To start operating a “simple lodging” (kan’i shukusho) facility in Hokkaido, you must satisfy three key requirement categories—structural facilities, sanitation measures, and fire safety compliance—and complete the application process with your local public health center. In recent years, driven by growing inbound demand and rising tourist numbers, Hokkaido has seen an increase in guesthouses and small-scale lodging facilities opening under the simple lodging category. However, the path to obtaining a permit is far from straightforward, requiring multiple steps from initial consultations through to facility inspections.
This article breaks down the simple lodging permit requirements under the Hotel Business Act and Hokkaido’s local ordinances into three concrete categories—structure, sanitation, and fire safety—and walks through the application process in Hokkaido step by step. It’s designed to give anyone considering opening a facility a clear overview of the entire process, so you can prepare smoothly and efficiently.
What Are the Simple Lodging Permit Requirements? Three Pillars Required in Hokkaido
Simple lodging operation is one of the business categories defined under the Hotel Business Act, applying to facilities with structures and equipment designed for multiple guests to share sleeping accommodations. Compared to hotel and ryokan operations, the structural requirements are somewhat more relaxed—but you still won’t receive a permit unless you meet the minimum standards set by law. In Hokkaido, additional requirements are layered on top of the national Hotel Business Act through the Hokkaido Hotel Business Act Enforcement Ordinance, so it’s essential to check with your local public health center before applying anywhere in the prefecture.
The permit requirements are broadly organized around three pillars: “structural facility standards,” “sanitation measure standards,” and “fire safety code compliance standards.” Missing even one of these means you won’t be able to obtain a permit. Below, we break down each category with specific figures and requirements.
Structural Facility Standards: Guest Room Size, Front Desk, and Equipment Requirements
Guest Room Floor Area Must Generally Be at Least 33 Square Meters
Under the Enforcement Order of the Hotel Business Act, the total floor area of guest rooms in a simple lodging facility must be at least 33 square meters. There is a relaxation for facilities accommodating fewer than 10 guests: as long as at least 3.3 square meters per person is secured, a total area under 33 square meters is permitted. For example, if you set your maximum occupancy at 5 guests, a guest room area of just 16.5 square meters would meet the requirement.
In Hokkaido, it’s common to see older detached houses or warehouses renovated into simple lodging facilities. Since the effective usable floor area (measured from the interior wall surfaces, not the centerline) is what’s actually assessed, it’s important to measure accurately at the floor-planning stage. Also note that shared spaces such as stairs, hallways, and toilets are not counted as part of the guest room area.
Front Desk (Genkan-chōba) Requirements
Simple lodging facilities are generally required to have a front desk or equivalent facility. A 2018 amendment to the Hotel Business Act allows for alternative measures using ICT equipment, but some public health centers in Hokkaido place greater emphasis on face-to-face identity verification in practice. Specifically, requirements typically include being able to visually confirm the guest’s identity and having a system in place to respond on-site within 10 minutes in an emergency.
If you’re considering unstaffed operation, it’s essential to consult with the public health center in advance about installing tablet devices or intercom-based video call systems, as well as key handover methods (smart locks, key boxes, etc.). As a rough budget guide, expect to spend around ¥300,000–¥800,000 on a complete ICT system setup.
Structural Requirements for Ventilation, Natural Light, Lighting, and Moisture Protection
Guest rooms must have adequate ventilation, natural lighting, artificial lighting, and moisture-proofing. Specifically, windows must provide an effective lighting area of at least one-seventh of the room’s floor area, and mechanical ventilation systems are commonly required. Because Hokkaido experiences severe winter cold, balancing insulation performance with ventilation performance is especially critical.
Lighting levels of at least 75 lux in guest rooms are generally used as a benchmark, and moisture protection requires measures such as damp-proofing the foundation and installing vents. In Hokkaido in particular, condensation control directly affects a building’s longevity, making double-glazed windows and properly installed insulation practically mandatory.
Sanitation Standards: Concrete Rules for Water Facilities, Bedding, and Cleaning
Number and Specifications of Toilets, Washbasins, and Bathing Facilities
Simple lodging facilities must provide an appropriate number of toilets, washbasins, and bathing facilities (or showers). While there’s no uniform numerical standard—it varies by municipality—public health centers in Hokkaido generally expect at least one toilet per 5 guests of capacity, along with bathing or shower facilities that are either separated by gender or arranged so they can be used on a scheduled, time-slot basis.
