Increase in Households Triggered by Accommodation Closure Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Historical Center of Kyoto City

A significant increase in households was observed in Kyoto City’s historical center following the closure of accommodations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with neighborhoods experiencing approximately 1.34 additional households per neighborhood association. The study treated the pandemic as a natural experiment, analyzing real estate market data to determine causal relationships between closed accommodations and household changes. Findings revealed that closed simple accommodations—characterized by smaller room sizes and slightly higher prices than other property types—frequently transitioned into short-term rentals. This shift suggests that while tourism gentrification may have been suppressed during the pandemic, the number of households in these areas increased, offering insights into sustainable urban development strategies for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Kamino, S., & Kato, H. (2024). Increase in Households Triggered by Accommodation Closure Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Historical Center of Kyoto City. Sustainability, 16(22), 9992. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229992