How to Look Up a Minpaku Registration Number

Whether you’re about to book a stay at a minpaku (Japanese short-term rental) or you’re a neighbor wondering about a property nearby, you may have asked yourself: “Is this property actually being operated legally?” The key indicator of legitimacy is the “registration number” (todokede bango).

Let’s get straight to the point.

The registration status of minpaku properties can be checked on the “Minpaku Portal Site” operated by the Japan Tourism Agency. However, at present, this system doesn’t allow the general public to directly search for a specific property by address or property name.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the official verification methods currently available, their limitations, and the practical steps you can take to check whether a specific minpaku property is operating legally.

Why Checking the “Registration Number” Matters — Proof of a Legal Minpaku

So, what exactly is a “registration number”? It’s a number issued to an operator once their submission to the local government has been officially accepted under the Private Lodging Business Act (also known as the Minpaku Law). Having this number means the property has cleared minimum safety standards set by the national government, including compliance with fire safety regulations, sanitary management, and emergency response protocols.

Properties operating without a registration number — so-called “illegal minpaku” — are highly likely to fall short of these safety standards. Beyond the risk of inadequate response in the event of a fire or accident, guests may also face troubles like sudden reservation cancellations. For guests, neighboring residents, and honest hosts alike, the presence (or absence) of this registration number marks the line between trust and risk.

[Official] The Only Way to Check Minpaku Registration Status

The only official source for checking the registration status of minpaku (Private Lodging Business) properties in Japan is the Japan Tourism Agency’s “Minpaku Portal Site.”

Using the Japan Tourism Agency’s “Minpaku Portal Site”

This site aggregates and publishes information on registered properties reported by local governments across Japan. It’s the only official, nationally-run site where you can find the latest laws and data related to minpaku.

What You Can Search — and Its “Limitations”

So what exactly can you find on this site, and to what extent?

• What you CAN find: The site has a page called “View Registered Properties,” where lists of accepted registration numbers are published by prefecture in PDF or CSV format. This lets you see the big picture — for example, “Prefecture X has this many legally operating minpaku” — and confirm which numbers have been officially registered.
• What you CANNOT find (the limitation): Most importantly, this public data does not include any personal information such as the property’s specific address, its name, or the host’s identity. As a result, there’s currently no way to search for a specific property directly — for example, “I want to find the registration number for that house down the street” or “I want to enter the address of the place I’m staying to check if it’s legal.” This is presumably a measure taken to protect personal privacy.

So How Do You Verify the Legality of a Specific Minpaku Property?

If you can’t search the official site directly, what should you do? Here are the practical, step-by-step methods you can use.

STEP 1: Look for the Registration Number on Booking Sites (OTAs)

Major OTAs (online travel agencies) such as Airbnb and Booking.com are legally required, under Japanese law, to require hosts to display their registration number or license number. The easiest and most reliable way for a guest to confirm legality is to check the listing page.

The number is typically listed near the bottom of the property details or description, under a section labeled “License” or “Permits.”

STEP 2: Check the “Format” of the Displayed Number

Once you find a number, check whether its format looks correct. The format varies depending on the legal basis for the property’s operation.

• Under the Private Lodging Business Act (Minpaku Law): The format starts with the letter “M” followed by 9 digits (e.g., M123456789).
• Under the Hotel Business Act (simple lodging license): Formats vary by municipality, but common examples include things like “XX-shi Shirei Hosei Dai-XX-go” or “XX (fiscal year) Kenpukusei Kankan Dai-XX-go.”
• Under the National Strategic Special Zone system (Tokku Minpaku): Formats vary by municipality, but a certification number is issued, such as “Ota-ku Tokku Minpaku Dai-XX-go.”

If the number clearly doesn’t match any of these formats, or if no number is listed at all, that could be a red flag.

STEP 3 (Last Resort): Contact the Local Government

If you’re a neighbor and absolutely need to verify the legality of a specific property but can’t find it on any OTA, you can also contact the relevant department of the local government where the property is located (such as the public health division of the health center).

That said, as mentioned in Step 1, government offices generally won’t disclose detailed information about individual properties out of privacy concerns. It’s best to frame your inquiry as a factual question — such as “Does registration number XX exist?” — or as a general consultation.

A Host’s Obligation to Properly Display Their Registration Number

From the host’s perspective, obtaining and displaying a registration number is an absolute requirement for staying in business.

• Obligation to display a “sign”: Under the Private Lodging Business Act, properties with an accepted registration are required to display a designated sign — listing the registration number, property name, and contact information — in a location visible to the public, typically near the entrance of the property.
• Obligation to display the number on booking sites: As mentioned earlier, hosts are also required to accurately list their registration number on their OTA listing pages. Failing to do so can result in the listing being hidden or removed from the platform.

Complying with these obligations serves as proof of legitimate operation and helps build trust with guests.

Conclusion: The Registration Number Is Your “Passport” to a Safe Minpaku Experience

For guests, a minpaku registration number is a “passport to choosing a safe and secure place to stay.” For hosts, it’s an “ID card” that proves they’re running their business in full compliance with the law.

While there’s currently no easy way for anyone to search by address, checking OTA listings gives us a reasonable way to judge legitimacy. To foster a safe and comfortable minpaku culture, it’s essential that both guests and hosts properly understand the importance of this “registration number.”

Struggling With Registrations or Permits?

“I want to start a minpaku with my own property, but the registration process is too complicated to figure out.”

“I want to run a clean minpaku operation that fully complies with the law.”

“I want to know how to create the required sign and properly display it on OTAs.”

Getting a registration number is the starting line for legal minpaku operation, but the permit application process that leads up to it is extremely complex, requiring significant expertise and time. A single missing document can lead to major delays in launching your business.

We at Stay Buddy Inc., a minpaku operation management company, offer end-to-end support for owners looking to start a minpaku business — from researching property regulations and building a business plan, to handling the complex registration and permit application process on your behalf.

Let’s work together to build a property that’s loved by both guests and the local community, through clean, law-abiding minpaku operation. Whether you’re just starting out and don’t know where to begin, feel free to reach out to us. We’ll make sure your minpaku business gets off to a solid start.

Let’s work together to build a property that’s loved by both guests and the local community, through clean, law-abiding minpaku operation. Whether you’re just starting out and don’t know where to begin, feel free to reach out to us. We’ll make sure your minpaku business gets off to a solid start.