Regarding water quality, if you use well water, a water quality test is required, covering roughly 20 items including general bacteria, E. coli, pH, and residual chlorine. Testing typically costs between ¥15,000 and ¥30,000 per session. If you use municipal water supply, testing is usually unnecessary—though if the water passes through a storage tank, a separate inspection may be required.
Bedding Management and Cleaning Systems
You are obligated to provide clean bedding for each guest. Under the Hokkaido Hotel Business Act Enforcement Ordinance, sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases must be replaced with freshly laundered items each time a new guest checks in, and the futons/duvets themselves must be regularly cleaned or disinfected. Specifically, it’s recommended that futons be fully washed or heat-dried at least once every six months.
As a baseline, both guest rooms and shared areas should be cleaned at least once daily. Proper waste disposal and pest/rodent control measures are also required as part of sanitation management. Since waste must be handled as commercial general waste, you’ll need to arrange a contract with your municipality in advance—in Sapporo, for example, disposal fees run roughly ¥5,000–¥10,000 per month.
Fire Safety Code Compliance: Fire Prevention Equipment and Fire Inspection Points
Mandatory Installation of Fire-Fighting Equipment
Under the Fire Service Act, simple lodging facilities are classified as “hotels, ryokan, and lodging houses,” falling under Item (5)-i of Appended Table 1 of the Fire Service Act Enforcement Order. This classification requires the installation of automatic fire alarm systems regardless of total floor area. Additionally, fire extinguishers are required if the total floor area exceeds 150 square meters, and depending on floor area and number of stories, guide lights, emergency lighting, and sprinkler systems may also be required.
As a rough cost guide: automatic fire alarm systems run about ¥300,000–¥800,000, guide lights about ¥30,000–¥50,000 per unit, and fire extinguishers about ¥5,000–¥8,000 each. Wiring costs can be significant when converting existing buildings, so it’s best to get a preliminary survey and quote from a licensed fire equipment specialist as early as possible.
Flame-Resistant Materials and Securing Evacuation Routes
Simple lodging facilities are required to use flame-resistant products (bōen products) for curtains, carpets, fabric blinds, and similar items. You’ll need products bearing a flame-resistance label—items purchased from ordinary home goods stores may not meet the standard, so caution is needed. Flame-resistant curtains typically cost 1.5 to 2 times more than standard products.
For evacuation routes, it’s preferable to secure two independent evacuation directions on each floor; where evacuation via windows is possible, this can be addressed with evacuation equipment such as evacuation ladders. Common standards call for hallway widths of at least 1.2 meters and stairway widths of at least 75 centimeters. Since outdoor emergency stairs risk freezing during Hokkaido winters, snow-melting equipment or anti-slip measures should also be considered.
Obtaining the Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate
Applications for a hotel business permit must include a “Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate” (Shōbō Hōrei Tekigō Tsūchisho) issued by the fire department. To obtain this certificate, you submit an “Application for Issuance of Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate” to the fire department, undergo an on-site inspection, and receive the certificate once no issues are found. Issuance typically takes 7 to 14 days from application, so this process needs to run in parallel with your public health center application schedule.
During the inspection, officials check that installed fire-fighting equipment functions properly, confirm the condition of evacuation routes, and verify the use of flame-resistant materials. If deficiencies are found, corrective guidance is issued, and a re-inspection follows the fix. Re-inspections can add another 1–2 weeks, so build in a comfortable buffer when scheduling backward from your intended opening date.
The Simple Lodging Application Process in Hokkaido: 6 Steps
Step 1: Preliminary Check of Zoning and Legal Requirements
The first thing to do is check the zoning district (yōto chiiki) where your property is located. Under the City Planning Act, simple lodging facilities generally cannot operate in Category 1 or Category 2 Low-Rise Exclusive Residential Districts, or in Industrial or Exclusive Industrial Districts. You can check zoning maps through the city planning department or website of each municipality in Hokkaido. You should also confirm whether a change of building use is required under the Building Standards Act—if the total floor area exceeds 200 square meters, a building confirmation application for change of use is required.
You’ll also want to check for any additional restrictions under local municipal ordinances or landscape plans. In particular, properties located within national park areas or historic landscape preservation districts may require additional permits.
