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invest japan

Investing in Japan

Regional Information

Tokyo

The information below is as of June 2011.

Your Regional Guide

Tokyo Pref. Concierge

Inquires about investment in Japan.

Tokyo Business Entry PointTo other site
2-8-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Prefecture 163-8001
TEL: +81-3-5320-4889   FAX: +81-3-5388-1465

Tokyo

*If you can't find the information you need, please contact JETRO.

*Search for business partners in Japan via "Database of candidate partners" in the "General Business Information" section or using TTPP (Trade Tie-up Promotion Program), JETRO's free online business matching database.

*Please note that inquires not regarding investment in Japan may not be answered.

  • General Business Information
  • Industrial Cluster Information
  • Living environment for foreigners
  • FAQs

Basic Information

Population*1 13.16 million
Labor force*1 5.86 million
Area*2 2,103 km²
GDP*3 89,714,943 million yen
Major industries Transport and communication industries; wholesalers; eating and drinking establishments; retail, financial, and insurance industries; publishing and printing industries; electronic device manufacturing industries
Developing industries Animation industry, information and communications-related industries, lifestyle service industries, medical and social service industries
JETRO office

JETRO Kanto

*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

Tokyo, the national capital, is Japan's political, economic, and cultural center, and the center of consumption in the country. Tokyo contains a variety of industries, with an especially large concentration of corporate headquarters, creating a hive of economic activity. The city constantly gives rise to new fashions and cultural phenomena, and a wide variety of information is transmitted to the rest of Japan and throughout the world. Famous sites and historical landmarks can be found and traditional culture remains alive, and the city presents an innovative face with a lingering patina of tradition. More than 670,000 business establishments in Tokyo, 99% of them small and medium businesses. About 8.2 million people work in Tokyo, about 70% of them as employees of small and medium businesses (2006). These small and medium companies boast sophisticated technology and high levels of productivity and are major contributors to Tokyo's growth and continued vitality. In addition, about 75% of the foreign companies in Japan are concentrated in Tokyo, while growing numbers of joint research projects between industry, academia, and the government have built up networks linking educational institutions and companies, so that a wide variety of resources are to be found in the metropolis. Impressive large-scale development projects are being constructed all over Tokyo in areas such as Marunouchi, Otemachi, Rinkai, Akihabara and Shibuya.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

Not only does Tokyo have a concentration of universities with research institutes and faculties of science and engineering in academic fields closely connected with industry, it has clusters of the highest-quality institutions in Japan. Besides being covered by a complex network of public transportation facilities, it is also blessed with a human infrastructure that makes it a treasure trove of outstanding human resources proficient in foreign languages.

Strength of the region's infrastructure
<Land>

A network of highways, such as the Tomei Expressway, Tohoku Expressway, Kanetsu Expressway, and Joban Expressway, radiates out from Tokyo to the entire nation. In addition, a system of ring roads, including the Central Circular Route, Tokyo Outer Ring Road, and Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway, is under construction, with the goal of relieving chronic traffic congestion.

<Air>

Narita International Airport can be accessed by train from central Tokyo in about 60 minutes. Ever since the opening of Narita International Airport, which is located in the northern part of Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo International Airport in central Tokyo has taken on the role of principal airport for domestic routes, creating a network that links Japan’s major cities.

<Sea>

The Port of Tokyo is Japan’s principal port for international trade, and it functions as the international logistics base for a massive inland consumer market centered on the National Capital Region. Furthermore, high-standard container terminals have been put in place, enhancing and shoring up the port’s functions as an international trading port. The city’s aim is to form a new international trade and business zone that serves as an engine for Tokyo’s economic vitality, with links among the port’s logistical facilities, such as the Aomi Container Terminal, international convention facilities in Waterfront City, and information and communication facilities.

<Railway>

A number of rail lines originate at Tokyo Station, including the Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Tokaido Shinkansen, and Hokuriku Shinkansen, linking Tokyo directly with major cities such as Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Sendai. Tokyo and the National Capital Region are covered with a web of JR lines and private rail lines, as well as a veritable lattice of subway lines, (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Transportation-Toei Subway, Tokyo Metro) which together form a high-density rail network running on a precise schedule.

