In recent years, there has been an increasing number of Chinese investors in the B&B industry in Osaka, Japan. Some of them aim to make a profit from their business, while others hope to obtain the right of abode in Japan by investing in B&Bs as an “alternative” way.

Today, we will talk about how to realize the dream of moving to Japan through the path of B&B investment.

01

Osaka B&Bs

41% run by Chinese

Since 2014, the Japanese government has implemented the Residential Lodging Business Law, which allows investors to legally operate B&Bs 365 days a year in national strategic special zones, such as Osaka Prefecture and Tokyo's Ota Ward, while restricting the number of days of operation to no more than 180 per year in other areas.

Osaka, the economic and cultural center of Japan's Kansai region, has become a popular location for B&B investment thanks to its well-developed tourism industry, the upcoming World Expo and many other advantages.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, as of the end of last year, Osaka had 5,044 B&Bs established under the Lodging Industry Law, and 5,587 B&Bs established as special zones under the National Strategic Special Zone.

Among these lodgings, 2,305 are operated by Chinese people or Chinese corporations, accounting for 41% of the total.

The survey shows that some Chinese people are motivated to run B&Bs not only by business interests, but also, more importantly, by the desire to obtain a management visa to settle in Japan through this route.

02

Through the management and administration visa

Obtaining Japanese Status

The Management Visa is a visa designed by the Japanese government for foreigners who wish to “invest or operate a business” in Japan. The application requirements are relatively simple, and there are no hard and fast thresholds for age, educational background, or language ability.

According to statistics, in the five years ending June 2024, the number of foreigners holding management visas in Osaka Prefecture has increased by 2,889, the highest increase in Japan, and more than 1,000 more than in Tokyo.

The application requirements are as follows:

★ Be at least 20 years old;

★ No criminal record in Japan;

★ Established and operated in Japan:

① Have a registered capital of 5 million yen;

① Have a registered capital of 5 million yen. ② Have a fixed office space in Japan;

① Have a registered capital of 5 million yen; ② Have a fixed office space in Japan; ③ Clearly define sustainable business content.

★ Have a business plan.

In principle, however, investing in or purchasing real estate alone does not qualify for a Management Visa, as it does not meet the requirements for “investing in or operating a business”.

However, if the real estate investment is used for business activities such as a real estate rental business or a private lodging business, it may qualify for a management visa.

The procedure for applying for a management visa for private lodging is as follows:

① Establish a company in Japan with a minimum registered capital of 5 million yen;

② Invest in real estate in the name of the company;

② Invest in real estate in the name of the company. ③ Apply for a license to operate a hotel or B&B in the name of the company;

③ Apply for a license to operate a hotel or minshuku in the name of the company. ④ Hire a full-time employee to manage the daily operation of the hotel or minshuku;

⑤ Apply to obtain a management visa.

After the first approval, the applicant will be granted a one-year visa, which can be renewed for one to five years depending on the operation of the company. After 5 years, you may apply for Japanese citizenship; after 10 years, you may apply for permanent residency.

If you are interested in obtaining a Japanese Management Visa by investing in real estate, or would like to learn about other visas, please contact Nebula Sea International and we will provide you with customized and exclusive services.