Cooling-off in Japan: how to cancel a contract and who to call (188)

Cooling-off (クーリング・オフ) lets you cancel certain contracts for a full refund. As of November 2026 the period is 8 days for door-to-door sales, telephone solicitation, specified continuing services such as language schools, and at-home purchases, and 20 days for multi-level marketing and side-job schemes. It starts when you receive the legal contract document, and your notice takes effect when you send it.

Which contracts can you cancel?

The Ibaraki guide also lists cooling-off for some insurance contracts signed outside a store, real estate sold outside a store, and some credit contracts linked to covered sales. The rules differ, so ask a consumer center about those.

Generally not covered: in-store purchases and mail-order (catalog, phone, internet) transactions, cash purchases under ¥3,000, and consumables once opened or used. For specified continuing services such as language schools, the Ibaraki guide says contracts above a set length and ¥50,000 can also be cancelled later, so read yours and ask a consumer center. If you are weighing a language school, see our Japanese language school costs guide first.

When does the clock start?

It starts on the day you receive the legal contract document, and that day counts as day 1. A door-to-door contract you receive on October 10 gives a deadline of October 17. For multi-level marketing, the later of the document date or the goods receipt date applies.

How to send the notice

The law allows a written notice or an electronic one. The notice takes effect at the time it is sent, so a postmark inside the period counts.

1. Write that you are cancelling the contract, with the contract date, product name, amount paid, seller name, your name and address, and the date. Ask for a refund and for the goods to be collected.
2. Send it by specified-record mail (特定記録郵便) or simple registered mail (簡易書留) at a post office counter. For a credit contract, send it to the seller and the credit company.
3. Keep copies of the notice, the post office receipt and, for email, a screenshot. The Ibaraki guide suggests keeping records for at least 5 years.

If the seller lied about whether you can cancel or threatened you, the period does not run out. The seller must reissue the legal document and explain cooling-off, and the period starts again from then.

Calling 188

Dial 188 and enter your postal code. You are routed to your nearest consumer center (消費生活センター). It is not a Consumer Affairs Agency line. If a center is closed on a weekend or holiday, the National Consumer Affairs Center can take the call. The agency says some IP phones, prepaid mobile phones and relay services cannot reach 188, so call your local desk directly. The agency page describes no foreign-language service, so bring a Japanese-speaking friend or ask your ward office about interpretation.

For other scam situations, our guide to scams targeting foreigners lists more numbers. For police numbers, see emergency numbers in Japan.