GUIDE · ONLINE SHOP
Selling online in Japan: the legal notice
特定商取引法に基づく表記Tokusho-ho notice for mail-order sales
Every online shop selling to people in Japan needs a page called the “Notation based on the Specified Commercial Transactions Act”. Here is what it must include.
Law
Tokusho-ho
Mail-order sales rules
Show
Who you are
Name, address and phone
Returns
Always
Return terms cannot be left out
Applies to
All sellers
Including small shops and services
What the notice must show
| Item | Japanese | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seller name, address and phone | 事業者の氏名（名称）・住所・電話番号 | The business’s details |
| Price and shipping | 販売価格・送料 | Shipping costs must be shown too |
| Other costs | その他の負担金 | Any other money the buyer pays, and how much |
| Payment timing and method | 代金の支払時期・方法 | When and how the buyer pays |
| Delivery timing | 商品の引渡時期 | Or when the service is provided |
| Cancellation and returns | 申込みの撤回・解除、返品特約 | Whether returns are accepted, the period and who pays |
| Subscription terms | 継続契約の条件 | If buyers must sign up for two or more deliveries |
Some items can be left out of an ad if you state that you will send them on request without delay — but return terms can never be left out.
Practical tips
- Put the notice on its own page and link it from every page footer
- Write it in Japanese if you sell to Japanese customers, and add English if you like
- Keep it consistent with your checkout and terms of sale
- Payment and shop platforms often have a template for this page
Subsidies for online shops
Small businesses often use the Sustainability Subsidy for websites and marketing. See Websites and subsidies.
FAQ
Do I need a Tokushoho page for my online shop in Japan?
Yes. Mail-order sellers, including online shops, must show the items required by the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, such as seller details, prices, payment, delivery and return terms.
Do I have to show my phone number on my online shop?
The law requires the seller’s name, address and phone number. In some cases they can be provided on request instead, if the ad says so — but return terms must always be shown.
Does this apply to services as well as goods?
Yes. The mail-order rules also cover services sold through ads, such as online lessons, with the service delivery time shown instead.
Sources
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.
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