Article 3(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Hotel Business Act, a person that has notified the prefectural governor (or the head of a city that establishes health centers or of a special ward (hereinafter referred to as a "city with a health center or special ward") which handle administrative affairs for the private lodging business or other prescribed business prescribed in Article 68, paragraph (1) (the same applies hereinafter, except for paragraph (7) of this Article and paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article) that they will run a private lodging business may run the private lodging business.

(2)A person that seeks to make the notification referred to in the preceding paragraph must submit a written notification stating the following particulars to the prefectural governor for each residence where the person seeks to run a private lodging business, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:

(3)The written notification referred to in the preceding paragraph must be accompanied by a drawing of the residence relating to the relevant notification, a document pledging that the person seeking to make the notification referred to in paragraph (1) does not fall under any of the items of the following Article, and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(4)If there has been a change in the particulars listed in paragraph (2), items (i) through (iii), (v), or (vii), the private lodging business operator must notify the prefectural governor to that effect within 30 days from the day of that change, and if it seeks to change the particulars listed in item (vi) of that paragraph, it must notify the prefectural governor to that effect before the change.

(5)The provisions of paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the notification under the preceding paragraph.

(6)If a private lodging business operator falls under any of the following items, the person specified in the items must notify the prefectural governor to that effect within 30 days from that date (or in the case of item (i), from the date of learning of that fact) pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:

(7)If a prefectural governor has accepted a notification under paragraph (1) or (4) or the preceding paragraph, and a residence subject to that notification is located within a city with a health center or a special ward (excluding those whose head handles administrative affairs for the private lodging business or other prescribed business prescribed in Article 68, paragraph (1)), the governor must notify the head of that city or special ward to that effect without delay.

Article 4Any person who falls under any of the following categories must not run a private lodging business:

Article 5A private lodging business operator must take measures that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and are necessary to ensure the hygiene of lodgers for its notified residence, such as limiting the number of lodgers according to the floor area of each room (limited to those used for a private lodging business; the same applies in Article 11, paragraph (1), item (i)), or periodical cleaning.

Article 6A private lodging business operator must take measures that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and are necessary to ensure the safety of lodgers in the event of a fire or other disasters for its notified residence, such as installing emergency lighting fixtures or marking evacuation routes.

Article 7A private lodging business operator must take measures that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and are necessary to ensure the comfort and convenience of lodgers who are foreign tourists, such as providing foreign language guidance to lodgers who are foreign tourists on how to use the facilities of a notified residence, providing information on how to use public transportation for travel in a foreign language.

Article 8(1)A private lodging business operator must keep a register of the lodgers in notified residences and other places specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, enter the full names, addresses, occupations and other information specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and submit this when requested by the prefectural governor.

(2)Lodgers must inform the private lodging business operator of the information specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as referred to in the preceding paragraph when requested to do so.

Article 9(1)A private lodging business operator must explain particulars that should be considered for preventing noise and other particulars that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and are necessary for preventing adverse effects on the living environment in the surrounding area of notified residence, to lodgers, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(2)A private lodging business operator must provide explanations under the preceding paragraph to lodgers who are foreign tourists in a foreign language they can speak.

Article 10A private lodging business operator must respond appropriately and promptly to complaints and enquiries from residents of the surrounding area of the notified residence.

Article 11(1)When any of the following items applies, a private lodging business operator must entrust its private lodging management services subject to the relevant notified residence to a private lodging manager pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; provided, however, that this does not apply if the private lodging business operator is a private lodging manager, and the private lodging business operator provides the private lodging management services for the notified residence on its own:

(2)The provisions of Article 5 through the preceding Article do not apply to a private lodging business operator that runs a private lodging business in a notified residence for which private lodging management services have been entrusted.

Article 12If a private lodging business operator entrusts another person with the conclusion of a private lodging business contract (meaning a contract for the provision of private lodging in a notified residence to a lodger; the same applies hereinafter) as its agent or intermediary, the business operator must entrust this to a private lodging intermediary or travel agent.

Article 13Private lodging business operators must display a sign in the form specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in a place easily visible to the public for each notified residence.

Article 14A private lodging business operator must report regularly to the prefectural governor on the number of days that the business operator let persons stay in its notified residence and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, pursuant to Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 15If a prefectural governor finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure proper operation of the private lodging business, the prefectural governor may order the private lodging business operator to change its business methods or take other measures necessary to improve its business operation, to the extent necessary for that purpose.

