<article>Japan’s antitrust watchdog said on Wednesday it would end its inspection of the Japanese operations of <a style="color: #000080;" href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Airbnb+Inc">Airbnb Inc</a> as the U.S. home-sharing platform provider has taken appropriate measures to eliminate suspicion.</article>

Japan’s antitrust watchdog said on Wednesday it would end its inspection of the Japanese operations of <a style="color: #000080;" href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Airbnb+Inc">Airbnb Inc</a> as the U.S. home-sharing platform provider has taken appropriate measures to eliminate suspicion.
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) opened the probe because Airbnb had forced certain clients not to list properties on a rival website, a move that would undermine competition, said Yasuhiro Yoshikawa, a senior investigator.
JFTC, which made the first on-site inspection of Airbnb last October, would end the inspection because Airbnb had told their clients that the contract that kept them from listing on a rival website was no longer effective, Yoshikawa said.
These clients are host management companies, which provide various services for property owners, such as listing properties on the website, making reservations and arranging cleaning services.
JFTC said there were four such management companies which had contracts with Airbnb as of June, down from six a year earlier. But it did not provide the number of properties managed by these companies.
“We have cooperated fully with the JFTC and adjusted contracts in response to their inquiry,” Airbnb said in a statement. “We’re pleased this matter has come to a close.”
Japan’s home-sharing market shrank rapidly after the country in June introduced a home sharing law, which limits home-sharing to 180 days a year, a cap hosts say makes it difficult to turn a profit.
Also read:
<a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/chinas-airbnb-rival-xiaozhu-raises-300m-from-jack-mas-yunfeng-capital-108497/">China’s Airbnb rival Xiaozhu raises $300m from Jack Ma’s Yunfeng Capital</a>
<div>
Reuters
</div>

Japan’s antitrust watchdog to end inspection of Japanese operations of Airbnb Inc as US home-sharing platform provider taken appropriate measures to eliminate suspicion.

Airbnb gets respite as Japan's antitrust watchdog ends inspection of home-sharing platform

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief

Airbnb gets respite as Japan's antitrust watchdog ends inspection of home-sharing platform

Start your deal-making journey now!

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief