Ahead of a new law on the private lodging business that comes into force in June, FamilyMart hopes the service will increase revenues at its stores.
Major Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart Co. will allow tourists staying in accommodation rented through Airbnb to collect and return door keys at some of its stores.
Ahead of a new law on the private lodging business that comes into force in June, FamilyMart hopes the service will increase revenues at its stores.
Under the tie-up struck in April, FamilyMart will provide boxes for key deposit and collection at 150 stores mainly in Tokyo by the end of next February, The Jakarta Post reported. Users will be asked to verify their identity via tablets that connect to a call centre.
Meanwhile, the country’s biggest convenience store chain Seven-Eleven Japan Co. is also partnering with Japanese travel agency JTB Corp. to offer a similar key collection and return service beginning in June.
Under the new private lodging law, property owners in Japan can rent out vacant homes or rooms to tourists for up to 180 days per year after registering with local municipalities.