Researched guide · Checked on Nov 5, 2026
Checking in to a hotel in Japan and asked for your passport, which the staff then photocopy? This is not the hotel being nosy. It is a national rule for guests who do not live in Japan. Here is what the rule says, why it exists, and what it means for your stay.
Quick answer
The rule: if you do not have an address in Japan, hotels and inns must record your nationality and passport number.
What to expect: staff will ask to see your passport and take a copy of it.
Since when: April 1, 2005, set by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
What the rule says
Under Japan’s hotel business rules, every hotel and inn keeps a guest register. Since April 1, 2005, for guests from overseas who do not have an address in Japan, the register must include:
- Your name, address and contact details (as for all guests). Contact details replaced occupation on December 13, 2023.
- Your nationality and passport number.
To make sure the register is accurate, the front desk is asked to see your passport and to keep a copy of it with the register.
Why Japan does this
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare gives two reasons: to help stop the spread of infectious diseases, and to keep guests safe given the risk of terrorism in Japan and abroad. The Ministry has asked overseas guests for their understanding and cooperation.
What it means for you
- Keep your passport with you when you check in, even if you booked online.
- Every guest from overseas may be asked, not only the person who made the booking.
- The same applies to ryokan (Japanese inns) and other places run under Japan’s hotel business law. For the types of places you can stay, see our accommodation guide.
- Japan also requires short-term visitors to carry their passport while out and about, so keep it with you anyway. See things to know before visiting Japan.
What if I do not want to show my passport?
Show it if you can, because the hotel is following a government request. A 2014 health ministry notice tells hotels to explain the rule and ask again. If a guest still refuses, the notice says the hotel should treat the guest as possibly not carrying a passport and take steps such as contacting the police.
Who does the rule cover?
It covers foreign guests who do not have an address in Japan. If you have an address in Japan, this passport request is not aimed at you. Tell the front desk and give your address.
FAQ
Why do Japanese hotels copy my passport?
Since 2005, hotels must record the nationality and passport number of guests who do not live in Japan, and keep a copy of the passport with the guest register.
Do I have to show my passport at a hotel in Japan?
Yes, if you do not have an address in Japan. Staff will ask to see it and take a copy.
Does every guest need to show a passport?
Each guest from overseas without an address in Japan may be asked, not just the person who booked.
What happens if I refuse to show my passport?
The hotel should explain the rule and ask again. A 2014 health ministry notice says that if you still refuse, it should take steps such as contacting the police.
Is the passport rule the same at ryokan?
Yes. It applies to hotels and inns under Japan’s hotel business rules, including ryokan.
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Sources
The rule and its reasons come from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s notice on identity checks for foreign guests (checked November 5, 2026).
- Identity checks for foreign guests at hotels (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese)
- Guidance on showing and copying passports (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, English available)
- 2014 notice on guest registers (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese)
- 2023 changes to the hotel business law (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese)
