(Purpose) Article 1. The purpose of this Law is to promote a healthy and sound development of guide business and to contribute to the improvement in the business of catering to foreign visitors.

(Definition) Article 2. "Guide business" within the meaning of this Law shall mean the business of accompanying a foreign traveler or travelers and act as guide with fee using a foreign language in travelling.

(Licence) Article 3. Any person who undertakes to engage in the guide business shall pass an examination held by the Minister of Transportation and obtain licence of the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

(Cases where the Licence is not Granted) Article 4. No licence shall be granted to persons falling under any of the following items: (1) A person who has been sentenced to a penal servitude or an imprisonment for a term of one year or more, and of whom two years have not elapsed from the date of the completion of his servitude or imprisonment or from the date on which he becomes free, exempted or exonerated from servitude or imprisonment. (2) A person suffering from a mental disease or an infections disease. (3) A person whose licence has been cancelled in accordance with the provisions of Article 14 paragraph 1 item (3) or (4), and of whom one year has not yet elapsed from the date when his licence was cancelled.

(Examination) Article 5. The examination mentioned in Article 3 shall be conducted in the following subjects: (1) Foreign language; (2) Geography of Japan; (3) History of Japan; (4) General knowledge concerning industry, economy, political affairs and culture; (5) Character test. 2 Any person who undertakes to take the examination mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall pay five hundred yen (\500) as the fee to the National Treasury.

(Dealing with Dishonest or Fraudulent Examination Candidates) Article 6. In cases where any person has tried to pass the examination provided for in Article 3 by resorting to fraudulent means, he shall be stopped from taking the examination or his passing shall be made null and void. 2 The abovemenntioned person may not be permit ted to sit for the examination for a given period within three years.

(Granting of a Licence-card) Article 7. The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall grant a licence-card to the person who has obtained the licence mentioned in Article 3.

(Renewal of Licence) Article 8. Unless the licence mentioned in Article 3 is renewed on application for it to the Governor every fifth year, the licence shall lose effect.

(Re-granting of a Licence-card, etc.) Article 9. When a person engaged in the guide business (hereinafter referred to as a guide) has lost or badly damaged his licence-card or when a change has been made in the particulars mentioned on his licence-card, he shall immediately apply to the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture for the re-granting or rewriting of a licencecard.

(Licence Fee, etc.) Article 10. Any person who undertakes to obtain the licence mentioned in Article 3, or to apply for the renawal of licence mentioned in Article 8 or the regranting or rewriting of a licence-card mentioned in Article 9 shall pay the fee in accordance with the provisions of the ministerial ordinance. 2 The amount of the fee mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be fixed by the ministerial ordinance within the scope of less than three hundred yen (\300).

(Procedure for Applying for Licence, etc.) Article 11. In addition to the provisions of preceding 8 Articles, necessary matters concerning application for and renewal of licence, examination for the guide business mentioned in Article 3 and granting, rewriting, regranting and return of a licence-card shall be determined by the ministerial ordinance.

(Carrying of a Licence-card) Article 12. While engaging in his work, a guide shall carry his licence-card and shall not refuse to show it when asked to do so by the government or public official concerned or a person to be guided by him. 2 While making such a requirement mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the government or public official concerned shall carry a certificate identifying his status and show it, when asked to do so by the guide.

(Prohibited Conducts) Article 13. A guide shall not act the deeds enumerated below: (1) Asking for money and other articles from a seller and other persons concerned for purchasing goods or for any other services in the interests of the person to be guided by him; (2) Foreing to be hired as a guide; (3) Lending the licence-card to others.

(Suspension of Guide Business and Cancellation of Licence, etc.) Article 14. The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may suspend the business for a given period or cancel the licence of a guide who falls under any of the following items: (1) When he has been sentenced to a penal servitude or an imprisonment of a term of more than one year; (2) When he has been attacked with a mental disease or an infectious disease; (3) When he has violated provisions of the preceding Article; (4) When he has committed mal-practices relating to his business, besides the preceding item. 2 The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, when intending to execute the abovementioned dealing, shall first conduct a public hearing, giving a notice in advance of the time and place of such hearing to the guide. The said guide or his deputy may state his opinion or produce evidence to the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture at such hearing.

(Report to Be Made by the Organization of Guides) Article 15. The organization of guides shall report to the administrative Office on its inauguration or dissolution, in accordance with the ministerial ordinance.

(Petition and Institution of a Suit) Article 16. Any person dissatisfied with the way he was dealt with by the Administrative Office in pursuance of the provisions of the present Law or the Order or Orders issued thereunder, may file a petition to the Minister of Transportation or bring an action to the court requesting to cancel or change the illegal measures.

(Penal Regulations) Article 17. Any person who comes under one of the following items shall be punished with a fine not more than thirty thousand yen: (1) Any person who has engaged in the guide business without obtaining the licence mentioned in Article 3; (2) Any person who has acted contrary to the provisions of Article 14 concerning business suspension.

Article 18. Any person who has violated the provisions of Article 13 shall be punished by a fine not more than ten thousand yen.

Article 19. Any person who has violated the provisions of Article 12 paragraph 1 shall be punished by a fine not more than one thousand yen. 2 When the organization of guides failed to make a report regulated in Article 15 or made a false report, the representative or manager shall be punished with an administrative fine not more than one thousand yen.