GUIDES
How to apply, in plain English
手続きガイドStart here before you open any Japanese form
START HEREJapan subsidies for foreigners: the complete guide
外国人経営者のための日本の補助金・助成金ガイド
Yes — foreign-owned businesses in Japan can get the same subsidies as anyone else. This page explains how the system works, which program fits which goal, and the order to do things in.
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START HEREStarting a business in Japan: the checklist
日本で事業を始める手順
Setting up in Japan takes several offices and a few months. Here is the order most foreign founders follow, with a guide for each step.
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BUSINESS MANAGERBusiness Manager visa: the new requirements
在留資格「経営・管理」
Since October 16, 2025, the Business Manager status asks for much more than before. Here is what the official standards say, in plain English.
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STARTUP VISAJapan’s Startup Visa: all programs
スタートアップビザ（外国人起業活動促進事業）
With the Business Manager rules now much stricter, the Startup Visa gives founders time: up to two years to prepare, with support from an approved city or prefecture.
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COECertificate of Eligibility (COE)
在留資格認定証明書
If you are outside Japan, the Certificate of Eligibility is usually the first document you need. Here is how the process runs, from application to residence card.
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JAPANESEJapanese for business owners
経営者のための日本語
Since October 2025, you or a full-time employee need B2-level Japanese for the Business Manager status. Here is what that means and how to plan for it.
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ELIGIBILITYCan foreigners apply for Japanese subsidies?
外国人経営者は補助金を申請できる？
Short answer: yes. Japanese subsidies are for businesses operating in Japan. The rules look at your business — not your nationality or your visa type.
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BASICSSubsidy vs. grant: hojokin and joseikin
補助金と助成金の違い
Japanese public funding comes in two main kinds. Hojokin are competitive subsidies for investment. Joseikin are employment grants you receive when you meet the conditions.
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GBIZIDHow to get a gBizID Prime account
GビズIDプライムの取り方
Almost every subsidy application starts here. gBizID Prime is free, and since July 2026 it can be issued the same day online — or take up to a month by post.
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JGRANTSApplying on Jgrants, step by step
Jグランツの使い方
Jgrants is the Digital Agency's online subsidy system. You log in with gBizID Prime, apply, report and request payment — all from one My Page, 24 hours a day.
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CASH FLOWSubsidies are paid later — plan your cash flow
補助金は後払い：資金繰りの考え方
A subsidy is a refund, not an advance. You pay the full price first, report, and receive the money months later. Plan for that gap before you apply.
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SOLE OR COMPANYSole proprietor or company?
個人事業か会社か
Many owners with permanent residence or a spouse visa start as sole proprietors. Others need a company from day one. Here is how the two compare.
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COMPANY SETUPSetting up a company in Japan: KK or GK?
会社の作り方：株式会社と合同会社
Most subsidies need a business that is registered and operating in Japan. Here is how the two common company types compare, what registration costs, and what changed for the Business Manager visa.
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HANKOCompany seals (hanko) in Japan
会社の印鑑
Japan has moved many procedures online, but seals still appear in banking and contracts. Here is which seals a company uses — and when you can skip them.
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MONEY INSending startup capital to Japan
海外から資本金を送る
With ¥30 million needed for a Business Manager company, how you move money into Japan matters — for registration, for the bank and for immigration.
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BANK ACCOUNTOpening a business bank account in Japan
法人口座の開き方
Subsidies are paid into your business account, and payments for subsidized purchases should come out of it. Japanese banks screen new companies carefully — here is how to prepare.
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TAX BASICSTaxes for a new company in Japan
新しい会社の税金の基本
A new company has a short list of tax filings to make — and with Business Manager capital rules, consumption tax applies sooner than many founders expect.
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INVOICEJapan’s invoice system
インボイス制度
Since October 2023, business customers in Japan need a qualified invoice to deduct consumption tax. Whether to register affects your prices, your tax and your customers.
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SIMPLE TAXSimplified consumption tax
消費税の簡易課税制度
If your sales are modest, you can calculate consumption tax from sales alone — much less paperwork, and sometimes less tax.
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PAYROLL TAXPayroll withholding tax in Japan
給与の源泉徴収
Once your company pays salaries — including to you as a director — it must withhold income tax and pay it to the tax office every month, or twice a year if you are small.
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HIRINGHiring and social insurance
雇用と社会保険
Every company in Japan — even one with only its director — must enroll in health and pension insurance. Here is what to set up before your first payday.
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CONTRACTSEmployment contracts in Japan
雇用契約と労働条件の明示
In Japan, the key terms of a job must be given in writing when you hire. Since April 2024 the list includes how the place of work and duties may change.
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PAID LEAVEPaid leave in Japan: employer rules
年次有給休暇
Every employee in Japan — including part-timers — earns paid leave. Since 2019, employers must also make sure staff actually take at least five days a year.
