Certain travel-related activities are generally considered outside the scope of Travel Operator Business and can be performed without registration. Main examples are the following: Ticketing services performed on behalf of transportation operators. Securing only services unrelated to transportation or accommodation (e.g., stand-alone tour guide services). Direct provision of transportation, accommodation, or related services by transportation or accommodation operators themselves. Activities that do not involve a direct contractual relationship with the traveler, such as merely accompanying a visitor during transportation. However, the need for registration should be assessed based on the actual business model, contractual structure, remuneration and services provided.

A Travel Operator Business (旅行業) generally covers businesses that plan, arrange or sell travel services, including travel packages, transportation, accommodation and related travel arrangements. Depending on the scope of services, a Travel Operator may need to register as a Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 or Regional Travel Operator.

A Travel Agent Business (旅行業者代理業) refers to a business that concludes travel contracts with travelers on behalf of a registered Travel Operator in exchange for remuneration. This category is typically relevant where a business acts as an agent for an existing registered Travel Operator, rather than operating travel products in its own name.

A Travel Service Provision Business (旅行サービス手配業) refers to a business that arranges transportation, accommodation or other travel services for a Travel Operator as an agent, intermediary or broker in exchange for remuneration. This category may apply to businesses involved in arranging travel services without directly selling travel products to travelers.

Travel Operators are classified into four categories. Each category has different permitted scope of business and conditions for application.

The Travel Agency Act distringuishes the following 3 categories of tour: Organized planned tours (募集型企画旅行), where Travel Operators make travel plans (specifying the destination, the dates, the details of the transportation or accommodation services and the fees) first and then recruit travelers. Example: package tours. Order-made planned tours (受注型企画旅行), where Travel Operators make travel plans as ordered by travelers. Example: school excursions, group travels. Arranged tours (手配旅行), where Travel Operators arrange hotels and transportations for the travelers based on the request of the travelers.

The reference asset amount is calculated based on the applicant’s balance sheet or statement of assets. In principle, it is calculated as follows: Reference Assets = Total Assets − Total Liabilities − Deferred Assets − Goodwill − Business Security Deposit / Payment Guarantee Contribution If the book value of an asset clearly differs from its actual value, the actual value must be used. Assets that are not recoverable or whose existence is unclear should therefore be reviewed carefully before application. The required minimum reference asset amount depends on the registration category: Type 1 Travel Operator: JPY 30,000,000 Type 2 Travel Operator: JPY 7,000,000 Type 3 Travel Operator: JPY 3,000,000 Regional Travel Operator: JPY 1,000,000

Yes. Travel Operators are required to deposit a surety bond with the Legal Affairs Bureau. The required amount depends on factors such as the registration category and transaction volume. As an alternative, a Travel Operator that becomes an insured member of a travel agency association may deposit a Contribution of Payment Guarantee, which is equivalent to 20% of the required surety bond. Please use the Travel Operator Financial Requirement Assessment Tool at the bottom of this page to assess your financial obligations.

JATA, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, and ANTA, the All Nippon Travel-Agents Association, are travel agency associations in Japan. Joining one of these associations may allow a Travel Operator to use the Contribution of Payment Guarantee system instead of depositing the full surety bond. Membership procedures, review timing and association fees differ depending on the association and the type of travel business.

Yes. Travel Operators and Travel Agent Businesses must appoint at least one Certified Travel Supervisor (旅行業務取扱管理者) for each office. If the number of employees at a specific office reaches 10, two Certified Travel Supervisors are required for that office. The Certified Travel Supervisor is responsible for managing and supervising travel business affairs to ensure fair transactions, travel safety and traveler convenience.

There are three types of Certified Travel Supervisor qualifications: Comprehensive Certified Travel Supervisor (総合旅行業務取扱管理者) can be appointed at any office; Domestic Certified Travel Supervisor (国内旅行業務取扱管理者) can only be appointed at offices dealing exclusively with domestic travels; Regionally-limited Certified Travel Supervisor (地域限定旅行業務取扱管理者) can only be appointed at offices dealing exclusively with travels within or adjacent to the area of the municipality where the office is located. ​ Qualifications of Certified Travel Supervisor are obtained by passing the corresponding exams. Currently, the exam for Comprehensive Certified Travel Supervisor is administered by JATA and the exam for domestic ones is administered by ANTA respectively, as delegated by the Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency. As regionally-limited Certified Travel Supervisor is a newly-established category, its exam is administered by Japan Tourism Agency.   Certified Travel Supervisors must receive periodic training conducted by a travel agency association at intervals specified by regulation, within a range of three to five years.

