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Sharing Economy

Japanese home-sharing market tangled up in red tape

Key tourist spots like Kyoto have approved half or less of applicants so far

Many local governments in Japan impose additional restrictions on short-term home rentals, such as requiring a building manager to be available to guests at all times.

TOKYO -- A month after Japan legalized short-term home rentals through Airbnb and similar platforms, local governments remain slow to grant would-be hosts the needed approval.

Thirteen of 100 localities allowing home-sharing had accepted around half or fewer of applicants as of July 6, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.

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