Japan's empty home tax squeeze begins

Japan's revised Vacant Homes Act, effective December 2023, allows municipalities to tag neglected homes as "poorly managed" and strip their residential land-tax break. This change means the annual land tax bill can rise several-fold for these properties. Previously, only condemned houses were penalized, but now ordinary neglected homes are also in the spotlight.

Under Japan's 2018 minpaku law, private lodging is capped at 180 nights per year nationwide, and hosts must display a license number. Local restrictions apply too—like in parts of Kyoto, where minpaku is limited to specific seasons. Full-time short-term rental? You'll need a hotel/ryokan license, which most condos and many zones don't allow.