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©2001-2026 Atumi & Sakai
Throughout Japan, each region has a unique history, culture, nature, and way of life which offers value that deserves global recognition. However, legal and institutional support for protecting and utilizing this value in a sustainable manner, and linking it to tourism and community development, is still insufficient.
Culture, tourism and urban development are complex areas and intertwined with diverse issues such as finance, governance, intellectual property, and even systems and regulations, making them difficult to solve by the government or private sector alone. In addition, temporary advice or partial support is not enough. It is essential to face these challenges alongside those directly involved and adopt a supportive stance throughout the process.
Our lawyers have worked on projects throughout Japan, visiting local communities and project sites to gain a firsthand understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing each region. We draw on this experience to address all types of challenges from institutional design to on-site support through working with the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Tourism Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of the Environment and local governments.
We combine these insights across our entire organization, and our team is dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of legal services related to culture, tourism and urban development for various stakeholders, including local governments, DMOs and tourism operators.
Increased complexity of tourism policy and regulatory frameworks
Management of tourism-related intellectual property rights
Regulatory compliance in hospitality and travel industries
Data utilization and protection of personal information
Contractual and procurement risks in PPP/PFI projects
We provide end-to-end legal support, from policy formation through to implementation.
- Support for the formulation of master plans and basic concepts for tourism and urban development
- Assisting with rulemaking and research for implementing ordinances and guidelines
- Advice relating to the utilization of national parks and cultural assets, etc. and promotion of the nighttime economy
- Contract drafting and support for public-private partnership projects including PPP/PFI
- Advice relating to the utilization of public spaces, and support for promotion of area management using the Act on Special Measures Concerning Urban Reconstruction
- Support for establishment of frameworks, including the nature credit systems, to preserve biodiversity
We provide support for for clients to streamline management systems and to implement them on-site.
- Design of governance structures for DMOs, etc.
- Support for designing funding sources such as lodging taxes and establishing operational rules
- Protection and utilization of intellectual property rights for local resources (trademarks, copyrights, designs, etc.)
- Legal support for data utilization (including the implementation of privacy policies, etc.)
- Support to establish and operate area management organizations, including obtaining designation under Japan's Urban Renaissance Act)
- Support to obtain Certification of Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites, and creating environmental value through the use of local resources
- Legal support to establish regulatory frameworks in relation to the issuance of regional currencies, and compliance with the Payment Services Act
We assist clients to develop finance systems to support regional management.
- Structuring investment schemes and providing contract support for tourism-related businesses
- Legal support for project finance and risk allocation agreements
- Legal support for various funding methods such as community-based venture capital and crowdfunding
- Legal support for financing schemes to promote biodiversity, including nature credits and sustainability-linked loans (SLLs)
We provide support for clients to promote the utilization of local resources and the development of new businesses.
- Contract and licensing support for domestic and international business development
- Support for legal compliance and contract assistance in facility development and operation, and support for PPP utilization
- Business succession and M&A support (succession of local resources and tourism assets)
- Support for business expansion through the use of public space including roads and parks and for participation in area management
- Support for the use of nature credits and other biodiversity evaluation schemes and the design of environmentally friendly business structures
Please also visit the following pages.
We have experience in a wide variety of projects including the following types of projects related to culture, tourism and urban development.
- Institutional and regulatory design for tourism and urban planning projects
- Policy support for the use of cultural resources for tourism
- National park value enhancement projects
- Development of institutional frameworks to promote nighttime tourism
- Development of institutional frameworks for area management and the use of public spaces
- Regional revitalization initiatives by combining local resources with technology
- Designing monetization models for non-profit organizations
- Development of regulations, guidelines, contracts and governance for traditional culture organizations
- Advice on compliance with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information in the use of tourism data
- Legal support for establishment of regulations for the issuance of regional currencies, and compliance with the Payment Services Act
- Legal support for cross-border tourism businesses
- Advice on legal frameworks for the preservation and private-sector use of historical architecture, including modernist architecture
- Legal support for the contractual arrangements associated with private sector-led area management activities , and the design of public space utilization schemes
- Support for creation of nature credits for natural resource conservation activities and designing related financing schemes
We strive to partner with local communities, leveraging our accumulated knowledge and experience to support their vision and promote the sustainable development of culture, tourism and regional communities.
Please feel free to contact us through the inquiry form regarding our legal services in the areas of culture, tourism and urban development.