E-commerce giant Rakuten Inc. is teaming up with global online travel agent Booking.com as it prepares to take on Airbnb Inc. in the increasingly competitive market for private short-term minpaku lodging services.
Rakuten Lifull Stay Inc., a Rakuten group company that provides vacation rental services, said Monday it reached an agreement that will see it list properties on its tentatively titled Vacation Stay service, available on Booking.com.
The firm plans to launch the service in June, when a new law that legalizes home rentals in Japan will take effect.