So I recently found this tiny space in central Tokyo that I can rent for a week. That space is made for pop-up events but also equipped with small kitchen. The space comes with a license for selling drinks and food.
Me and my partner want to rent it for a week and sell ony one thing: our favorite summer cocktail, that is nowhere to find in Japan (ingredients are very easy to source tho).
Important: we are not doing it to make money. Of course we would not want to make a huge loss, but a small loss or breaking even would be ok with us. We just have some free time in summer and would like to do something new, fun and promote our favorite drinky.
The question is, do we need any permissions to engage in such activities? We are both on working visas. Is getting a permission to engage in activities other than permitted under the status of residence will suffice?
10 comments
In addition to anything immigration related, I would expect you’ll need a license and some sort of food safety certification to prepare and sell food or drinks.
> our favorite summer cocktail
Is it Ayran? I bet it’s Ayran. If it’s not, then it should be.
Edit: According to [this](https://www.kpnet.jp/drink-sales-permit/), my assumption is correct.
How exactly does the licence to sell food/alcohol work? I mean, it seems pretty odd to me if that is tied to the land, you’d think that kind of licence is exclusive to the individual/business holding it. Something to ask for some details about at least.
Also, what cocktail?
If you get it up and going let me know. I’d stop by for some Pimm’s!
Agree with others about checking on the details about serving.
Usually you have to do some paperwork and do a fecal sample as part of the process to serve food even at a school festival. Should be pretty simple to do but don’t want the authorities showing up asking for your docs and not having them.
Maybe easier to check with the company providing the venue?
>The space comes with a license for selling drinks and food.
Really?? That sounds sketchy as fuck, there’s no guarantee that those renting the space knows anything at all about hygiene/health/safety for doing food business. Are you sure?
No advice to offer but good luck! Love Pimm’s.
Have you spoken with the people renting out the space? Where I am you need a facility to be licensed (there are several types, which determine the type of equipment required), and a designated person who has attended training and received their license – I would be very surprised if you could cook there without someone who has their license.
Absolutely terrible advice, but if it were me, and it were just for a few days, I’d probably just do it and hope for the best. Good luck to you and if it’s in central Tokyo I’d consider popping in myself.
On a side note, I brought a bottle of Pimms from London once and served it at a home party. Possibly my shoddy preparation, but I remember being disappointed that everyone soon went back to their chu hi and beer.
nishi shinjuku warp?
I work in the liquor industry in Japan and often together with the liquor tax office. If you are just serving an alcoholic drink to be consumed on the premises and for a limited time, no special license is required. If you are selling something to take home, I.e. retail, a license is required, and only registered liquor sales companies or manufacturers can apply. A member of the general public can not sell alcohol unopened. Even the temporary 期限付酒類小売業免許 retail license is restricted in this way.