Areas where inns and hotels can operate
Updated: July 2026, 1
The City Planning Act divides cities into several types, such as residential areas, commercial areas, and industrial areas, and"Use Zone"It is defined as follows.
The operation of inns and hotels is restricted by "zoning"Please check as it may vary by region.
Location of accommodation facility (use area)
| Inn business Possibility of | Area name | Message |
| × | First-class low-rise residential area | This is an area for low-rise housing. Residential buildings that also serve as small shops and offices, as well as elementary and junior high schools, will be built. |
| × | Class 2 low-rise residential area | This area is mainly for low-rise housing. In addition to elementary and junior high schools, a certain number of shops with an area of up to 150 square meters will be built. |
| × | Class 1 medium and high-rise residential area | This is an area for medium and high-rise residential buildings. Hospitals, universities, and certain shops of up to 500 mXNUMX can be built. |
| × | Area dedicated to second-class middle and high-rise dwellings | This area is mainly for medium and high-rise residential buildings. In addition to hospitals, universities, etc., necessary convenience facilities such as certain shops and offices of up to 1,500 square meters will be built. |
| 〇 | Type XNUMX residential area | This is an area designed to protect the residential environment. Stores, offices, hotels, etc. up to 3,000mXNUMX can be built. |
| 〇 | Class 2 residential area | This area is mainly used to protect the residential environment. Stores, offices, hotels, karaoke boxes, etc. can be built. |
| 〇 | Semi-residential area | This is an area that protects the location of automobile-related facilities along roads and the residential environment that is in harmony with this location. |
| 〇 | Neighborhood commercial area | This is an area where surrounding residents can shop for daily necessities. In addition to houses and stores, small factories can also be built. |
| 〇 | Commercial area | This area is home to banks, movie theaters, restaurants, department stores, etc. Houses and small factories can also be built. |
| 〇 | Quasi-industrial zone | This is an area where light industry factories and service facilities are mainly located. Most factories will be built, except for those that pose great danger or environmental degradation. |
| × | Industrial area | This is an area where any factory can be built. Houses and shops can be built, but schools, hospitals, hotels, etc. cannot be built. |
| × | Industrial area | This is an area for factories. You can build any factory, but not houses, shops, schools, hospitals, hotels, etc. |
Facilities surrounding the accommodation facility (Article 3, Paragraph 3 Facilities)
The location of the inn, etc.Within a 100m radius of the following facilities:In the case where
If it is deemed that the installation of such a device would seriously damage the clean and pure environment of the facility, the facility will not be granted a license to operate as a hotel.
This does not mean that you cannot obtain a permit if your property is located within a 100m area.
The above facilities are required to have equipment that blocks views into guest rooms, halls where guests can dance or play, and other facilities.
If such facilities are installed, there is a possibility that the inn, etc. will be allowed to operate even if it is located within an area approximately 100 meters around the site of the above facility.
| [Schools prescribed in Article 1 of the School Education Act (excluding universities)] |
| Kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, high school, secondary school, special needs school, technical college |
| [Child welfare facilities stipulated in Article 7 of the Child Welfare Act] |
| Midwifery facility, infant home, mother and child life support facility, nursery school, child welfare facility, child care facility, facility for intellectually disabled children, day care facility for intellectually disabled children, facility for blind and deaf children, facility for physically disabled children, children with severe mental and physical disabilities Facilities, short-term treatment facilities for emotionally disturbed children, child independence support facilities, child and family support centers |
| [Other social education facilities specified by prefectural ordinances] |
| Libraries, community centers, city parks, museums, sports facilities, etc. |
Accommodation facilities standards
In order to receive permission, it is necessary to comply with the standards for structures and facilities such as the Hotel Business Act and prefectural ordinances.
Standards differ depending on hotel business, inn business, simple lodging business, and boarding house business.
