Hotels & ryokan
How Long Does a Ryokan or Hotel License Take in Tokyo, and What Does It Cost?
The steps to a lodging business licence (ryokangyo kyoka) in Tokyo's 23 wards, the time each ward says to expect, application fees, and where the real costs come from.
Getting a lodging business licence (ryokangyo kyoka, the licence behind hotels, ryokan and guesthouses) in Tokyo's 23 wards usually takes a few months from first consultation to licence, before counting any building work. Ward guidance points to 20 business days from completion of the premises to licence (Kita Ward); the survey, design, building and fire discussions and works before that vary widely by building. The application fee itself is JPY 11,000 to 30,600; most of the cost is fire-safety equipment, building compliance work and professional fees, which depend heavily on the building.
Key takeaways
- Steps: consultation → notify neighbours → building and fire consultations → application → on-site inspection → licence
- Taito Ward: licence about 1 week to 10 days after a clean inspection (if a school is nearby and other agencies must be consulted, that inquiry usually takes 1 to 1.5 months)
- Kita Ward: 20 business days from completion (48 if other agencies must be consulted)
- Fees vary by ward, e.g. JPY 16,500 for a simple lodging (kan-i shukusho) and JPY 30,600 for a ryokan/hotel licence in Kita, Shinjuku and Ota
- Fire equipment and building compliance drive the real cost, so check the building before you buy
What are the steps?
Short answer: you start with a consultation at the ward health centre (hokenjo), bring the building up to building and fire standards, apply, and receive the licence after the health centre inspects the premises. Wards differ in detail, but the backbone is the same.
Taito Ward requires you to notify neighbours before construction starts and file a report. Kita Ward also puts a zoning check and neighbour notice before the application. Ota Ward requires a booked consultation and does not accept online applications.
- 1
Check zoning and the building
Is a hotel or ryokan allowed here?
- 2
Consult the health centre
Bring drawings; some wards need a booking
- 3
Notify neighbours
Before construction; many wards want a report
- 4
Building and fire consultations
Ward building office and local fire station
- 5
Works and application
Forms, drawings and fee
- 6
Inspections
Building and fire first, then the health centre
- 7
Licence and opening
Licence certificate issued
How long does it take?
Short answer: ward guidance puts completion-to-licence at about a month (Kita Ward: 20 business days). The time before that, for property checks, design, building and fire discussions and works, varies widely by building and decides the overall length.
Kita Ward points to 20 days (excluding weekends and holidays) from completion of the premises, or 48 days when other agencies must be consulted. Taito Ward says a licence follows about 1 week to 10 days after a clean inspection; for premises within 110 m of a school, the ward must consult other agencies, which usually takes 1 to 1.5 months.
Most delays happen before the application: zoning that does not allow lodging, stairs or escape routes that fail the rules, or fire equipment that must be added. These usually surface at the drawing stage, and redesign time becomes delay.
| Ward | Stage | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Taito | Inquiry to other agencies when within 110 m of a school | Usually 1 to 1.5 months |
| Taito | Inspection to licence | About 1 week to 10 days |
| Kita | Completion of premises to licence | 20 business days |
| Kita | Same, where other agencies are consulted | 48 business days |
What is the application fee?
Short answer: about JPY 11,000 to 16,500 for a simple lodging licence and JPY 22,000 to 30,600 for a ryokan/hotel licence. Each ward sets its own fee.
| Ward | Ryokan / hotel | Simple lodging (kan-i shukusho) |
|---|---|---|
| Kita | JPY 30,600 | JPY 16,500 |
| Shinjuku | JPY 30,600 | JPY 16,500 |
| Ota | JPY 30,600 | JPY 16,500 |
| Chuo | JPY 22,000 | JPY 11,000 |
What drives the real cost?
Short answer: fire-safety equipment and the work needed to meet the Building Standards Act cost far more than the fee. How much is needed depends on floors, floor area, number of staircases and structure, so it has to be estimated building by building.
If the area changing use is 200 m² or less, no building confirmation application is needed, but the building must still comply. No application does not mean no works.
- Fire safety: automatic fire alarm (a simplified system for small buildings), exit signs, extinguishers, flame-retardant curtains and carpets
- Building: enclosure of stairwells, escape routes, interior finish rules; three-storey houses need extra care
- Facilities: a front desk or an approved substitute, enough toilets and washbasins
- Professionals: architect (drawings and compliance), administrative scrivener (gyoseishoshi, the application), fire equipment contractor
- Neighbour notice: explanations and paperwork
Building a timeline: an illustration
This illustration applies the ward guidance above. It is not a figure from a real case.
Worked example
Illustration: turning a house in Kita Ward into a simple lodging
- Property check, zoning, first consultation: 2 to 4 weeks
- Architect drawings and early talks with the building office and fire station: depends on the building (any non-compliance means redesign)
- Construction: depends on the building, from adding equipment to rebuilding stair enclosures
- Completion to licence: 20 business days (Kita Ward guide)
- If a school is nearby and other agencies must be consulted: Kita Ward's guide extends to 48 business days
Actual timing varies widely by ward, building and works. Check the property before fixing a purchase schedule.
Common mistakes
- Checking zoning after buying and finding lodging is not allowed
- Assuming "under 200 m² means easy" and leaving fire and building works out of the budget
- Fixing an opening date before allowing for neighbour notice and consultation bookings
- Missing ward rules such as a staffed front desk or distance from schools
Sources
- Taito Ward ryokan licence handbook, FY2025 (Japanese)
- Taito Ward ryokan licence FAQ (Japanese)
- Kita Ward health centre ryokan handbook (Japanese)
- Ota Ward ryokan licence procedure (Japanese)
- Chuo Ward ryokan licence (Japanese)
- MLIT: amended Building Standards Act in force 25 June 2019 (Japanese)
- Shinjuku Ward ryokan licence application form with fees (Japanese)
- FDMA notice on fire-code compliance notices (Japanese)
FAQ
Is there an official processing time?
We found no ward publishing a formal "standard processing period". Kita Ward gives 20 business days from completion and Taito Ward about 1 week to 10 days after inspection as guides.
Can a foreigner or overseas resident get the licence?
There is no nationality requirement; the licence is issued to the operator. You do need people in Japan who can attend consultations and inspections and respond to emergencies.
Can I find out before buying whether a licence is possible?
Zoning, road access, escape routes and fire requirements can largely be judged from drawings and public data. Our hotel and minpaku feasibility check does this before you buy.
Can the licence be transferred when I sell?
Licences belong to the operator, so a new operator generally needs the ward process. Inheritance, mergers, company splits and business transfers have a succession procedure. Confirm with the health centre in advance.
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