When creating an experience, always make sure that the act does not breach or assist in the breach of any laws or regulations.
If the Management Office determines that experience events correspond to prohibited activities, it may take measures such as closing the experience to the public or canceling the booking.
The following are examples of content that is likely to be in breach of the law in providing the experience. Please check with the relevant health authority or other authorities regarding legality.
▼Providing and Selling Alcoholic Drinks
〈1〉If the experience is held at a location designated by the host
In order to serve alcoholic drinks, the host must have a "license to sell alcoholic drinks (called liquor sales license)", a "restaurant business license", etc.
※ Please check with the relevant health authority regarding the registration of a "restaurant business license", as the response differs depending on the local municipality in which you live.
For example:
If a restaurant serves alcoholic drinks in the restaurant together with food and alcoholic drinks, or if alcoholic drinks are served on the spot at a festival, pouring beer into cups, etc., a "liquor sales license" under the "Liquor Tax Act" is not required if a "restaurant business license" (including a temporary stall registration and a booth registration) has been obtained.
However, the mere act of selling unopened cans or bottles of alcohol drinks to guests (for off-site consumption) requires a "liquor sales license" under the "Liquor Tax Act".
※It is acceptable to offer guests unopened alcohol drinks as a form of hospitality, but guests must open and drink the drinks themselves on the site.
In the production of alcoholic drinks, certain alcoholic drinks (e.g. plum wine) that are intended for own consumption are not subject to the "Liquor Tax Act".
※ Reference：https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/sake/qa/06/32.htm
There is also no problem if an inn (Ryokan, Japanese style of Hotel) or restaurant makes certain alcoholic drinks (e.g. plum wine) at the relevant place and serves them at the relevant place.
※ However, it is a breach of the "Liquor Tax Act" if it is offered as a takeaway or otherwise.
※ Reference：https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/sake/qa/06/33.htm
〈2〉When organizing the experience online
If the host sells alcoholic drinks when hosting an online experience (including where the prices of alcoholic drinks are already incorporated into the online experience fee), the host must hold a "mail order alcohol retailer's license" besides the "liquor sales license".
If you hold a "mail order liquor retailer's license", please state this in your profile or on the experience introduction page.
Hosts who do not hold such a license (mail order liquor retailer's license) may not sell alcoholic drinks during the online experience.
※ Reference：https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/sake/qa/03b/08.htm
▼Sea and River Experiences
For experiences that take place in the sea or river, please organize them in accordance with the regulations of the relevant prefecture. Aini is not responsible for any incidents/accidents that occur outside of the regulations. Please be sure to understand this in advance.
▼Gear and fishing methods that can be used in recreational fishing as specified in "prefectural fisheries regulation" (sea area only):
https://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/yugyo/y_kisei/kisoku/todo_huken/
The Tokyo Authority has a law prohibiting the use of tangle nets to catch fish in any size of the city's common water surface (rivers). As tangle nets themselves are a prohibited fishing method, it is a breach of the "Inland Waters Fisheries Regulation" (Article 28, Paragraphs 3 and 4), and in the case of a breach, the accompanying person will be punished at the same time.
▼Tokyo Inland Waters Fisheries Adjustment Regulations
https://www.sangyo-rodo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/nourin/suisan/yuugyo/yuugyorec/rule/
〈Excerpt〉
Restrictions and prohibitions on fishing gear and methods
Article 28, Aquatic animals shall not be taken by the following fishing gears or methods:
1. Fish trap/weir
2. Tension net fishing
3. Scoop net
4. Hoop with net
5. Three-ply net
6. Bottle fishing gear and similar fishing gear
7. Digging
8. To dam up a river, dry up the water and take fish
9. Fishing gear or fishing methods that utilize firelight
10. Fishing gear or methods of fishing through current in the water
11. Underwater guns and other elastic-firing devices
※ If you are unable to determine whether your experience is in breach of the Covenant, please contact the ”Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bureau of Industrial and Labour Affairs, Tokyo Authority” on your own.
▼The Use of the Expression "Organic" when posting Agricultural Experiences
▼Vessel Experience without Recreational Vessel Registration
If a boat is used to experience fishing or fishing for sea items, the owner of the boat must register the boat as a recreational fishing boat. Diving and watching can be organized without registration, but for fishing experiences, be sure to use a boat that is registered as a recreational fishing boat.
※For more information, contact the recreational fishing boat registration office of the prefecture where the experience will be held.
※Reference：Tokyo Recreational Fishing Inquiries
▼Cooking/Meals served
Hosts who are not registered as food hygiene officers or registered for a "restaurant business license" are not allowed to serve their own prepared and cooked dishes to guests.
If you do not have them, be sure to make cook/prepare the dishes with your guests or provide your guests with store-bought ones (food that can be stored for a long time at room temperature).
At aini, we want you to enjoy the experience by cooking with your guests together.
Please note that hosts who are registered as "food hygiene officers" or "restaurant business license" holders must indicate this on the experience introduction page or in the profile section.
※ Please check with the relevant health authority regarding the registration of a "restaurant business license", as the response differs depending on the local municipality in which you live.
※ If you make the food with the guests but the tasting is prepared and served by the host, it must also be mentioned.
※ If you offer food without stating that you are cooking together and without mentioning the above registration, the management office may alert you to this.
※It is possible to provide long-term commercially available food products (e.g. canned or bottled beverages or cup noodles) that can be stored at room temperature for a long time without cooking or processing, free of charge or included in the experience price.
※ Cooking on behalf of the guests is possible, as long as the experience involves the guests preparing all the ingredients and learning the cooking skills of the host.
