Private lodgings taking root in Japanese countryside

'Minpaku' expected to make up for lack of hotels, inns

A group of guests enjoy a barbecue at a rented cottages in Nasu, Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo. (Photo by Naoyuki Kozuki)

NAOYUKI KOZUKI, Nikkei staff writer

October 1, 2023 13:30 JST

TOKYO -- Private lodgings offered as temporary accommodations -- called minpaku in Japan -- are making their way into regions outside big cities. Although visits to Japan by international travelers came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand from domestic tourists is on the rise.