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OVERTIMEOvertime rules in Japan (36 Agreement)
残業の上限と36協定
In Japan, no employee may legally work overtime until the employer has signed and filed a “36 Agreement” — and even then, strict caps apply.
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MINIMUM WAGEMinimum wage in Japan
最低賃金のしくみ
Japan has a minimum wage for each prefecture, and it rises almost every autumn. Here is how it works — and how it connects to wage-raise grants.
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HEALTH CHECKSEmployee health checkups in Japan
従業員の健康診断
Japanese law requires employers to arrange medical checkups for their regular staff — when they join and at least once a year.
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LABOR INS.Labor insurance annual renewal
労働保険の年度更新
If you employ staff, every summer you settle last year’s labor insurance premiums and prepay this year’s. Missing it is expensive.
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FOREIGN STAFFHiring foreign employees in Japan
外国人を雇うとき
Hiring someone from abroad — or a foreign resident already in Japan — adds two duties: check that their status allows the work, and report the hire to Hello Work.
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PHONE & NETPhone and internet for your business
事業用の電話・ネット回線
Banks, government systems and customers in Japan expect a Japanese phone number. Get one early — many setup steps cannot be finished without it.
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RESTAURANTGetting a restaurant license in Japan
飲食店の営業許可
Every restaurant in Japan needs a permit from the local health center before it opens. Plan it together with your lease and fit-out, not after.
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SALONOpening a beauty salon in Japan
美容所の開設
Hair and beauty salons in Japan need licensed beauticians and a health-center inspection before opening. Here is the path for foreign owners.
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REAL ESTATEReal estate agency license in Japan
宅地建物取引業の免許
Buying, selling or brokering property as a business in Japan needs a real estate business license — and licensed specialists on your staff.
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SECONDHANDSecondhand dealer license (kobutsusho)
古物商許可
Buying used goods to resell — clothes, electronics, cars, watches, even items bought online — needs a secondhand dealer license in Japan. Many export businesses need one too.
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LIQUORLiquor sales license in Japan
酒類販売業免許
Selling sake, wine or any alcohol in Japan — in a shop, online or for export — needs a liquor sales license from the tax office. Which one depends on how and to whom you sell.
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TRAVELTravel agency registration in Japan
旅行業の登録
Many foreign founders sell tours to visitors. Arranging transport and accommodation for a fee is travel business — and needs registration.
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CONSTRUCTIONConstruction business license in Japan
建設業許可
Small jobs can be done without a license, but once a single contract reaches ¥5 million (¥15 million for whole buildings), you need a construction business license.
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IMPORTImporting goods into Japan
輸入の基本
Many foreign-owned businesses import products from home. Here is how goods clear Japanese customs — and what to check before you place the first order.
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RECRUITINGRecruitment agency license in Japan
有料職業紹介事業の許可
Bilingual recruiting is a common business for foreign founders. Charging fees for job placement in Japan needs a license from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.
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ONLINE SHOPSelling online in Japan: the legal notice
特定商取引法に基づく表記
Every online shop selling to people in Japan needs a page called the “Notation based on the Specified Commercial Transactions Act”. Here is what it must include.
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ACCOUNTINGChoosing accounting software in Japan
会計ソフトの選び方
Japan's invoice system and electronic record rules make cloud accounting almost essential. Choose software that fits them — and check whether the Digitalization & AI Subsidy can pay up to half.
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POS & CASHLESSPOS registers and cashless payments
レジ（POS）とキャッシュレス決済
Visitors expect to pay by card and phone, and staff are hard to find. A tablet POS with cashless payments and table ordering can do both — and subsidies can cover part of the cost.
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SELF CHECK-INSelf check-in for guesthouses and minpaku
無人チェックインの決まりと補助金
Self check-in saves staff time, but Japan still requires you to check every guest’s identity and keep a register. Here is what the rules allow — and where subsidies help.
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ATTENDANCE & PAYROLLAttendance and payroll records for grants
助成金のための勤怠・給与の記録
Employment grants (joseikin) are checked against your attendance and payroll records. Messy records are one of the most common reasons applications fail.
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WEBSITECan a subsidy pay for your website?
ホームページと補助金
Yes — but only as part of a bigger sales plan. Website costs are capped at a quarter of the subsidy, and a plan that is only a website is not accepted.
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CLOSINGClosing a company in Japan
会社のたたみ方（解散・清算）
Plans change. Closing a Japanese company properly takes at least two months and several filings — and leaving it dormant has its own consequences.
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GLOSSARYGlossary: English · Romaji · 日本語
補助金の用語集
Japanese subsidy documents use the same few dozen words again and again. Learn them once, and the guidelines become much easier to follow.
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