OSAKA, Jun 22 (News On Japan) –
As the variety of overseas vacationers visiting Japan continues to rise, Osaka is seeing a fast improve in “special zone private lodgings.” In Konohana Ward, a 212-unit condominium constructing has been totally transformed into short-term leases, sparking battle with close by residents. Opposing the plan, neighbors have submitted a petition to Osaka City.
The operator insists there are not any authorized violations and says it’s in search of coexistence with native residents, however consultants level to flaws within the system’s design.
According to the most recent information launched by Japan’s authorities tourism company, the variety of overseas guests to Japan final month was roughly 3.69 million, up 21.5% from the identical month a 12 months earlier. With the Osaka-Kansai Expo approaching, May noticed a report excessive for that month. While tourism income is growing, the scarcity of lodging is changing into more and more critical. This has fueled the expansion of particular zone non-public lodging, a system that permits atypical residences for use as lodging below sure circumstances.
In areas like Nishinari Ward, these particular lodgings are increasing quickly. Buildings lined with short-term leases now dominate some streets. As of the top of April this 12 months, Osaka City had 614 registered particular zone lodgings, accounting for about 95% of the nationwide complete.
However, the surge in demand for inbound tourism has introduced issues. One distinguished case entails a 14-story, 212-unit condominium constructing in Konohana Ward, which is being fully transformed into short-term lodging. An area resident defined that whereas the operator initially deliberate to transform solely a part of the constructing into leases, earlier this 12 months they out of the blue introduced your entire constructing could be became trip leases.
The resident expressed concern, saying, “There are safety and disaster response issues, especially if a major earthquake like a Nankai Trough event occurs. With so many foreigners staying, initial disaster response could be extremely difficult. That burden would fall heavily on us as neighboring residents.” According to the residents, the operator notified them in March that the constructing could be totally transformed and deliberate to open by the top of June.
“What was once a quiet area may soon see around 500 people daily, each dragging large suitcases. Frankly, it makes me want to move out,” one neighbor stated. Growing more and more anxious, residents submitted a petition to Osaka City on June fifth demanding the plan be withdrawn, citing frustration over the last-minute change and inadequate rationalization to residents.
In response to questions from TV Osaka, the operator said that it couldn’t maintain explanatory conferences till the residence registration was finalized. It emphasised that there are not any authorized issues and that discussions with native residents are ongoing with a optimistic angle towards coexistence.
Experts argue that the foundation of those disputes lies within the design of the particular zone lodging system itself. One professional famous, “Most people imagine private lodging as operating just one unit in an apartment building, but this case, where the entire building is being converted, is rare. Under normal circumstances, they should have been required to obtain a hotel or ryokan license. The problem is that careful discussions were lacking when designing the system. That is the biggest issue.”
Source: Television OSAKA NEWS