Ah, summer -- it’s the prime time to travel abroad, see a new country and soak in the local atmosphere of a picturesque foreign land.
Except if you’re planning a trip to Japan, that is.
Recently, almost 50,000 Airbnb listings in Japan have simply vanished from the site, leaving travelers puzzled and potentially stranded for their upcoming trips. Considering Japan legalized home sharing just last year (making Airbnb a relatively new phenomenon in the country), this is quite startling. However, an amendment has just been passed that requires home sharers to register their property and list a license number on home sharing sites.
According to the amendment, any reservations made before June 15, 2018 would have to be cancelled. A whopping 80 percent of listings disappeared as a result.
Luckily, for those who were left in the dust, Airbnb has their back.
A few days ago, they posted a statement online:
Unhandled
In addition to the public apology, Airbnb has offered those affected by the new law the following perks:
- $10 million support fund for travelers
The only caveat is that travelers have to apply to receive money from this fund, only to be reimbursed later on.
- A full refund and Airbnb coupons
Airbnb will provide a full refund to those affected, as well as provide coupons for 100 percent of the original booking fee and $100 to go towards an Airbnb Experience (which can include things like city tours, cooking classes, concerts and volunteer experiences).
- Free consultation with a Japan-based travel agency to find new lodgings
As if this sudden change in policy wasn’t enough, Japan has also included additional regulations within the new law, like making a rule that homes can only be offered online 180 days out of the year.
Airbnb hosts in Japan are equally as surprised and frustrated by the new laws as travelers.
An anonymous host in Hokkaido (located in Northern Japan) stated, “I wonder how well the tourism agency and Airbnb understand how huge the impact is. They should have informed us sooner and established a grace period.”
Another Tokyo-based host helpfully connected a Mexican family affected by the law to a house that was already licensed. They stated, “We can’t leave travelers wandering the roads with their children. Japan could face trust issues.”