Japan's Recruit Holdings says it will team up with Airbnb, the leading US tourist accommodation platform, to offer rental housing for travelers in Japan.
A Recruit subsidiary with a database of 6 million properties will give Airbnb information on those available for temporary stays. The US company will list the properties on its website.
Recruit officials say quite a few properties are left unoccupied for months at a time if they are not rented during the busy periods of March and September. That's when many students and workers move.
The officials say they will encourage owners and management companies to make unoccupied rooms available for temporary stays.
A new law effective from June sets rules on the use of private properties for tourist stays.
Other companies are getting into the market. Major lender Mizuho Bank has also started working with Airbnb.
IT giant Rakuten has ties with US and European accommodation businesses.