Article 16(1)If a private lodging business operator has violated laws and regulations or an order under the preceding Article in relation to the private lodging business it runs, the prefectural governor may order the suspension of all or part of its business for a specified period not exceeding one year.

(2)A prefectural governor may order the discontinuation of a private lodging business if a private lodging business operator has violated laws and regulations or an order under the preceding Article or the preceding paragraph in relation to the private lodging business it runs, and the purpose of supervision cannot be achieved by other means.

(3)If the prefectural governor has issued an order under the preceding two paragraphs, the prefectural governor must give notification to that effect to the private lodging business operator without delay, indicating the reasons for the order.

Article 17(1)If the prefectural governor finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure the proper operation of a private lodging business, it may request the private lodging business operator to report on its business, or may have their officials enter the notified residence or other facilities, inspect the state of its business or equipment, books and documents and other items, or ask questions to the persons concerned.

(2)The official who conducts an on-site inspection pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry identification and present it to the person concerned.

(3)The authority to conduct an on-site inspection under paragraph (1) must not be interpreted as having been granted for the purpose of a criminal investigation.

Article 18If it is necessary to do so in order to prevent the deterioration of the living environment due to noise emissions and other events caused by the private lodging business, a prefecture (or within a city with a health center or a special ward which handles administrative affairs for the private lodging business or other prescribed business prescribed in Article 68, paragraph (1), that city or special ward) may limit the period for carrying out the private lodging business to the extent considered necessary by specifying the area, in accordance with the criteria specified by a Cabinet Order, and as specified by Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance.

Article 19The Commissioner of the Tourism Agency is to provide private lodging business operators with necessary advice and other assistance with regard to measures to improve the reception of foreign tourists, such as the development of facilities with infrastructures that enable the use of the Internet, in order to ensure the proper implementation of the private lodging business.

Article 20(1)The Commissioner of the Tourism Agency is to provide foreign tourists with information on the state of implementation of the private lodging business and other information on the private lodging business in order to increase the convenience regarding foreign tourists' lodging.

(2)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency finds it necessary to do so in order to provide the information referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner may request the prefectural governor to provide the necessary information concerning notified residences located in the prefecture.

Article 21In the provisions of the Building Standards Act (Act No. 201 of 1950) and orders made thereunder, the terms "residences", "row houses", "apartment houses" and "dormitories" include those which are notified residences.

Article 22(1)A person that seeks to run a private lodging management business must be registered with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

(2)The registration referred to in the preceding paragraph ceases to be effective upon expiry of the period unless renewed every five years.

(3)If an application for renewal referred to in the preceding paragraph has been made and no disposition is made on the application by the date of expiry of the period referred to in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter in this paragraph and the following paragraph referred to as the "valid period of registration"), the previous registration remains in force after the expiry of the valid period of registration until the disposition is made.

(4)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the registration is renewed, the validity period of the registration is to be calculated from the day after the expiry date of the previous registration.

(5)A person that seeks to renew the registration referred to in paragraph (2) must pay a fee in the amount specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

Article 23(1)A person that seeks the registration referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (including renewal of registration referred to in paragraph (2) of that Article; hereinafter the same applies in this Chapter and Article 72, item (ii)) must submit an application stating the following to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:

(2)The application referred to in the preceding paragraph must be accompanied by a document pledging that the person seeking the registration referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article does not fall under any of the items of Article 25, paragraph (1) and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Article 24(1)When an application for registration under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is made, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must register the following particulars in the register of private lodging management businesses, except cases in which the Minister denies the registration pursuant to paragraph (1) of the following Article:

(2)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has granted registration under the preceding paragraph, the Minister must notify the applicant and the prefectural governor to that effect without delay.

Article 25(1)If a person seeking the registration referred to in Article 22, paragraph (1) falls under any of the following items, or if the application or its supporting documents referred to in Article 23, paragraph (1) contain a false statement on an important particular or omit important facts, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must deny the registration:

(2)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport denies registration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Minister must notify the applicant of this without delay, indicating the reasons for the denial.

Article 26(1)If there has been a change in the particulars listed in the items of Article 23, paragraph (1), a private lodging manager must notify the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to that effect within 30 days from the date of that change.

(2)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism receives a notification under the preceding paragraph, the Minister must register the particulars subject to the notification in the register of private lodging managers, except cases in which those particulars fall under paragraph (1), item (vii) or (viii) of the preceding Article.

