Investing in Japan

Nagano

The information below is as of March 2011.

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• Basic Information
• Regional Profile
• Services for investment in Japan
• Available incentives
• Links to Related Websites

Basic Information

Population*1	2.15 million
Labor force*1	1.15 million
Area*2	13,105 km²
GDP*3	3,173,509 million yen
Major industries	Electrical and electronics, information, machinery, food products, tourismproducts, tourism
Developing industries	Next-generation automobiles, robotics, medical equipment, aerospace-related, tourism
Offices overseas	Shanghai and Shenzhen, China
Offices in Japan	Tokyo / Nagoya / Osaka
JETRO office	JETRO Nagano

*1 Population Census 2010, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications　*2 Area data 2010, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan *3 Prefectural Citizens' Economic Accounts 2008, Cabinet Office

*Ask the local government for the latest data.

Regional Profile

Strength of the region's industries and economy

Gross production for Nagano Prefecture is approximately 8.1 trillion yen, and the total shipment value of manufactured products is 6.5 trillion yen. The percentage of gross production coming from secondary industries is above the national average, with manufacturing at a high of 27.6%. Since its days as the “silk kingdom” of Japan up until the present, Nagano has always flexibly adapted to the changing times thanks to its bold entrepreneurial spirit and manufacturing ‘DNA’ that has been handed down from each generation to the next.
Currently, Nagano has the most specialized concentration of manufacturing and assembly industries, including electrical machinery, information and communications equipment, electronic components and devices, and transportation equipment. A number of companies involved in a diverse range of fundamental manufacturing technologies, such as cutting, pressing, plating, and die machining, have established corporate facilities in the prefecture.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

A full support system for corporate activities

<Public Testing and Research Institutions>
The Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center provides support for new technology development, new product development and other corporate activities through distinctive technological research and development, technical guidance, human resources development, facility provision, etc.

<Business Creation Support Centers>
In order to help entrepreneurs build momentum in starting new businesses and to help them get up and running faster, the Okaya Business Creation Support Center located next to the Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center, Precision and Electronics Technology Department (Okaya City), the Nagano Business Creation Support Center located within the Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center, Material Technology Department (Nagano City), and the Matsumoto Business Creation Support Center located in the Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center, Environment and Information Technology Department (Matsumoto City) have been established. These centers provide support through technical and operational guidance, and assistance to promote commercialization.

<Higher Education Institutions>
Nagano Prefecture has three universities that engage in science and technology human resources development (Shinshu University, Nagano University, Tokyo University of Science, Suwa), the Nagano Prefectural Institute of Technology, a number of technical junior colleges, and science and technology high schools. These institutions produce a large number of new human resources each year.

Strength of the region's industry-government-academia collaboration

Intellectual cluster creation program (phase II):
Advanced nanotechnology and materials technology development aimed at all of Nagano Prefecture is being carried out. The aim is to commercialize globally superior smart devices and super modules and to attract a high concentration of competitive companies to the prefecture.

Industry cluster planning:
The aim is to utilize the precision machine potential of the areas along the Chuo Expressway (Suwa, Ina, and the area around Matsumoto) to turn them into supply centers for next generation, leading-edge devices for automobiles, semiconductors, digital consumer electronics, the aerospace industry, the medical industry and others by engaging in high-mix low-volume production.

Strength of the region's infrastructure

Nagano Prefecture is located between the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Chukyo region. It is directly connected to the metropolitan areas of three major cities by a high-speed transport network and allows for easy access to the regions along the Sea of Japan.

<Land>

A number of routes exist leading to the Tokyo metropolitan area, the Chukyo region, the Kinki region, the regions along the Pacific Ocean and the regions along the Sea of Japan, minimizing logistics and distribution risks. The Chuo Expressway facilitates access to various regions. The Nagano Expressway allows travelers to go between Nagano and Nagoya (Komaki) in three hours and ten minutes, while the Joshinetsu Expressway allows access between Nagano and Tokyo (Nerima) in two hours and thirty minutes.

<Air>

Shinshu Matsumoto Airport offers direct access to Sapporo (New Chitose) and Fukuoka, flights to Sapporo and Fukuoka take approximately 100 minutes.

<Sea>

Nagoya Prefecture is adjacent to the regions along the Sea of Japan and provides easy access to the countries of Asia.

<Railway>

Taking the Nagano shinkansen (bullet train) (Hokuriku shinkansen) allows travelers to go between Tokyo and Nagoya in as little as 90 minutes. Nagano and Nagoya by the JR express takes approximately two hours and 20 minutes; from Matsumoto, Nagoya can be reached in approximately two hours. If the Tokaido shinkansen from Nagoya is used, travelers can go between Nagano and Osaka in approximately three hours and fifty minutes and approximately three hours from Matsumoto.

(Related information)

• Industrial cluster, project: ectual cluster creation program (phase II)
• Research / Technical support: Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services	Fees charged?	Content of services
Support for establishing a base
Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel	No	Advice is given through the Management Assistance Department of the Nagano Commerce and Labor Division
Providing information on permits and licensing procedures	No	Advice is given through the Management Assistance Department of the Nagano Commerce and Labor Division
Providing information on subsidy programs	No	Advice is given through the Management Assistance Department of the Nagano Commerce and Labor Division

Database of candidate partners

• Small business Information Center: Corporation Guide

Available incentives

Nagano Prefecture is actively working to attract companies from outside the prefecture and from overseas. Companies in the manufacturing industry and others that establish or expand factories or other facilities within the prefecture will be exempted from real-estate acquisition taxes and will receive subsidies.
<Subsidies and Tax Reduction Measures>
(Shinshu Manufacturing Industry Investment Support Project)
Companies in the manufacturing industry and others that establish or expand factories or other facilities within the prefecture will be exempted from real-estate acquisition taxes and will receive subsidies.
<Financing System>
New Business Activation Fund (aimed at promoting the establishment of businesses in the prefecture)

• Target Business: equipment funding for medium-sized businesses that establish or move a factory into an industrial park
• Conditions: land or building investment of 100 million yen or more
• Finance Amount: funds needed for equipment
• Maximum Amount: general cases ＝ 300 million yen; special designation by governor ＝ 500 million yen
• Financing Conditions: annual interest of 2.1%, finance period of 15 years or less

Links to Related Websites

Local governments and related organizations

• Official website: Web site SHINSHU

Incentives

• Small business Information Center: Corporation Guide

Industry cluster plans

• ectual cluster creation program (phase II)

Research and development

• Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center

Transportation / living

• Airport: Matumoto Airport
• Other living information : Nagano Prefecture Tourism Information