Good news for those who love traveling to Japan—your accommodation options are about to become more diverse！ A new Japanese regulation relaxing legal homestay restrictions will take effect on June 15, 2018. It will allow private residences, historic sites, and temples to be opened up for public lodging. For a certain fee, visitors can experience Japan’s unique local culture.
According to a report by the Nikkei Asian Review, Takayama Zenko-ji, a historic temple in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, recently hosted a group of Thai tourists and showed them around its various corners. The stunning winter scenery, covered in snow, left them amazed, exclaiming “So beautiful!” In addition to lodging, Zenko-ji also offers activities such as meditation and sutra copying, allowing travelers to connect more deeply with Japanese culture. However, spending one night in the temple’s main hall, which was built over a century ago, costs around 60,000 yen, equivalent to about NT$16,000.
Once homestay restrictions are relaxed next year, business opportunities are bound to increase. Many startups have already spotted the opportunity and are preparing to launch related services. For example, software developer Chapter8 has launched a smartphone app that helps homeowners rent out rooms in special zones, as well as offering services such as video-based customer verification, passport scanning, and automatic guest log creation.
Source of the article:Japanese deregulation to open door to unique vacation stays
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