(3)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has made a registration under the preceding paragraph, the Minister must notify the prefectural governor to that effect without delay.

(4)The provisions of Article 23, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the notification under paragraph (1).

Article 27The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport must make the register of private lodging managers available for public inspection.

Article 28(1)If a private lodging manager comes to fall under any of the following items, the persons specified in the items must notify the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to that effect within 30 days from that date (in the case of item (i), from the date of learning of the fact) pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:

(2)If a private lodging manager comes to fall under any of the items of the preceding paragraph, the registration under Article 22, paragraph (1) ceases to be valid.

Article 29Private lodging managers must perform their work in a spirit of good faith and in integrity.

Article 30A private lodging manager must not allow another person to run a private lodging management business under that private lodging manager's name.

Article 31When advertising its business, a private lodging manager must not make representations that are significantly different from the actual facts with regard to particulars concerning the responsibilities of the private lodging manager and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, or representations that mislead people into believing that they are significantly better or more advantageous than they are in reality.

Article 32A private lodging manager must not do any of the following acts:

Article 33(1)When a private lodging manager seeks to conclude a management contract, it must deliver a document to the entrusting person (excluding a person who is a private lodging manager) and explain the contents of the management contract and particulars concerning its performance specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in it before concluding that contract.

(2)In lieu of delivering a document under the preceding paragraph, the private lodging manager may provide the entrusting person with the particulars to be described in that document by electronic or magnetic means (meaning a method using an electronic data processing system or other information communication technology as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the same applies in Article 60, paragraph (2)) with the consent of the entrusting person, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In this case, the private lodging manager is deemed to have delivered that document.

Article 34(1)When a private lodging manager has concluded its management contract, it must deliver a document stating the following to the entrusting person without delay:

(2)The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery of documents under the preceding paragraph.

Article 35A private lodging manager must not entrust another person with all of the private lodging management services that the private lodging business operator has entrusted to the private lodging manager.

Article 36The provisions of Articles 5 through 10 apply mutatis mutandis to a private lodging manager that runs a private lodging management business in a notified residence for which the private lodging management services have been entrusted. In this case, the term "notified residences and other places specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare" in Article 8, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "the business office or office of the private lodging management business operator", and the term "prefectural governor" is deemed to be replaced with "Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or prefectural governor".

Article 37(1)A private lodging manager must not allow an employee or other worker engaged in the business to engage in the business unless the private lodging manager has them carry identification certifying that they are its workers, as specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

(2)When performing their duties, an employee or other worker of a private lodging manager must present the identification referred to in the preceding paragraph when requested to do so by the private lodging operator or any other person concerned.

Article 38A private lodging manager must keep accounts of its business at each place of business or offices, enter the date of the contract and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism with regard to the management contract for each notified residence, and keep these accounts, as specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Article 39A private lodging manager must display a sign in the form specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in a place easily visible to the public at each of its places of business or offices.

Article 40A private lodging manager must report regularly to the private lodging business operator on the state of implementation of the private lodging management services and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Article 41(1)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure the proper operation of the private lodging management business, the Minister may order the private lodging manager to change its business methods or take other measures necessary to improve the operation of the business, to the extent necessary for that purpose. In this case, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must notify the prefectural governor of that order without delay.

(2)If the prefectural governor finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure the proper operation of the private lodging management business (limited to the business under Articles 5 through 10 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 36; the same applies in Article 45, paragraph (2)), the governor may order the private lodging manager (limited to a person that runs a private lodging management business within the prefecture; the same applies in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, and Article 45, paragraph (2)) to change its business methods or take other measures necessary to improve its business operations, to the extent necessary for that purpose. In this case, the prefectural governor must notify the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of that order without delay.

Article 42(1)The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport may revoke the registration of a private lodging manager or order the suspension of all or part of its business for a specified period not exceeding one year if the manager falls under any of the following items:

(2)The prefectural governor may request the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to make a disposition under the preceding paragraph if the private lodging manager has violated the provisions of Articles 5 through 10 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 36, or has violated an order under paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.

(3)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issues an order under paragraph (1), the Minister must notify the prefectural governor to that effect without delay.

(4)The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport may revoke the registration of a private lodging manager if the Minister finds that the manager has not started its business within one year since it received the registration or has not carried out its business for more than one year.

(5)The provisions of Article 25, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which a disposition under paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph is made.

