美容室コンプライアンスガイド: 日本 2026

Chapter 1: The Beautician Act and Salon Licensing

Biyoshi-ho (Act on Beauticians, Act No. 163 of 1957)

The Biyoshi-ho is the primary legislation governing beauty salons and beauticians in Japan. Under this Act, "beauty" (biyo) is defined as the practice of making the appearance beautiful through actions such as hair cutting, hair setting, permanent waving, hair dyeing, and makeup application, performed on the hair, face, or other parts of the body. The Act distinguishes between beauty (biyo) and barbering (riyo), which is governed by the separate Barber Act (Riyoshi-ho, Act No. 234 of 1947).

Practitioner Licensing

Every individual who performs beauty services in Japan must hold a Beautician License (biyoshi menkyo) issued by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (Kosei Rodo Daijin). To obtain the license, an individual must:

1. Graduate from a school or training institution designated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). Beautician training programs are typically two years for full-time students or three years for correspondence students. Curriculum requirements are set by the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Beautician Act (Biyoshi-ho Shiko Kisoku).

1. Pass the National Beautician Examination (Biyoshi Kokka Shiken), which consists of a written examination covering sanitation, beauty theory, and related subjects, and a practical examination testing technical skills. The examination is administered by the Foundation for the Promotion of Financial Education and Examination for Beauticians (Zaidan Hojin Riyou Biyou Shiken Kenshusha).

1. Register in the Beautician Registry (Biyoshi Meibo) maintained by the MHLW.

Practicing beauty services without a valid license is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to JPY 300,000 under Article 17 of the Biyoshi-ho.

Salon Establishment Notification

Before opening a beauty salon, the operator must submit a Salon Opening Notification (Biyojo Kaisestu Todoke) to the prefectural governor, which is administered through the local public health center (hokenjo). The notification must include:

• The name and address of the establishment and its operator
• The name of the hygiene manager (eisei kanrisha)
• The structure and equipment of the facility (floor plan)
• The number of beauticians and their license numbers

The hokenjo conducts a pre-opening inspection to verify that the salon premises meet the structural and equipment standards prescribed by prefectural ordinances (jourei). These standards cover minimum floor area per work chair (typically 13 square meters for the first chair and 3 square meters for each additional chair in Tokyo, though this varies by prefecture), waiting area and reception facilities, lighting (minimum 300 lux at work surfaces), ventilation (natural or mechanical ventilation providing adequate air changes), water supply and drainage, sterilization equipment, storage for clean and used towels, and handwashing facilities.

Approval from the hokenjo must be obtained before the salon may begin operations. The hokenjo issues a Confirmation Certificate (Kakuninsho) upon successful inspection. Operating a salon without this confirmation is prohibited.

Changes and Closures

Any changes to the salon's structure, equipment, operator, or hygiene manager must be reported to the hokenjo within a prescribed period (typically within 10 days). Temporary or permanent closure of the salon must also be reported.

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Quick Decision Matrix

Find your salon compliance priority in 5 seconds.

5-second answer: Every salon needs a valid licence, chemical safety protocols, and infection control procedures. If you don't have all three, start with Chapter 2.