A rental office or serviced office may be acceptable if the applicant has an exclusive private space where the travel business is actually conducted and where required items can be posted or kept, including the registration sign, handling fee table and travel business terms and conditions. A shared office without an exclusive space is generally unsuitable because the operator may not be able to make the required postings or keep the required documents properly. Personal information protection should also be considered. A virtual office cannot generally be registered as a travel business office. Even if a virtual office address is used for corporate registration, the actual place where travel business operations are conducted must be registered as the business office. The office arrangement should be checked in advance with the competent authority before filing the application.

Yes. At the initial application stage, the company’s corporate purpose and planned business activities should be consistent with the travel business category for which registration is sought. If the company’s registered business purpose does not clearly cover the intended travel activities, an amendment to the corporate purpose may be required .

A Type 1 Travel Operator registration typically follows a structured process involving both the Japan Tourism Agency and the competent Regional Transport Bureau. In practice, the workflow is as follows: Eligibility and requirements check (registration requirements review and gap analysis) Preparation and collection of required documents Membership procedures with JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents) Receipt of JATA “membership confirmation” (入会確認書) Hearing by the Japan Tourism Agency Submission of the registration application to the competent Regional Transport Bureau Substantive review by the Japan Tourism Agency Issuance of registration notice by the Regional Transport Bureau Payment of the Contribution of Payment Guarantee (弁済業務保証金分担金) Submission of proof of payment to the authority Commencement of operations Timeline: approximately 4 to 6 months in total. The Japan Tourism Agency’s review period alone generally requires around 2 months, and this portion is typically difficult to accelerate as an administrative matter.

A Type 1 Travel Operator registration typically takes approximately 4 months in total. The Japan Tourism Agency’s review period alone generally requires around two months and is usually difficult to accelerate as an administrative matter. In case JATA or ANTA registration is required, 1-2 additional months should be considered.

After registration, a Travel Operator must comply with ongoing obligations, including posting handling fees before commencing business, maintaining approved or deemed-approved terms and conditions, appointing the required Certified Travel Supervisor for each office, and filing the annual transaction amount report. The transaction amount report must be submitted to the registration authority within 100 days after the end of each fiscal year. If the Travel Operator is an ANTA regular member, it must also report to its ANTA branch in accordance with ANTA’s rules. If the Travel Operator is a JATA full member, it must also report to JATA in accordance with JATA’s procedures.

Travel business registration is valid for five years from the date of registration. A Travel Operator that wishes to continue the registered business after the five-year period must apply for renewal. If the renewal application is filed by the expiry date, the existing registration remains effective until the authority issues the relevant notice on the renewal application.

Yes. The surety bond amount is calculated by reference to the Travel Operator’s transaction amount with travelers during the previous fiscal year and the registered scope of business. If, after the end of a fiscal year, the deposited surety bond is insufficient, the Travel Operator must deposit the shortfall and notify the authority. This must be handled within 100 days after the end of the fiscal year. If the Travel Operator is a member of JATA or ANTA and uses the Contribution of Payment Guarantee system, the required contribution should also be checked after the annual transaction amount report.

Yes. A Travel Operator must establish terms and conditions for its travel business and obtain approval from the competent authority. If the Travel Operator adopts terms identical to the official Standard General Conditions of Travel Agency Business, those terms are deemed approved. This is often the simplest approach where the official standard terms fit the business model. A Travel Operator may also use its own custom terms and conditions, but they must be approved by the competent authority unless they are identical to the official Standard General Conditions. Custom terms should be reviewed carefully, especially for payment, refunds, liability and traveler protection. In addition, JATA and ANTA have prepared model terms for certain business models (e.g. BtoB order-made planned tour contracts) that can also be used by Travel Operators.

Yes. Before commencing business, a Travel Operator must determine the fees to be collected from travelers for handling travel services, except for fees relating to planned tours, and must post those fees at the business office in a manner that is easily visible to travelers.

Before concluding a planned tour contract, arranged tour contract or other travel service contract, a Travel Operator or Travel Agent must explain the transaction conditions to the traveler. Unless an exception applies, the operator or agent must also provide a document stating prescribed matters, including the travel services to be provided, the fees payable by the traveler and the name of the Certified Travel Supervisor.

A Travel Operator should check whether a filing or registration of change is required when there is a change to the registered scope of business, business offices, representative, Certified Travel Supervisor, terms and conditions, handling fees, association membership, surety bond or guarantee contribution, or other information submitted in the original application.