Kobe
28100 · Hyogo · Designated City
Kobe in Hyogo is covered within MaxPaku's nationwide dataset of 1,794 municipalities, combining vacation rental (minpaku) regulations and bimonthly Japan Tourism Agency statistics.
Regulation Details
Minpaku New Law
Kobe: Residential Lodging Business Act framework (law system: minpaku_newlaw). legal status: prohibited. Key factual tokens: 100m, 5, 7, 2. (school-area restriction)
Kobe City Ordinance on Restrictions on Implementation of Private Lodging Business. Exclusively residential zones (Type-1/2 low-rise, Type-1/2 mid-rise/high-rise) prohibited year-round (except areas excluded by mayoral notice). Within 100 m of schools, child welfare facilities, etc.: also prohibited year-round. Arima-cho in Kita Ward: operation allowed only during off-season (2nd Monday of May to Saturday before 3rd Monday of July).
Strictness Score
Statutory Day Limit
Effective Operating Days
Effective Date
Last Verified
Score Breakdown
method=v2.0-investorday_risk: worst=180/180 (1.00) → 0.0/6.0zone_risk: prohibited(all) (+1.2)micro_risk: facility_types=2 (+0.4)micro_risk: special restricted=1 (+0.15)ops_risk: notification_required (+0.2)ops_risk: signage_required (+0.2)components: raw=3.15 (day=0.00, zone=1.20, micro=0.55, ops=0.40) -> score=3
Day Analysis
Exclusively residential: fully prohibited (0 days). Others: 180 days. Arima-cho: approx. 60 days (off-season only).
Zone Restrictions
Prohibited year-round in 4 exclusively residential zones (except areas excluded by mayoral notice)
No restrictions outside exclusively residential zones (except Arima-cho)
Facility Proximity Restrictions
School 100m
Within 100 m of schools or child welfare facilities: prohibited year-round.
Nursery 100m
Prohibited year-round (within 100 m of child welfare facilities).
Special Area Restrictions
北区有馬町 (リゾート)
Operation is permitted only in the off-season (from the 2nd Monday of month 5 to the Saturday of the week before the 3rd Monday of month 7, about 2 months).
Operating Requirements
Compliance
Fire code compliance certificate required.
Investor Notes
Exclusively residential and near schools: prohibited year-round. Arima-cho: only approx. 2 months/year operable. Major impact on onsen tourism areas.
Legal Basis
- 神戸市住宅宿泊事業の実施の制限等に関する条例
Sources
- Kobe City official - MinpakuOfficial Guide
Ryokan Law (Simple Lodging)
Simple lodging regulations under Kobe City Hotel Business Act Enforcement Ordinance. Bedroom: 2.25 sqm/person. Front desk required in principle (10-min alternative allowed).
Front desk installation is the standard. Alternative: management office (reachable within approx. 10 min) + video surveillance enabling facial recognition + intercom + display of facility name, manager contact, and emergency contact (Art. 3, Item 2). Bedroom floor area: 2.25+ sqm per person (Art. 3, Item 3). Private rooms: less than half of total guest room floor area (Art. 3, Item 5). Bunk beds: max 2 tiers, 1+ m above upper tier, berth 0.9 m x 1.8 m minimum (Art. 3, Item 4). Exterior walls must not harm public morals and must harmonize with surroundings.
Strictness Score
Statutory Day Limit
Effective Operating Days
Effective Date
Last Verified
Score Breakdown
method=v2.0-investorday_risk: worst=null → 3.0/6.0zone_risk: prohibited(all) (+1.2)zone_risk: restricted_count=1 (+0.3)ops_risk: management hard-requirement keyword (+0.2)components: raw=5.70 (day=3.00, zone=1.50, micro=0.00, ops=0.20) -> score=6
Day Analysis
Permit-based system: no annual day cap.
Zone Restrictions
Hotel/inn use prohibited under Building Standards Act Appended Table 2 / Art. 48
Operation permitted only for floor area 3,000sqm or less (Building Standards Act, Appended Table 2(f))
No floor area restriction. Operation permitted
Operating Requirements
Front desk required in principle. Alternative: management office (within approx. 10 min) + video facial-recognition monitoring + intercom + posted notices. Min. 2.25 sqm per person in bedrooms.
Compliance
Fire code compliance certificate required.
Classified as "ryokan/hotel" use under the Building Standards Act. Zoning restrictions follow national law.
Operating without a permit: up to 6 months imprisonment or fine up to 1 million yen (Hotel Business Act, Art. 10).
Investor Notes
Bedroom 2.25 sqm/person is Kobe's unique standard. Bunk bed specification limits apply. Facial recognition-capable monitoring required. 10-min alternative helps control management costs.
Legal Basis
- 神戸市旅館業法の施行等に関する条例
- 建築基準法 別表第二、第48条
- 旅館業法 第3条
Sources
Related Areas
Data source: Municipal ordinances and government guidelines · Updated: 2026-03-24