Japan

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

General Freight Motor Truck Transport Business License Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own trucks. Carrying third-party goods for payment using standard commercial trucks (as opposed to kei/light vehicles) requires this license from MLIT, applied for through the regional Bureau of Transport covering the business location. Where a mover subcontracts the trucking, the carrier’s own license covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires.

Minimum Fleet and Facility Requirements

Yes, as conditions of the license. At least 5 vehicles per business location, a designated Operations Manager (運行管理者) and Maintenance Manager (整備管理者), rest facilities for drivers, and a vehicle garage/storage facility.

Substantial Capital Requirement

Yes, as a condition of the license. Self-funded capital covering at least 100% of the calculated required funds is expected, typically in the range of 15 to 30 million yen, calculated from itemized costs (6 months of personnel costs, 2 months of fuel costs, vehicle costs, and a year of applicable taxes).

Officer Legal Knowledge Exam

Yes, as a condition of the license. At least one full-time company officer must pass a legal knowledge examination (役員法令試験) as part of the licensing process.

Processing Time

3 to 5 months for the licensing decision itself, approximately 6 months total including subsequent registration.

Registration Tax

120,000 yen.

Colour-Coded Vehicle Plates

Licensed General/Specific Freight vehicles carry green plates (緑ナンバー); the lighter-touch, notification-only Light Freight Motor Vehicle category (for kei-class vehicles or larger motorcycles) carries black plates (黒ナンバー); private, own-goods-only vehicles carry white plates (白ナンバー) and cannot legally carry paid third-party cargo.

Standard Moving Transport Terms and Conditions

When a green-plate (licensed) truck performs a move, the government-established Standard Moving Transport Terms and Conditions apply, providing baseline consumer protections regardless of the company’s certifications.

Hikkoshi Anshin Mark (Consumer Information)

The Hikkoshi Anshin Mark (引越安心マーク, “Moving Peace-of-Mind Mark”), established in 2014 and run by the Japan Trucking Association (全日本トラック協会, JTA), is described on MLIT’s website. It is a voluntary industry program, not a licence. Certified companies commit to complying with the Standard Moving Transport Terms, maintaining a customer complaint desk with a named responsible officer, staffing every business location with a graduate of JTA’s “Moving Manager” training course, and complying with consumer-related laws. For certified movers, JTA runs a consultation and complaint line.

Consumer Protection

Yes. Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Center (国民生活センター) and local Consumer Life Centers (消費生活センター) are established public consumer protection bodies that explicitly handle moving-related complaints.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, through multiple channels. Consumers can contact the National Consumer Affairs Center or a local Consumer Life Center for general moving-related complaints (including guidance on furniture-damage disputes). For Hikkoshi Anshin Mark-certified movers, JTA operates its own consultation and complaint line, providing advice based on the Standard Moving Transport Terms.

Industry Association

Japan Trucking Association (全日本トラック協会, JTA). A public-interest incorporated association (established July 1954, with public-interest status since April 2012) for the freight trucking business, which administers the Hikkoshi Anshin Mark program. There is no separate national association dedicated only to household moving identified in this research.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Japan requires a license (not mere registration) for General Freight Motor Truck Transport Business, with substantial conditions: a minimum 5-vehicle fleet per location, designated Operations and Maintenance Managers, significant self-funded capital, and a legal-knowledge exam for at least one company officer. Licensed vehicles carry green plates, distinct from the black plates used by the Light Freight (kei-vehicle) category and the white plates used for private, non-commercial transport. These obligations attach to the company operating the trucks: where a mover subcontracts the trucking, the carrier’s own license covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. A government-established Standard Moving Transport Terms and Conditions applies to licensed moves. JTA also runs a voluntary moving certification, the Hikkoshi Anshin Mark, with its own complaint line for certified movers. General consumer protection runs through Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Center and local Consumer Life Centers.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing (where the mover operates its own trucks)

1. Hold a General Freight Motor Truck Transport Business license from MLIT, applied for through the regional Bureau of Transport, meeting the license conditions: a minimum 5-vehicle fleet per business location, sufficient self-funded capital, and at least one full-time officer who has passed the legal knowledge examination.
2. Designate an Operations Manager and a Maintenance Manager.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own trucks)

3. Operate licensed vehicles under green plates, distinct from black-plate light-vehicle or white-plate private-use categories.

Subcontracted transport

4. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

5. Apply the Standard Moving Transport Terms and Conditions to moving services performed under the license.
6. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with applicable consumer laws, including the Consumer Contract Act and the Personal Information Protection Act.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• General Freight Motor Truck Transport Business license held from MLIT (5-vehicle minimum per location, self-funded capital, officer legal knowledge exam)Where applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Operations Manager (運行管理者) and Maintenance Manager (整備管理者) designatedWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Vehicles used for paid moves registered under green (commercial) platesWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired

Customer practices

• Standard Moving Transport Terms and Conditions applied to moving servicesWhere applicable (moves performed under the mover's General Freight license)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Consumer-facing practices comply with applicable consumer laws (including the Consumer Contract Act and the Personal Information Protection Act)Verified by AffirmationRequired