English-speaking lawyers in Kyoto

Kyoto attracts international researchers, students, artists and buyers of traditional machiya townhouses. That community, plus foreign tourists who run into trouble, creates steady demand for English-speaking lawyers in Kyoto.

Common matters include visa status and changes of residence status, purchase or renovation of older homes, landlord and tenant disputes, employment at universities and companies, and international divorce, where child custody rules in Japan differ from many other countries. Business owners ask about company formation and licences for guesthouses. Court proceedings are conducted in Japanese, and the court can arrange an interpreter in criminal cases. Machiya buyers should also ask about rebuilding limits on narrow plots.

Lawyers in Japan are called bengoshi and must register with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations through a local bar, here the Kyoto Bar Association. Fees are set by each firm, often with a retainer plus success fee. Ask English-speaking lawyers in Kyoto for a written fee estimate. Compare the firms below and contact them directly.