About
Neutral data platform for Japan vacation rental (minpaku) analysis, covering all 1,794 municipalities, 3,595 regulation records, and bimonthly Tourism Agency statistics.
This platform provides data visualization and analysis only. We do not act as a real estate intermediary or broker.
Data Coverage
1,794
Municipalities
3,595
Regulation Records
9,000+
Time-Series Data Points
Data Sources
- Registration data — Japan Tourism Agency minpaku registration status (bimonthly)
- Performance data — Japan Tourism Agency minpaku performance data (bimonthly)
- Regulation data — Municipal ordinances and government guidelines (quarterly review)
Founder Background
This platform is not built from a simple starting point of data scraping or front-end presentation. It is built on the founder's long-term understanding of urban space, land use, and institutional rules. The founder combines a civil engineering and urban planning background with software development and AI systems capabilities, allowing the platform to bridge the gap between regulatory understanding and technical implementation. That makes it possible to interpret data dimensions that are usually hard to standardize, such as zoning categories, building constraints, and local ordinances. Our goal is not just to display information, but to help users truly see the investment logic of minpaku in each city. Going forward, the platform will continue to iterate on data depth, analytical capability, and user experience to provide decision support with lasting value.
Contact
For any questions or business inquiries, please contact me by email.
Email: jimmyryu6942@gmail.com
FAQ
Which areas in Japan allow year-round vacation rental operation?
Under Japan's Private Lodging Business Act (住宅宿泊事業法), the nationwide cap for vacation rentals is 180 days per year — no area can exceed this. Simple lodging permits under the Ryokan (Inn) Law have no day limit but require stricter fire and building code compliance. Special Zone vacation rentals (e.g., Osaka) allowed year-round operation, but the Osaka program terminates in May 2026.
How can I check vacation rental regulations for a specific Japanese city?
Use MaxPaku's regulation search page to enter a city name or area code. The platform covers detailed vacation rental ordinance information for all 157 legislative bodies in Japan, including restriction levels, effective operating days, and zone restrictions. Areas without their own ordinance-making power inherit their parent prefecture's regulations.
What laws govern short-term vacation rentals in Japan?
Three main legal frameworks govern vacation rentals (minpaku) in Japan: the Private Lodging Business Act (住宅宿泊事業法, 180-day annual cap), simple lodging under the Ryokan (Inn) Law (no day limit but strict facility requirements), and the National Strategic Special Zone Act (limited designated areas only). Fire codes, building standards, and local ordinances also apply.
Which Japanese cities have the most vacation rental registrations?
According to the latest Japan Tourism Agency data, Tokyo's special wards, Osaka, Hokkaido, Kyoto, and Fukuoka lead in active vacation rental (minpaku) registrations. MaxPaku's ranking page tracks all 1,794 municipalities and lets you compare registrations, growth rate, and foreign guest ratio in one table.
Where does MaxPaku's vacation rental data come from?
All vacation rental statistics come from official Japan Tourism Agency (観光庁) publications updated every two months. Regulation data is compiled from municipal ordinances and government guidelines with quarterly review. MaxPaku covers all 1,794 municipalities and does not use scraped or estimated data.
Do Airbnb regulations in Japan differ by platform?
Japan's vacation rental (minpaku) regulations apply equally to all platforms — Airbnb, Booking.com, or direct bookings. The legal requirements (registration, day limits, fire safety) depend on the property's location and chosen legal framework, not the listing platform. MaxPaku's regulation database covers rules for all 1,794 municipalities regardless of which platform hosts use.