Care homes and hotels in Japan shut as expansion strategy unravels

Japan is tightening startup visa rules after reports that cheap purchases of struggling care homes and hotels were being used to game residency pathways.

Online discussion focused on distressed Japanese assets being acquired at low prices, with some buyers allegedly inflating business value to qualify for visas.

The crackdown aims to curb residency abuse and other loopholes, but it may also make it harder for legitimate foreign founders to enter Japan.