Tokyo's Shinjuku ward is moving forward with plans to ban vacation rentals—like Airbnb—in residential areas. The local ward government, responding to the concerns of residents over noise and disruption, aims to better regulate such businesses to ensure peaceful neighborhoods. Although there's no specific timeline given, the ward is firm on implementing the regulation.

The rise of vacation rentals, facilitated by platforms like Airbnb, has posed various challenges for residential areas in Japan. Noise complaints, garbage issues, and concerns about security have led to increased calls for tighter regulations. Many parts of the country have already introduced strict rules on vacation rentals, and Shinjuku ward's moves to ban such rentals in residential areas reflect this trend.

In the US and EU, the regulation of vacation rentals varies by city and region. In some places, regulations are stringent, requiring hosts to obtain permits and limiting the number of days they can rent out their homes. Others have considered complete bans in certain areas. However, there exist many areas where regulations are lax or non-existent.