Tokyo Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental rules for 3 places in Tokyo, Japan. Select a place below for its permit, tax and other rules, or see all of Japan.
Tokyo at a glance
- Places tracked
- 3 places: 3 restricted
- Licence or registration
- Required in all 3 local places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in all 3 local places
- Regional law
- No regional short-term rental law on record; rules are set locally.
Tokyo short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Tokyo?
In all 3 places we track in Tokyo, short-term rentals are allowed, all with permit conditions or limits.
Do I need a licence for a short-term rental in Tokyo?
All 3 local places we track in Tokyo require a licence, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Is there a regional short-term rental law in Tokyo?
We have no regional short-term rental law on record for Tokyo. Cities and towns set their own rules.
Which places in Tokyo have the strictest rules?
On our records: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Taito.
Tokyo Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Tokyo encompasses 3 tracked jurisdictions: 3 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
All 3 tracked jurisdictions in Tokyo require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Tax obligations apply in 3 of 3 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.
Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Shinjuku, Tokyo, Taito. These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.
LawfulStay monitors Tokyo STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.