Structural and equipment standards for hotel operations
| ① | There must be at least 10 guest rooms, mainly Western-style guest rooms. |
| ② | Guest rooms with Western-style structures and equipment must meet the following requirements. ・The floor area of one guest room must be 9 square meters or more. ・Bedding must be Western-style. ・Entrances and windows must be lockable. ・Except for doorways and windows, the boundaries between guest rooms and other guest rooms, hallways, etc. must be constructed of walls. |
| ③ | Each guest room with Japanese-style structural equipment must have a floor area of 7 mXNUMX or more. |
| 4 | Must have an entry counter and other similar facilities suitable for interviews with those seeking accommodation. |
| ⑤ | Have appropriate ventilation, daylighting, lighting, moisture proofing, and drainage equipment. |
| ⑥ | Have an appropriate number of Western-style bathrooms or shower rooms that can meet the needs of guests. |
| ⑦ | Having washroom facilities of an appropriate size that can meet the needs of guests. |
| ⑧ | Appropriate heating equipment is available according to the scale of the facility. |
| ⑨ | Toilets must be of flush type and seat type, and in the case of shared toilets, there must be separate sections for men and women. |
| ⑩ | Conform to the standards for structures and facilities stipulated by ordinances of other prefectures (or cities or special wards in the case of cities or special wards where health centers are established). |
Structural and equipment standards for inn business
| ① | There must be 5 or more guest rooms, mainly Japanese-style guest rooms. |
| ② | Each guest room with Japanese-style structural equipment must have a floor area of 7 mXNUMX or more. |
| ③ | Guest rooms with Western-style structures and equipment must meet the following requirements. ・The floor area of one guest room must be 9 square meters or more. ・Bedding must be Western-style. ・Entrances and windows must be lockable. ・Except for doorways and windows, the boundaries between guest rooms and other guest rooms, hallways, etc. must be constructed of walls. |
| 4 | Must have an entry counter and other similar facilities suitable for interviews with those seeking accommodation. |
| ⑤ | Have appropriate ventilation, daylighting, lighting, moisture proofing, and drainage equipment. |
| ⑥ | The facility must have bathing facilities of an appropriate size that can meet the needs of guests, except in cases where it is recognized that there is no hindrance to bathing, such as when there is a public bath close to the facility. |
| ⑦ | Having washroom facilities of an appropriate size that can meet the needs of guests. |
| ⑧ | Having an adequate number of toilets |
| ⑨ | Conforms to other standards for structures and facilities stipulated by prefectural ordinances. |
Structural and equipment standards for simple lodging operations
| ① | The total floor area of the guest room must be 33 m2 or more |
| ② | If tiered beds are used, the distance between the upper and lower berths shall be approximately 1m or more. |
| ③ | Have appropriate ventilation, daylighting, lighting, moisture proofing, and drainage equipment. |
| 4 | The facility must have bathing facilities large enough to meet the needs of guests, except in cases where it is determined that there is no hindrance to bathing, such as when there is a public bath close to the facility. |
| ⑤ | Having washroom facilities of an appropriate size that can meet the needs of guests. |
| ⑥ | Having an adequate number of toilets |
| ⑦ | Conforms to other standards for structures and facilities stipulated by prefectural ordinances. |
Structural and equipment standards for boarding house business
| ① | Have appropriate ventilation, daylighting, lighting, moisture proofing, and drainage equipment. |
| ② | The facility must have bathing facilities that are large enough to meet the needs of guests, unless there is a public bath close to the facility or other circumstances where bathing is deemed not to be a hindrance. |
| ③ | To have washroom facilities of an appropriate size that can meet the needs of guests. |
| 4 | Have an appropriate number of toilets. |
| ⑤ | Conform to other standards for structures and equipment stipulated by prefectural ordinances. |
For applications related to the hotel business, please contact the Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation
At Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation, we provide application support and highly specialized consulting regarding inn business licenses for both those newly entering the inn business and those already in the inn business and hotel business. .
Hotel business licenses are under the jurisdiction of each health center, and each health center has its own local rules.
Our staff has a track record of applying in all prefectures across the country. Please contact us by all means.
The first consultation is free of charge.
Editor of this article
Yue Yoshimura
Correspondence example
[Major foreign-affiliated hotel making its first foray into Japan]
This was a hotel operator's first foray into Japan.
I realized that things that could be handled in my home country could not be handled in Japan due to laws, regulations, etc.
After asking about your desired style, we will propose the hotel design and response method.
We were able to successfully open our first store in Japan.
In addition, since we can also provide support in foreign languages, we were able to hold meetings with the local subsidiary in English.
Number and types of licenses obtained
Hotel business license / Restaurant business license (3 licenses) / Late-night alcohol serving restaurant business opening notification
Public bath business license application / swimming pool / cleaning / general liquor retail license application
Region
Kyoto
[Luxury City Hotel]
The facility is divided into multiple departments, such as accommodation, food and beverage, SPA, and firefighting,
In addition to preparing for permission,
Each of us had to continue our regular duties (staff training, menu development, etc.) at the same time.
By joining the business opening team, we will be the sole administrative liaison for obtaining licenses.
We were able to smoothly proceed with the preparations for obtaining licenses and permits without any disruption to our normal business operations.
Number and types of licenses obtained
Hotel business permit / Restaurant business permit (7 cases) / Late-night alcohol serving restaurant opening notification (2 cases)
Public bath business license application/swimming pool/cleaning
Region
Osaka
[Large resort hotel]
In this case, the construction period was delayed from the originally planned schedule due to the effects of a typhoon and other factors.
Even if the construction schedule is delayed, it is difficult to change the planned opening date.
Within a limited schedule, we carefully schedule application dates, on-site inspection dates, etc.
We were able to open safely on the scheduled date.
Number and types of licenses obtained
Hotel business license / Restaurant business license (3 licenses) / Late-night alcohol serving restaurant business opening notification
Public bath business license application / swimming pool / cleaning / general liquor retail license application
Region
Okinawa
[Completely unmanned hotel]
With labor costs rising, the client wanted to operate a completely unmanned hotel.
Generally, face-to-face check-in is required,
By thoroughly understanding the rules of relaxation measures and applying them to hotel operations and operations,
This has made it possible to conduct business with fewer personnel.
Number and types of licenses obtained
Hotel business license/Restaurant business license
Region
Ise City
