[Tottori Prefecture Related] Private Lodging (Minpaku) in Tottori Prefecture

According to Tottori Prefecture's survey on tourist movement, the cumulative number of foreign tourists in fiscal year 2024 includes 72,568 foreigners using tourist facilities and 61,083 foreigners using lodging facilities.

There are 19,549 users of tourist facilities whose nationality is unknown, and 3,445 users of lodging facilities. It is possible that these are cases where communication via language or verification via identification documents was insufficient.
The possibility of illegal stay can also be considered. Above all, if these cases of insufficient language communication and identity verification are on an upward trend, they could become a trigger for interpersonal conflicts and issues related to public safety.

According to Article 6 of the Hotel Business Act, lodging facilities are required to record the name, address, contact information, and other matters specified by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ordinance of the guests in a guest registry. The same procedure is required for foreigners using lodging facilities. Despite this, the existence of individuals with unknown nationality raises the question: are they not being recorded in the guest registry? Or is the confirmation process being neglected?

Survey on Tourist Movement 2: Cumulative Foreign Tourists in Fiscal Year 2024, Tottori Prefecture
https://www.pref.tottori.lg.jp/dd.aspx?menuid=70595

Overview of the Hotel Business Act, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000130600.html

Hotel Business Act
https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000138

According to the Living Environment Department, Life Safety Bureau, Life Safety Promotion Division of Tottori Prefecture, there are 29 registered private lodging (minpaku) facilities in Tottori Prefecture.
Searching for private lodgings in Tottori Prefecture on the minpaku site Airbnb reveals 196 listings.
Searching for "Tottori Prefecture minpaku" on Google reveals 173 lodging facilities.
Based on this background, it is conceivable that over 80% of private lodgings in Tottori Prefecture are operating without registration.
Is the statistic of individuals with unknown nationality in Tottori Prefecture's survey on tourist movement related to these private lodgings?
The fact that they are not registered can be interpreted as them not being operated in accordance with the Hotel Business Act.
According to Article 6 of the Hotel Business Act, it is clearly stated that lodging facilities must record the name, address, contact information, and other matters specified by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ordinance of the guests in a guest registry. It is conceivable that unregistered private lodgings are not following the procedures under Article 6 of the Hotel Business Act.
While there is constant talk of inbound and outbound tourism, behind the scenes, there is a reality where tourism operations are not based on such legal procedures. This is a problem for a nation governed by the rule of law, and above all, it undermines public interest.

Article 7 of the Hotel Business Act states: "The prefectural governor may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, request necessary reports from business operators and other concerned parties, or have relevant officials enter the hotel business facility, inspect its structure and equipment or documents related thereto, or question the concerned parties." This needs to be exercised against unregistered private lodgings whose actual conditions are unknown.

List of Registered Business Operators in Tottori Prefecture: 29 facilities
Regarding the Private Lodging Business Act (Minpaku)
Tottori Prefecture Living Environment Department, Life Safety Bureau, Life Safety Promotion Division
https://www.pref.tottori.lg.jp/273820.htm

Searching for private lodgings in Tottori Prefecture on Airbnb reveals 196 listings.
https://www.airbnb.jp/s/%E9%B3%A5%E5%8F%96%E7%9C%8C/homes?refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&date_picker_type=calendar&search_type=unknown&drawer_open=true

Searching for "Tottori Prefecture minpaku" on Google reveals 173 lodging facilities.https://www.google.com/search?q=%E9%B3%A5%E5%8F%96%E7%9C%8C+%E6%B0%91%E6%B3%8A&oq=%E9%B3%A5%E5%8F%96%E7%9C%8C%E3%80%80%E3%81%BF%E3%82%93%E3%81%AF&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigAdIBCTEzOTYwajBqOagCDrACAfEFxvnZpvdJ6cfxBcb52ab3SenH&client=ms-android-sharp&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Hotel Business Act
https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000138

At the same time, it is possible that private lodgings are being operated for purposes other than what is stated on the surface. A fact-finding investigation based on Article 7 of the Hotel Business Act is necessary.

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Luxury private lodgings surging in Tokyo are exempt from accommodation tax, causing dissatisfaction among hotel operators - Nikkei https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOCC02ACE0S5A900C2000000/