Airbnb gets green light in Japan

Tokyo

AIRBNB Inc will now be able to operate in Japan without the risk of running into regulatory hurdles after the government passed a law that sets out rules for home sharing.

Japan's Upper House passed a legislative bill on Friday that lets private homes rent out space to paying guests, while limiting total stays to 180 nights a year. The law requires providers of such accommodation to register with local governments and lets local authorities impose their own restrictions.

Airbnb, valued at US$31 billion, has found a more receptive audience in Japan, compared with the clashes it had with municipal governments in New York, Barcelona and its home t…