A Spacious Ocean View House in the Serene Setting of Unten, Nakijin Village

Properties were only required to withstand moderate earthquakes (Shindo 5). Many suffered significant damage in the 1995 Kobe earthquake. A structural assessment is recommended — seismic retrofitting typically costs ¥1M-¥3M.

Introduced after the 1978 Miyagi earthquake. Buildings must withstand a major earthquake (Shindo 6-7) without collapse. Performed significantly better in the 1995 Kobe earthquake than older buildings.

365 days/year. National Strategic Special Zones (like parts of Osaka and Tokyo) allow year-round short-term rentals with no day limit. Minimum stay: 2 nights.

Up to 180 days/year. The national standard under the Minpaku Law. Registration with prefectural authorities is required. No additional local restrictions beyond the national cap.

60-100 days/year. Significant local restrictions. Common in areas with hotel industry lobbying or concerns about neighborhood disruption. May limit operations to weekends, holidays, or off-peak seasons only.

Under 60 days/year. The most restrictive municipalities effectively discourage minpaku. Kyoto, for example, limits operations to January 15 - March 16 only (~60 days). Consider a ryokan or hotel license instead.