The Minpaku Opportunity
Three legal pathways exist: (1) Minpaku New Law — registration with 180 nights/year limit, (2) Ryokan License — full hotel license with no day limit but stricter requirements, (3) Special Zone (Tokku) license in designated areas. Many condominiums explicitly prohibit short-term rentals. Nightly rates range from ¥5,000 (rural) to ¥50,000+ (Kyoto peak season). Operating costs include management (15-25% of revenue) and cleaning (¥3,000-8,000 per turnover).