Article 43(1)The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport must delete the registration if it loses its effect pursuant to Article 22, paragraph (2) or Article 28, paragraph (2), or the Minister has revoked it pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) of the preceding Article.

(2)The provisions of Article 26, paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the deletion of registration under the preceding paragraph.

Article 44If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has made a disposition under Article 42, paragraph (1) or (4), the Minister must issue public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Article 45(1)If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure the proper operation of the private lodging management business, the Minister may request the private lodging manager to report on its business, or may have their officials enter the place of business, office or other facilities of the private lodging manager and inspect the business conditions or equipment, books and documents and other items, or ask questions to the persons concerned.

(2)If a prefectural governor finds it necessary to ensure the proper operation of a private lodging management business, the governor may request a private lodging manager to report on its business, or have their officials enter the place of business, office or other facilities of a private lodging manager and inspect the business conditions or equipment, books and documents and other items, or ask questions to the persons concerned.

(3)The provisions of Article 17, paragraph (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to on-site inspections under the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 46(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3 of the Travel Agency Act, a person that has been registered by the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency may run a private lodging intermediary business.

(2)The registration referred to in the preceding paragraph ceases to be effective upon expiry of the period unless it is renewed every five years.

(3)If an application for renewal referred to in the preceding paragraph has been made, and no disposition is made on the application before the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph (hereinafter in this paragraph and the following paragraph referred to as the "valid period of registration"), the previous registration remains in force after the expiry of the valid period of registration until the disposition is made.

(4)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the registration is renewed, the validity period of the registration is to be calculated from the day after the expiry date of the previous registration.

(5)A person that seeks to renew the registration referred to in paragraph (2) must pay a fee in the amount specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

Article 47(1)A person that seeks the registration referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (including renewal of registration referred to in paragraph (2) of that Article; the same applies in this Chapter and Article 72, item (ii)) must submit an application stating the following to the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency:

(2)The application referred to in the preceding paragraph must be accompanied by a document pledging that the person seeking the registration referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article does not fall under any of the items of Article 49, paragraph (1) and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Article 48(1)When an application for registration under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is made, the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency must register the following particulars in the register of private lodging intermediaries, except cases in which the Commissioner denies the registration pursuant to paragraph (1) of the following Article:

(2)When the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency has made a registration under the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner must notify the applicant to that effect without delay.

Article 49(1)If a person seeking the registration referred to in Article 46, paragraph (1) falls under any of the following items, or if the application or its supporting documents referred to in Article 47, paragraph (1) contain a false statement on an important particular or omit important facts, the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency must deny the registration:

(2)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency denies registration pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner must notify the applicant to that effect without delay, indicating the reasons for this.

Article 50(1)If there has been a change in the particulars listed in the items of Article 47, paragraph (1), a private lodging intermediary must notify the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency to that effect within 30 days from the date of that change.

(2)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency receives a notification under the preceding paragraph, the Commissioner must register the particulars subject to the notification in the register of private lodging intermediaries, except cases in which those particulars fall under item (vii) or (viii) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(3)The provisions of Article 47, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the notification under paragraph (1).

Article 51The Commissioner of the Tourism Agency must make the register of private lodging intermediaries available for public inspection.

Article 52(1)If a private lodging intermediary falls under any of the following items, the person specified in the items must notify the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency to that effect within 30 days from that date (or in the case of item (i), from the date of learning of that fact) pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:

(2)If a private lodging intermediary has come to fall under any of the items of the preceding paragraph, the registration referred to in Article 46, paragraph (1) loses its effect.

Article 53Private lodging intermediaries must conduct business in a fair and sincere manner.

Article 54A private lodging intermediary must not allow another person to run a private lodging intermediary business under the private lodging intermediary's name.

Article 55(1)A private lodging intermediary must establish the terms and conditions of the private lodging intermediary services with regard to the contract concerning the private lodging intermediary services (referred to as a "private lodging intermediary contract" in Article 57, item (i) and Article 59, paragraph (1)) that it concludes with a lodger, and must notify the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency of them before their implementation. The same applies when the intermediary seeks to change them.

(2)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency finds that the terms and conditions of the private lodging intermediary services referred to in the preceding paragraph fall under any of the following items, it may order the private lodging intermediary to change the terms and conditions, setting a reasonable time limit:

(3)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency has established and made a public notice on the general terms and conditions of the private lodging intermediary services (including cases in which the Commissioner has changed and made a public notice on them), and the private lodging intermediary establishes terms and conditions of its private lodging intermediary services that are identical to the general terms and conditions of the private lodging intermediary services or changes the terms and conditions of its private lodging intermediary services that it has already established so that they are identical to the general terms and conditions of the private lodging intermediary services, the notification under paragraph (1) is deemed to have been made for those terms and conditions.

