Sapporo city

Sapporo has about 1.97 million people (approx. 2.5 million people within the Sapporo metropolitan area), making it the fifth largest city in Japan. The city boasts a comfortable environment where nature and well-developed urban infrastructure co-exist. It also offers abundant human resources, high-level education, and low business costs, including affordable office rent. These advantages attract IT companies in software development, game development and other creative companies, as well as call centers and BPO centers in IT and financial services. The city is becoming a popular business location for diversifying risks associated with natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and lightning, away from the Tokyo metropolitan area. AXA Life Insurance and Aflac Life Insurance Japan have established their head office functions in Sapporo.

In July 2023, STARTUP HOKKAIDO was launched as a consortium for all stakeholders from governments, businesses, and universities in Hokkaido to work together as a whole. The consortium is aiming to build a global start-up ecosystem in Hokkaido, focusing on the region's key industries: primary and food industries, space industry, as well as environment and energy industries.

The Subsidy to Promote Establishment of IT, Content and Biotechnology Businesses is intended for businesses opening in Sapporo product research, development, and manufacturing facilities in the fields of information and communication technology, digital technology, and biotechnology. It also targets companies setting up offices in the city to design, research, or develop semiconductors and other related electronic components. A maximum of 100 million yen will be granted to cover office rent, provided the new office employs one to five full-time employees (either newly hired or transferred). The exact number of employees required varies based on specific requirements.

The Subsidy to Promote Relocation of Head Office and Establishment of Back Office Centers is intended for companies establishing a BPO center in Sapporo that primarily serves customers outside of Hokkaido. A maximum of 100 million yen will be granted to cover office rent, provided the BPO center hires 20 or more new employees. Also, a maximum of 200 million yen will be provided for businesses to relocate their headquarters to Sapporo. A maximum of 100 million yen will be granted to move their head office functions such as general affairs, HR, accounting, planning, or parts of their Japanese subsidiary's headquarters functions.

The Subsidy for Foreign-Affiliated Companies Visiting the City is intended for foreign-affiliated companies looking to establish their branch or corporation in Sapporo. Eligible companies will receive up to 500,000 yen to partially cover expenses incurred during their visit to Sapporo for inspections and meetings with related organizations. The subsidy will be granted to cover eligible expenses such as accommodation costs when visiting Sapporo, interpreter services for the inspection tour, and transportation in and around the city.

Startup Visa Available

The IT and digital content industries are Sapporo's key sectors. The city boasts many companies and human resources with high technological capabilities, as well as many educational institutions that produce IT personnel every year.

Besides, industry, academia, and government collaborated to establish the Sapporo City Innovation Promotion Consortium. The consortium aims to create innovation, build an ecosystem, and promote digital transformation in local small and midsize enterprises by utilizing advanced technologies such as AI and XR, as well as by collaborating with other areas of expertise. The city also offers various opportunities, including the Sapporo Game Camp, an event designed to foster creators, and NoMaps, an event aimed to propose new values, cultures, and new ways of society by promoting the use of advanced technologies and innovative ideas.

With a population of 2.5 million in the Sapporo metropolitan area, the city boasts people with a strong preference for local employment and attracts individuals who wish to return or move to the city. Furthermore, the active job openings-to-applicants ratio is lower than in other cities, making it easier to secure excellent human resources.

Located remote from the Tokyo metropolitan area, Sapporo is an ideal business location in terms of diversifying risks associated with natural disasters. This makes it suitable for companies looking to consolidate their administrative operations or relocate their headquarters functions. There are noticeable cases of second-phase expansion in which foreign affiliates relocated some headquarters functions to Sapporo as BCP measures.

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido prefecture, which is rich in nature and famous in Asia for its safe and high-quality agricultural and marine products. The city also serves as a transportation hub that connects Hokkaido with other parts of Japan and overseas.

Also, many higher education institutes and experimental research institutions are concentrated in the city. This makes Sapporo ideal for researching and developing pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products, leveraging Hokkaido-made materials and its strong brand image.

Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido, which is located in the north of the Japanese Islands. It has a quality environment where nature and well-developed urban infrastructure co-exist despite its snowy and cold climate. While offering snow-resistant urban environments including underground walkaways and progressive business settings such as low-emission office buildings, the city is home to rich nature, beautiful scenery, a cool climate, and fresh and abundant food resources. For these characteristics, Sapporo is highly regarded throughout Japan as a desirable city to visit and live.

The New Chitose Airport, which is 37 minutes by JR train from Sapporo, is operated 24-hours a day, connects with major domestic airports, and has international terminals enabling late-night air cargo flights.
It is about 1 hour by car to the Tomakomai Port, an international hub port, and 1 hour 45 minutes to the Muroran Port. The Ishikari Bay New Port, selected as a base port on the Sea of Japan side, is approximately 30 minutes away. The city has excellent access to these base ports.

In addition to its good access to airports and harbors, the city has the Sapporo Cargo Terminal Station, which boasts Japan's largest cargo handling volume. It enables next-day delivery between Sapporo and Tokyo by container trains. The city is the central hub of the railway and road networks that connect all parts of Hokkaido, making it a key center for logistics and transportation both inside and outside Hokkaido.

Air - Approx. 90 minutes from Haneda Airport to New Chitose Airport, 33 minutes from New Chitose Airport to the city center.
Land - Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line is scheduled to extend to Sapporo, connecting Sapporo and Tokyo Station in 5 hours.

Support is available to provide various information, such as details on startup incubation centers and other facilities, as well as property information in cooperation with real estate agents. As its local recruitment assistance, the city makes introduction to human resource consulting companies and educational institutions.

A help desk has been in place to support foreign nationals residing in the city and organizations hosting foreign students or staff, offering consultation and information about everyday living in multiple languages.