Airbnb Japan Host asking for copy of Passport
 

Heading to Tokyo and Osaka this Fall and decided to make a booking on airbnb. It has been awhile since I used airbnb so I didnt know of this new law in Japan where airbnb hosts are required to have a copy of one's passport. A quick search seems to indicate some will only asked to see your passport while some hosts firmly require a photocopy to be emailed to them.

Can I blank out any part on my passport when submitting a copy of my passport?

I'm not familiar with this. If it were me, I'd be pretty liberal with blocking out sensitive portions of the passport. If the host doesn't like it, they can push back.

If you have privacy concerns, don't stay at an Airbnb or visit Japan. Hotels in many countries in the world take photocopies of your passport to comply with local law. This isn't specific to Airbnb, but merely your perception of the trustworthiness of whoever might have your passport details.

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/...-home-in-japan

This may help but it doesn't mention anything about what you can block out.

I believe it is the law in Japan for foreign guests to provide passport details when staying in a registered lodging. All the hotels I have stayed at requests for this, and an Air BNB owner that has registered the lodging would be required by law to request this as well.

Yes, this is a new law in Japan. I googled abit and found this interesting article on Japantimes about the interpretation of the law. I have no issue showing my passport but to make a photocopy, I am not sure if I am comfortable about that.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/communi.../#.XbTsL5JKivF

Hotels in many, many countries take a photocopy or scan of one’s passport. Not much you can do about it.

Anyway, I wouldn't consider passport details to be very sensitive (like CC details).

I don't see how you can avoid this when required by law that the host needs to register etc.