(Related information)
Foreign company(s) operating in the industry

Approximately three-quarters of foreign companies in Japan are based in Tokyo, encompassing all industry types.

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services Fees charged? Content of services
Providing market information
Advice on market participation No

A variety of materials concerning markets in Tokyo is available
Consulting by external experts and advisers No

We will introduce you to administrative procedure specialists, tax accountants and lawyers proficient in English.
Arranging appointments with potential customers and partners No

Consultants proficient in English will provide the information you need.
Support for finding customers
Monitoring surveys (evaluation of products and services) No

Advice on individual products from Tokyo Business Entry Point consultants is available.
Listing of potential customers and partners No

We will introduce you to potential business partners located in Tokyo utilizing the Tokyo Metropolitan Small Business Promotion Agency’s database
Listing of potential customers and partners No

Consultants proficient in English will help you set up appointments with Japanese companies.
Support for establishing a base
Providing incubation facilities or other facilities No

Information on low-price offices for business start-ups will be provided.
Providing incubation facilities or other facilities No

Advice on costs required for company establishment according to company type will be provided.
Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan No

Various types of advice on permits and licensing will be provided.
Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services) No

We will introduce you to real-estate agents proficient in English and help you to set up appointments with Japanese companies.
Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel No

We will introduce you to real-estate agents proficient in English.
Providing information on permits and licensing procedures No

Information on procedures relating to manufacturing and importing of goods is available.
Providing information on subsidy programs No

Information on subsidies for small and medium-sized businesses granted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government will be provided.

Tokyo Business Entry Point is a one-stop service center for information on business and everyday life for companies doing business in Tokyo and for their expatriate employees. It provides a wide range of information through its website and service centers while maintaining ties with relevant organizations.

<Information about business>
1）Information about permits 2）Information about support projects administered by public institutions 3) Information about offices 4）Information about private support companies 5）Information about conventions 6）Information about matching companies 7）Information about links among industry, academia, and government

<Information about everyday life>
1）Information about everyday life for foreign residents 2）Information about consultation centers for foreign residents 3）Information about medical facilities 4）Information about housing 5）Information about educational institutions

The Tokyo Business Entry Point welcomes inquiries both from companies that are already doing business in Tokyo and those that are considering doing business in Tokyo.

Database of candidate partners
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Small Business Center: "TOKYO TRADE CENTER" To other site

    The Tokyo Metropolitan Small Business Center, a relevant organization of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, provides support for small and medium businesses in Tokyo. It has the Tokyo Trade Center, which provides information for companies that want to do business overseas.
    The Tokyo Trade Center home page offers a database of companies and organizations in Tokyo, available for foreign companies searching for a Japanese partner.
    It features the ability to search by entering the (1) product or industry, (2) key words, or (3) the name of the company. It is equipped with search tools that allow even the smallest amount of information to help find a company that meets one’s needs. The database is available in English as well as in Japanese.

Available incentives

Tokyo Business Entry Point is a one-stop service center that provides business information such as permits and matching with companies in Tokyo, as well as information about daily life during your stay, such as housing and schools.

<Subsidies and Tax Reduction Measures>
Support measures for small and medium-sized businesses include low-interest financing, subsidies, and tax preferences among other services. Foreign companies may take advantage of these benefits if they establish a Japanese corporation.

<Other Support Measures>
Tokyo Business Entry Point is a one-stop service center that provides business information, such as information about permits and information about matching companies in Tokyo, as well as information about daily life during your stay, such as housing and schools. The service center is located on the 30th floor of Tokyo Metropolitan Main Building No. 1, and English-speaking advisors are available on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (excluding the hour between noon and 1:00 p.m.). Tokyo Business Entry Point handles inquiries (by e-mail, telephone or in person) from foreign companies that are already doing business in Tokyo, and from those that want to start doing business in Tokyo.

Links to Related Websites

Local governments and related organizations
Incentives
Research and development
Transportation / living
Other information

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