Vacation Rentals in Japan (2025): What to Know Before Booking

Some travelers to Japan might consider vacation rentals as an appealing alternative to hotels, especially for larger groups or those looking to experience everyday life. Vacation rentals are usually a short-term rental property listed on a platform, like Airbnb, where individuals can rent out a room or entire home to travelers.

Things to Know:

• A wide variety of rentals are available from rooms, apartments, tiny homes, villas, or entire homes. Potentially offering more space and privacy than a typical hotel.

  
  

• Many people believe they experience a more immersive and authentic connection with Japanese culture with this type of stay.

  
  

• Prices can be competitive with hotels and may even be more affordable if booking for long periods or outside of tourist areas.

  
  

• The quality of properties can differ greatly, and many amenities typically available in hotels are often not included.

  
  

• Some rentals have a kitchen and laundry area.

• The majority of rentals are located in areas populated by locals and nearby neighborhood markets.

• Guests must present identification before their stay so the owner can register their information as required by law.

  
  

• Vacation rentals are heavy regulated in Japan.

  
  

• Be cautious of vacation rental hosts who may request that you claim you're simply visiting friends, as this could indicate an illegally operated rental. Certain bookings may result in unexpected cancellations or possible problems with landlords.

  
  

• You should be aware of noise regulations and know how to properly dispose of garbage to prevent complaints from neighbors.

  
  

• Many complaints about tourists in vacation rentals stem from their disregard for the above points.

  
  

  

  
  

Pros:	Cons:
Unique Local Stay	Regulation Issues
Privacy & Space	Lack of Services found in Hotels
Cost Effective	Varying Quality of Stay
Access to Local Amenities/ Everyday Life	Language Barrier

To see some reviews of our stays, take a look at this article.