(4)A private lodging intermediary must make a public notice on the terms and conditions of the private lodging intermediary services pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Article 56(1)Before starting its business, a private lodging intermediary must set the fees for the private lodging intermediary services that it receives from lodgers or private lodging business operators in accordance with the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and must make a public notice on these fees pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The same applies if the private lodging intermediary seeks to change them.

(2)A private lodging intermediary must not receive fees in excess of the fees for which it has made a public notice pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

Article 57Private lodging intermediaries must not engage in any of the following acts:

Article 58A private lodging intermediary or its agents, employees or other workers must not commit any of the following acts in connection with the private lodging intermediary services it carries out:

Article 59(1)When a private lodging intermediary seeks to conclude a private lodging intermediary contract, it must deliver a document to the lodgers and explain the contents of the private lodging intermediary contract and particulars concerning its performance specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in it before concluding that contract.

(2)The provisions of Article 33, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery of the document under the preceding paragraph to the lodger.

Article 60(1)A private lodging intermediary must display a sign in a form specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in a place easily visible to the public at each of their places of business or offices.

(2)A private lodging intermediary may make a public notice on the date of registration, registration number and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by electronic or magnetic means. In this case, the provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply.

Article 61(1)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure the proper operation of the private lodging intermediary business, the Commissioner may order the private lodging intermediary (excluding a natural person who does not have an address or residence in Japan or a corporation or other organization which does not have its principal office in Japan and which runs a private lodging intermediary business in a foreign state (hereinafter referred to as a "foreign private lodging intermediary"); the same applies hereinafter) to change its business methods or take other measures necessary to improve its business operation, to the extent necessary for that purpose.

(2)The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to foreign private lodging intermediaries. In this case, the phrase "order" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced by "request".

Article 62(1)The Commissioner of the Tourism Agency may revoke the registration of a private lodging intermediary or order the suspension of all or part of its business for a specified period not exceeding one year if the private lodging intermediary falls under any of the following items:

(2)The Commissioner of Tourism may revoke the registration of a private lodging intermediary if the Commissioner finds that the intermediary has not started its business within one year since it received the registration or has not carried out its business for more than one year.

(3)The provisions of Article 49, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which a disposition is made pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 63(1)The Commissioner of the Tourism Agency may revoke the registration of a foreign private lodging intermediary or request the suspension of all or part of its business for a specified period not exceeding one year, if the foreign private lodging intermediary falls under any of the following items:

(2)The Commissioner of Tourism may revoke the registration of a foreign private lodging intermediary if the Commissioner finds that the intermediary has not started its business within one year since it received the registration or has not carried out its business for more than one year.

(3)The provisions of Article 49, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which a request is made for the revocation of registration under the preceding two paragraphs or for the suspension of business under paragraph (1).

(4)The costs required for an inspection under paragraph (1), item (iv) (limited to the costs specified by Cabinet Order) are to be borne by the foreign private lodging intermediary subject to that inspection.

Article 64The Commissioner of the Tourism Agency must delete the registration if it loses its effect pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (2) or Article 52, paragraph (2), or the Commissioner has revoked the registration pursuant to Article 62, paragraph (1) or (2), or pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of the preceding Article.

Article 65If any of the following items applies, the Commissioner of Tourism must give public notice of any of the following cases pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:

Article 66(1)If the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency finds it necessary to do so in order to ensure the proper operation of the private lodging intermediary business, the Commissioner may request the private lodging intermediary to report on its business, or have their officials enter the business office or office of the private lodging intermediary and inspect the state of its business, books and documents and other items, or ask questions to the persons concerned.

(2)The provisions of Article 17, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the on-site inspection under the preceding paragraph.

Article 67If a travel agent conducts the acts listed in the Article 2, paragraph (8), item (ii) of this Act as the travel services listed in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Travel Agency Act (meaning the travel services prescribed in paragraph (3) of that Article), for the provision of Article 12, paragraph (1) of the Travel Agency Act to be applied, the term "traveler" in Article 12, paragraph (1) of that Act is deemed to be replaced with "traveler and a private lodging business operator prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Private Lodging Business Act (Act No. 65 of 2009)".