▼Hunting Experience
When organizing a hunting experience, be sure to check and consult with the relevant health authority about the legality of the events.
In order to provide guests with meat from game birds and animals other than commercially available gibier/game meat, a "hunting license", "business license", "slaughtering business" or "meat sales business" may be required.
Hosts who do not hold the relevant licenses and permits may not be allowed to serve game meat to guests, depending on the events.
＜Guidelines for the Hygiene Management of Wild Avian Meat (Guidelines)＞
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/GLhonbun_1.pdf
Please note that hosts with a "hunting license", a "business license", a "slaughterhouse license", a "meat sales license", etc., must indicate this on the experience introduction page or in the profile section.
For reasons of hygiene and risk of food poisoning, it is prohibited to give unheated meat (regardless of whether it is gibier/game or not) as a souvenir to guests, regardless of the fee.
※Prohibits the provision (takeaway) of all 'raw' products in the experience, including those processed in appropriate facilities.
Even if you hold the relevant permit or license, please make sure to consult and confirm with the "Food hygiene officer" at the health authority with jurisdiction over the host's place of residence (place of business) before posting your experience on aini to ensure that it is a feasible form of experience and that it is held in a legal manner.
※Please note that confirmation with the health authority is required, and if this has been done, please include a note in your profile or on the experience introduction page, such as "health authority confirmed".
▼Selling and Manufacturing Cosmetics
To sell or manufacture cosmetics, a "cosmetics manufacturing and sales license" and a "cosmetics manufacturing license" are required.
Hosts who do not hold them are not allowed to sell cosmetics they have made themselves to their guests.
＜Tokyo Health and Safety Research Center：http://www.tokyo-eiken.go.jp/k_yakuji/i-sinsa/＞
If you do not hold a "cosmetics manufacturing" and a "sales license" or a "cosmetics manufacturing license", be sure to produce the cosmetics together with your guest (or let it be produced by the guest himself/herself).
Please note that hosts with a "cosmetics manufacturing and sales license" or a "cosmetics manufacturing license" should indicate this on the experience introduction page or in the profile section.
※ This must also be stated if you make the products with your guests, but the host provides the samples, etc.
※ If it is not stated that they are made together, or if they are manufactured or sold without the above-mentioned licenses, the management may alert you to the situation.
▼Organization of Hair Coloring Classes
Without a "hairdresser's certificate", the host can't provide hair coloring services to guests.
Only authorized persons are allowed to mix the ingredients themselves, so only use products that are available on the market.
※The same rules apply to henna coloring.
▼Posting and Selling Experiences that include Transport Costs
Aini is not a travel agency and can't sell experiences that include content prohibited by the "Travel Agency Act". The act of receiving money from guests to travel in a private vehicle is prohibited under the "Travel Agency Act".
The "Travel Agency Act" defines "travel agency" as the business of planning, recruiting and arranging for the provision of "transport" and "accommodation" services. (Article 2.1.1)
Please note that the act of walking or using public transport does not breach the" Travel Trade Act" and is therefore not a problem.
Please also see the rules for free transport here.
▼Posting and Selling Experiences that involve Overnight Stays
Experiences involving overnight stays can't be posted on aini, as this would be in breach of the "Travel Trade Act".
It is possible to recommend accommodation close to the experience area.
Guest houses and private accommodation providers can register as hosts on aini, but are not allowed to recruit guests for overnight stays on aini. Be sure to post and market day experiences only.
For more information, see article 5 of the aini Terms of Use.
Learn more about the camping experiences here.
▼Bulk Sales (One-Time Payments) for Multiple Experiences
In order to prevent any disadvantages to the guest, aini uses an escrow payment (※1) system, whereby aini receives the payment from the guest and then hands it over to the host once the host has confirmed that the experience has been organized without any irregularities.
Therefore, bulk sales (one-time payments) for experiences that are intended to be held over a number of continuous sessions, such as "a total of ● sessions", are prohibited because the payment is made to the host before the experience has been completed.
In addition to the above, from a legal point of view, experiences that are held throughout the year or that are held more than once a month may fall under the category of ”provision of specified continuous services” (※2) and can't be posted on aini.
※1)Settlements that ensure the credibility of the transaction by bringing a third party between the seller and the buyer.
※2)If the service falls under the category of the provision of ”specified continuous services”, a specific document needs to be delivered, but the delivery of the document is outside of the service support of aini.
========What are ”Specified Continuous Service” Offers?=========
- A transaction that promises long-term/continuous services and high compensation for these services.
- Six services are eligible: beauty salons, language classes, tutoring, tutoring schools, marriage matchmaking services and computer classes.
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〈 NG Examples for posting on aini〉
- Collecting fees for multiple sessions (all programs) in one booking.
- When multiple experiences are held over a month on a single experience introduction page, or when a yearly fee is charged for an experience by stating, "Year-round participation OK (one year membership fee)". In addition, when the amount is an eligible amount for the provision of "Specified Continuous Services".
〈 OK Examples for posting on aini〉
- Create an introduction page to the experience for each session and collect fees on a per session basis.
e.g.）A total of six experiences, with each experience introduction page being created as the first, second... sixth experience, with a reciprocal link on the experience introduction page. - Create a single introductory page for the experience, indicating "all ● sessions". Set the experience fee for one session, register the date of each session and collect the fee each time.
e.g.）One introductory page for the experience is created, stating that it is a 3-session experience, and the fee is set at 500 yen per session. Register the dates of the event for each of the 1-3 sessions and ask guests to book for each session.
Related article: For Hosts: aini regulations
Related article: For Hosts: Online experience regulations and precautions
Related article: For Hosts: aini guidelines