①If a person who obtained the permission referred to in Article 15, paragraph (1) dies, and the heir (if there are two or more heirs and the heir who is to succeed to the business of providing hot springs related to the permission for public bathing or drinking is selected with the consent of all the heirs, that person; the same applies below in this Article) intends to continue the business of providing hot springs related to the permission for public bathing or drinking, the heir must apply to the prefectural governor within sixty days after the death of the decedent and obtain the approval of the prefectural governor.

②If an heir applies for the approval referred to in the preceding paragraph, the permission referred to in Article 15, paragraph (1) which has been granted to the decedent is deemed to have been granted to the heir from the date of the death of the decedent until the date on which the heir obtains the approval or receives notice of non-approval.

③The provisions of Article 4, paragraph (2) and Article 15, paragraph (2) (excluding the part related to item (iii)) apply mutatis mutandis to the approval referred to in paragraph (1).

④An heir who has obtained the approval referred to in paragraph (1), succeeds to the status of the person that has obtained the permission referred to in Article 15, paragraph (1) in relation to the decedent.