Noise monitoring pilot launches in Kyoto to support hosts and neighbors

In line with ongoing efforts to promote responsible tourism in Japan, Airbnb Japan is launching a number of measures to support hosts and guests in Kyoto. Airbnb is announcing the start of a noise monitoring sensor pilot program for select hosts in Kyoto in partnership with Kyoto-headquartered mui Lab Inc., the authorized reseller in Japan of Minut, an IoT noise monitoring sensor, as well as good guest tips for first-time international travelers to Japan. 

Noise monitoring sensor pilot supporting Kyoto hosts to promote more conducive neighborhoods

The one-year pilot program executed in partnership with mui Lab seeks to enable participating hosts in Kyoto to use a Minut noise monitoring sensor to detect and solve noise concerns in their listing and to help guests travel responsibly in local neighborhoods.

hosts who install the Minut device in their listing will be able to use it to detect potential noise disturbance and reach out to inform guests about managing noise during their stay. As a general setting, the device alerts the host when sound above approximately 75 decibels continues for five minutes or more. Brief loud noises do not trigger an alert—only sustained sound at that level does—so normal stays and ordinary conversation will not set it off. 

On privacy, the device simply monitors decibel levels and does not record or transmit anything other than actual noise levels. Airbnb policy requires hosts to disclose any sensor on the listing page, and Minut noise monitoring sensors are only allowed to be placed in living rooms or entryways. 

Minut is used in accommodations across more than 100 countries and regions and 3,000 cities. Airbnb has partnered with Minut, the Sweden-headquartered developer of the device, since 2022, offering it across 60 countries and regions. This is the first structured pilot of its kind in Japan.

Over the course of the year, Airbnb Japan and mui Lab will assess how frequently noise events occur and how quickly participating hosts respond, in order to test whether early intervention prevents concerns from escalating.

Kazunori Oki, Representative Director, mui Lab Inc., said: “Guided by our principle of creating harmony among technology, people and nature, we have been exploring what technology that quietly supports everyday life can look like. The challenges surrounding accommodation cannot be solved by sacrificing operators, local residents or visitors. What is needed is not a system that watches people, but one that helps us notice problems before they occur. As a company born in Kyoto, it is encouraging to be able to address this city’s challenges together with Airbnb Japan.”

Nils Mattisson, CEO and Co-founder, Minut, said: “Noise is one of the biggest sources of friction between short-term rentals and their neighbors. In more than 100 countries, Minut has helped hosts deal with it early, before it reaches the people next door, and without cameras or recordings. We look forward to seeing it work in Japan together with Airbnb and mui Lab.”

Shintaro Nakagawa, Representative Director, Airbnb Japan K.K., said: “What matters most to us at Airbnb is the trust of local communities. That is why we believe we need a way to notice problems before they happen, rather than responding after the fact. Through this pilot, we want to build an effective system, including working out what systems and practices hosts can realistically sustain on the ground.”

Both companies plan to recruit additional participating hosts in Kyoto and in other regions, expanding the pilot over time. Airbnb Japan and mui Lab also intend to share what they learn with local communities and stakeholders, as input into the wider question of what responsible hosting should look like for short-term accommodation in Japan.

Airbnb Good Guest Tips

Airbnb is also sharing Good Guest Tips to all guests booking an Airbnb in Japan for the first time. The Guide includes helpful tips to ensure guests can experience the best that Japan has to offer while also respecting the local community. This includes guidance on a range of topics such as being mindful of the community around them and information about waste sorting, as well reminders of the individual house rules set by hosts.

Airbnb is actively working to invest in and continuously improve safety and trust on the platform. Neighbors with urgent concerns can reach out to Airbnb using the platform’s Neighborhood Support Line, which is available in Japanese. Airbnb also provides hosts and guests with education and resources such as a Guide to Responsible hosting in Japan, and a printable Good Guest Guide for hosts to put up in listings.