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Convenience store and retail chain Seven-Eleven Japan Co in a joint project with travel agency JTB Corp will launch an automated service for minpaku (private temporary rented lodging) that allows guests to check in, collect and leave room keys 24 hours a day at 7-Eleven convenience stores.
The service, called Convenience Front Desk 24 in English (and Front Desk 24 in Japanese), will begin at some 7-Eleven stores in Tokyo on June 15, the company said in a press release. Following a gradual expansion in the near future, the new service aims to boost convenience for inbound tourists to Japan ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the company said.
The new service will be introduced just in time for the new minpaku law, which will lower the current legal restrictions for renting out properties for temporary stay. The new law, which comes into effect on June 15, will, in practice, permit private lodging throughout Japan.
User of the new service at 7-Eleven convenience stores will be able to check in at any given time of the day using a device installed at the convenience stores. After inputting booking numbers and other information on the display, the machine will request to take an ID photo. Once the ID and the booking is confirmed, guests will be able to collect their keys from dedicated lockers.
The device will feature instructions in Japanese, English, Korean, and traditional and simplified Chinese.
Seven-Eleven said it will introduce the service at 50 convenience stores by the end of October and, based on needs and usage analysis, to 1,000 by the end of fiscal 2020.
© Japan Today
9 Comments
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Kobe White Bar Owner
helps me understand the new backwards airbnb laws!
Disillusioned
You can bet these machines are only in Japanese, which will not be any benefit to foreign tourists.
kiwiboy
Japan loves to make new laws that they say will "help" but actually do the opposite. On June 14th/15th Airbnb will remove listings of anyone without an official govt registration number.
Japan's new laws may help "permit private lodging" in some areas, but the vast majority of Airbnb listings around Japan don't meet all of the many requirements needed to get the official govt registration number, and therefore will be removed Airbnb in June. Watch the price of the remaining Airbnb listings and hotel prices go up! Just where will all the tourists stay!?
kurisupisu
How depressingly boring to be able to check in without our meeting a human being ?
Speed
Are the counter clerks going to have to help out or be involved in any of this? If they do I feel sorry for them since they already have a huge workload.
ThonTaddeo
Why is the machine taking a photograph of the customer's identification? Why isn't the customer just logging into the system with an e-mail address and password, or inserting a credit card to pay for the room? Who gets to see this ID and how is it stored?
jerry
The system in Germany just asks fir a unique PIN which the house owner gives you 24 hours before check-in. The PIN expires after one time use upon key collection.