Minpaku (licensed short-term rental)

Minpaku is the registration pathway created by Japan's 2018 residential accommodation business law. You notify the prefectural governor, install fire alarms, post the required notices, keep a guest ledger, and either live on-site or hire a registered manager. In exchange for that lighter burden you accept a hard ceiling of 180 guest-nights per calendar year, and your building's management association or lease can still block you outright. It is the default choice for foreign buyers because it is fast and cheap to start, but it is usually the lower-ceiling option versus a special-zone license or a full hotel/ryokan license. Model around 120-140 bookable nights, not 180, once cleaning gaps and municipal overlays are counted.