民泊
Meaning
Private lodging — staying in someone's home or apartment, like Airbnb.
Japan's term for the home-sharing/vacation rental phenomenon. 民泊 became a hot topic in the mid-2010s as Airbnb expanded in Japan, leading to the 2018 民泊新法 (Private Lodging Business Act) that regulated the industry. The term carries both excitement (affordable, unique stays) and controversy (noise complaints, neighbourhood disruption, impact on hotel industry). Now a standard travel option alongside hotels and ryokan.
Examples
- 京都でホテル高すぎたから民泊にしたよ。 Hotels in Kyoto were too expensive, so I went with a minpaku.
- 民泊で古民家に泊まったらめっちゃ良かった。 I stayed at an old traditional house through minpaku and it was amazing.
- うちのマンション、民泊禁止になったんだって。 Apparently our apartment building just banned minpaku.
Usage Guide
Context: travel, news, real estate
Tone: practical, modern
Do Say
- 民泊使ったことある？ホテルより安いこと多いよ。 (Have you used minpaku before? It's often cheaper than hotels.)
- 民泊で現地の暮らしを体験できるのがいい。 (What's nice about minpaku is you can experience local life.)
Don't Say
- ホテルに泊まることを「民泊」とは言わない — 民泊は個人の住宅に泊まること (Staying at a hotel is not 'minpaku' — the term specifically means staying at a private residence)
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing that 民泊 is regulated in Japan — hosts need registration and there are limits on operating days
- Confusing 民泊 with 民宿 (minshuku) — 民宿 is a family-run guesthouse, while 民泊 is peer-to-peer home sharing
Origin & History
Compound of 民 (people/private) and 泊 (stay/lodging). Became widely used from around 2015-2016 with the growth of Airbnb in Japan. The 2018 住宅宿泊事業法 (民泊新法) formally regulated the practice.
Cultural Context
Era: 2015-2016 Airbnb boom, 2018 regulation
Generation: Younger travellers (20s–40s)
Social background: Budget to mid-range travellers
Regional notes: Used across Japan. Major controversy in Kyoto and Tokyo where 民泊 has been blamed for neighbourhood disruption and housing shortages.
Related Phrases
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