
Requirements
Restaurants and Bars

Structure and Layout
Your establishment must: ・Be located in a sufficiently hygienic area ・Be in a building made of sufficiently durable material (reinforced concrete, mortar etc) ・Be suitably divided from surrounding establishments, living quarters etc ・Have a floorspace large enough for its intended function ・Have flooring made from easily cleanable materials not prone to absorbing water (e.g. tiles, concrete) ・Have walls internal walls reaching at least 1m above the floor and made from sufficiently durable material which is easily cleanable ・Have a ceiling which is easily cleanable ・Maintain a brightness level of at least 50 lux (for comparison, Japanese convenience stores are generally 500 lux) ・Have facilities in place for the removal of any dirty smoke or steam (e.g. produced while cooking) ・Be surrounded by pavements/road surfaces made from durable, easily cleanable materials ・Have suitable measures in place for the prevention of rice, insects and other pests ・Have appropriate washing facilities in place for any materials or tools used by employees, including dedicated handwashing and hand disinfectant facilities for employees ・Have changing facilities for employees outside of the main workspace (depending on the number of employees)Food Preparation Facilities

Water Supply and Waste Management
Your establishment must: ・Have ample water supply provided water officially recognized as drinkable ・Have toilet facilities provided for employees (depending on their number) in an area not intruding on the main workspace ・Have suitable measures in place for the prevention of rice, insects and other pests in the toilet areaSpecial Conditions Concerning Sale of Alcohol
If you wish to provide a mainly alcohol-based menu to your customers past midnight, you do not need a special permit, but you do need to submit a notification to the local authorities. This is not necessary for those who provide alcohol as part of a menu based mainly on food. ※N.B. If you wish to run a cabaret bar or other establishment associated with the adult entertainment industry, you will need to meet various other requirements in addition to those detailed above, with additional notifications and applications to the local authorities also required. Please get in touch for up to date details.Cafés

For any queries about Japan’s restaurant, bar or café industries or about how to establish your business in Japan, please do not hesitate to contact us!
*Please be aware that the contents of this site are naturally subject to change, meaning that we cannot guarantee their accuracy at the point of access.* *For up-to-date information, please contact us directly.*