Tokyo hokenjo licensing: what guests should check

If a Tokyo apartment is offered as licensed lodging, ask for the licence details and the authority that issued them. Match them to the property you're booking. If you have questions about the licence, start with the local 保健所 (hokenjo, public health office).

A sixty-night stay can still count as lodging. The number of nights alone won’t tell you which rules apply. Ask whether the company offers the apartment as guest accommodation or rents it to you as a home under a residential lease. That distinction tells you which paperwork to check.

Lodging permission and a residential lease are different

The Japan Tourism Agency’s explanation of the Ryokan Business Act describes what counts as a lodging business. If you’re unsure whether that law applies to a home, it says to ask the local public health office. The law includes boarding houses that charge by the month or longer, so monthly billing alone doesn’t mean a licence is unnecessary.

Some homes host paying guests under the Private Lodging Business Act, which requires the host to register the business with the local authority. Others have permission under the special-zone minpaku scheme, available only in designated areas. Ask the company which scheme it uses so you can check the right licence or registration. Our licensing overview explains the differences.

If you are renting the home under a residential lease, ask for the agreement and the name of the person or company renting the home to you. They may own it or rent it from its owner. A furnished home does not automatically need a hotel licence. If you are unsure whether the home is offered as lodging or a lease, tell the office what services the company provides and ask which rules apply. The 2018 national guidance recommends using one month as a guide when checking whether a stay is lodging. Authorities already using another period may continue to do so. They also consider how the property is run, so thirty days alone does not remove the need for a lodging licence.

What happens before a lodging licence is issued

Shinjuku’s licensing page shows what a company needs to check before opening. These checks cover the location, building and fire laws, and local rules. The page explains how to discuss plans with the office and apply, including an inspection of the property by public health office staff.

For example, Minato's procedure requires the company to give nearby residents written notice of its plans at least twenty days before applying for a licence. The ward gives this example: if neighbours are notified on 1 July, the company can apply on 22 July or later. The company still needs to meet the rest of Minato's procedure. Other wards may set different deadlines, and this is not a deadline for guests to book.

For a new property, “we’ve spoken to the office” doesn’t mean “we have a licence.” If the company wants you to book before approval, ask what happens to your payment if the opening is delayed. Get the answer in writing.

Building and fire-safety checks

Tokyo Fire Department's minpaku guidance tells businesses to consult the local fire station before preparing to open. Its Honjo procedure describes the building information and fire-equipment details needed for that consultation.

You can’t tell from a photograph whether a home meets all its fire-safety rules. Ask for the safety instructions and escape route for your apartment, and use the fire-safety guide to check the home when you arrive.

Even if the licence checks out, report anything unsafe when you arrive. If a marked escape route is blocked or equipment looks faulty, tell the manager promptly and ask them to put it right.

Match the details to the home

Ask for the full address, including the building and apartment number. You also need the name and number on the licence or registration, and the office that issued it. Compare these details with the agreement and listing. The brand used for bookings may differ from the name on the licence, but the company should explain how the two are connected.

Check the authority’s current public records if it publishes them. If you can’t find a clear match, contact the office with the full address and company details. Searching only the brand name may not find the right record. Authorities publish different details, so a missing search result doesn’t prove the home is operating illegally.

If the listing has a private-lodging registration number beginning with M, use the minpaku lookup guide. For a Ryokan Business Act licence, follow the issuing office's procedure.

What permission doesn't tell you

A licence is not a promise of twenty-four-hour reception, daily cleaning or a particular cancellation policy. Ask the company to confirm reception hours, cleaning arrangements and cancellation terms for your booking.

Keep the booking terms alongside the licensing information. If your concern is a refund, date change or broken appliance, start with the company you booked with and the relevant terms. If you’re worried that a lodging business is operating illegally or is unhygienic, ask the local public health office whether it can help.

If you need to raise a concern

Keep the address, unit, dates and booking reference with a description of the problem and the company's response. Photographs of the issue can help, provided you don't intrude on other guests or alter safety equipment.

Ask the office whether it handles that address and problem, and what information it needs. If the company offers you another apartment, check its details too. Get any change to the price or cancellation terms in writing.