Step 2: Preliminary Consultation with the Public Health Center and Fire Department
Once you’ve identified a candidate property, hold preliminary consultations with the relevant public health center and fire department. Hokkaido has 26 public health centers, and the one covering your property’s location will serve as your point of contact—within Sapporo city, for instance, the Sapporo City Public Health Center handles this role. Bring the property’s floor plans and layout drawings to the consultation and get feedback on whether the structural facility standards are likely to be met.
Hold a preliminary consultation with the fire department around the same time to confirm the types and quantities of fire equipment required. If major issues surface at this stage, you may need to change properties or undertake extensive renovations, so it’s wise to complete these consultations before signing any contract. Preliminary consultations are free of charge, and since many public health centers require appointments, be sure to call ahead to schedule.
Step 3: Renovation Work and Equipment Installation
Based on feedback from the preliminary consultation, carry out any necessary renovation work and equipment installation. For a typical detached house being converted into a simple lodging facility, renovation costs generally range from ¥3,000,000 to ¥8,000,000. Common work includes reconfiguring room partitions, adding toilets and shower facilities, installing automatic fire alarm systems, fitting flame-resistant curtains, and setting up front desk facilities.
Since the work must satisfy both the structural standards under the Hotel Business Act and the equipment standards under the Fire Service Act, it’s worth sharing both sets of requirements with your contractor and getting confirmation from the public health center and fire department at the floor-plan stage—this helps avoid costly rework later. Because winter construction in Hokkaido carries freezing risks and higher costs, working between May and October is generally more efficient.
Step 4: Obtaining the Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate
Once construction is complete, apply to the fire department for the Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate. Required documents typically include the application form, building floor plans, a layout diagram of fire equipment, and fire equipment inspection reports. After submitting your application, a fire department official will conduct an on-site inspection; if all equipment functions correctly and evacuation routes are properly secured, the certificate will be issued.
As noted earlier, issuance takes roughly 7 to 14 days, so plan this in coordination with your public health center permit application schedule.
Step 5: Permit Application and Facility Inspection at the Public Health Center
Once you have the Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate in hand, submit your hotel business permit application to the public health center. Required documents typically include the permit application form, facility drawings (floor plan, elevation, layout diagram), the Fire Safety Code Compliance Certificate, a copy of the completion inspection certificate under the Building Standards Act, water quality test results (if using well water), and the application fee (approximately ¥22,000 in Hokkaido).
After your application is accepted, an environmental sanitation inspector from the public health center will conduct an on-site inspection. This includes measuring the actual guest room area, checking ventilation and lighting equipment, confirming the number and condition of toilets and bathing facilities, reviewing how bedding is stored, and verifying the functionality of the front desk. From inspection to permit issuance typically takes about 10 to 20 days.
Step 6: Permit Issuance and Business Launch
If no issues are found during the facility inspection, your hotel business permit will be issued. You are required to display the permit in a visible location within the facility. You can only begin operating once you’ve received the permit—accepting guests before receiving it constitutes a violation of the Hotel Business Act, punishable by up to 6 months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥1,000,000.
Once you’re operating, you’re required to maintain and complete a guest registration ledger. For foreign guests, you must record their nationality and passport number, and keep a copy of their passport on file. Guest registration ledgers must be retained for 3 years. Also note that periodic on-site inspections by the public health center may occur even after you’ve opened, so it’s important to maintain consistent day-to-day sanitation management practices.
Opening a Simple Lodging Facility in Hokkaido? Get Expert Support
As outlined above, obtaining a simple lodging permit requires a solid understanding of standards across three areas—structural facilities, sanitation measures, and fire safety compliance—along with close coordination with public health centers and fire departments. With 26 public health centers scattered across Hokkaido’s vast area, and operational nuances that can vary from region to region, navigating this process alone can be genuinely challenging for those without prior experience.
Stay Buddy Inc., a minpaku management company, provides end-to-end support—from preliminary research toward obtaining a simple lodging permit, through application assistance, to full operational management after opening. Our staff, experienced in launching properties across Hokkaido, can assess a property’s eligibility against permit requirements from the property-selection stage onward, and help optimize renovation costs and manage your application timeline.
If you’re wondering whether a particular property can obtain a simple lodging permit, how much renovation might cost, or how long it will take to open for business, feel free to reach out to Stay Buddy Inc. for a chat. Your first consultation is completely free.
