Tokyo police have increased surveillance of unlicensed taxis following resident complaints about illegal vacation rentals at the Harumi Flag residential complex [1].

The crackdown targets the intersection of unauthorized lodging and illegal transportation services, which residents said are degrading the living environment of the former Olympic Village site [1, 2].

Harumi Flag consists of more than 5,000 units [3], with some high-end properties having sold for 800 million yen [4]. Despite the luxury status of the development, residents report a surge in foreign tourists utilizing illegal short-term rentals. These visitors have allegedly caused disruptions including noise, improper waste disposal, and unexpected late-night visits.

One resident said tourists do not separate trash and leave items like grilled fish and beer cans scattered, and noted that smoking while walking is also common [1]. Another resident said they were woken up by visitors ringing their doorbell multiple times and speaking in a language they did not understand [1].

Residents also said that large buses frequently drop off groups of tourists in the area [1]. This influx of visitors has reportedly led to a rise in "shiro-taku" — unlicensed taxis that operate illegally to transport tourists to and from the unauthorized rentals [1, 2].

In response to these reports, the Metropolitan Police Department has strengthened its vigilance and patrol efforts to identify and stop the operation of these illegal taxi services [1, 2].

“Tourists do not separate trash and leave items like grilled fish and beer cans scattered”

This situation highlights the friction between Tokyo's rapid growth in international tourism and the enforcement of local lodging and transport laws. The concentration of illegal activity in a high-value development like Harumi Flag suggests that the demand for short-term rentals is outpacing legal supply, creating a shadow economy of unlicensed hosts and drivers that bypasses safety regulations and community standards.