about 4,000 short-term rentals, and that the planned restrictions cover a substantial portion of them. The complaints described across sources include improper rubbish disposal, noise at inappropriate times, and smoking in prohibited areas.
The reports also differ slightly in how they frame the scope and locations affected. The Guardian and other outlets specify that bans apply to accommodations in residential neighbourhoods and near schools and cultural sites, while CNA and Free Malaysia Today focus more on resident frustrations about littering and disruptive behaviour. Overall, the accounts converge on Shinjuku’s effort to limit short-term rental use in areas where residents and visitors’ activities clash.
