INDUSTRY · RESTAURANTS
Subsidies for restaurants
飲食店向けの補助金・助成金For cafés, ramen shops, izakaya and other food businesses
Dishwashers, serving robots, POS systems, renovations and wage raises — the programs restaurant owners in Japan use most, and what each one pays for.
Fastest route
Catalog
Labor-saving catalog — rolling applications
Small-shop limit
5 staff
For the Sustainability Subsidy
Tokyo extra
¥3M
Inbound support, per store
Paid
Later
After you buy, finish and report
What you want to buy → which program
| You want to | Program | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a dishwasher, combi oven, fryer or serving robot | Labor-Saving Subsidy (catalog) | ¥5M–¥10M ¥15M with wage increase |
| Introduce POS, table ordering or reservation software | Digitalization & AI Subsidy | ¥4.5M Registers ≤ ¥200,000 (Invoice track) |
| Renovate, make flyers or a website to win customers | Sustainability Subsidy | ¥500,000 ¥2.5M with special conditions |
| Raise wages and buy kitchen equipment | Work Improvement Grant | ¥6M |
| Make part-timers regular employees | Career-Up Grant | ¥800,000 per person |
| Add multilingual menus, cashless payment or Wi-Fi (Tokyo) | Tokyo Inbound Support (TCVB) | ¥3M per store |
The programs in detail
Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy
Up to ¥15M中小企業省力化投資補助金（カタログ注文型）
Rolling applications, and a registered seller helps you apply. Many kitchen machines are in the official catalog.
- Serving robots
- Commercial dishwashers
- Combi ovens
- Automatic fryers
- Ticket machines
Digitalization & AI Subsidy
Up to ¥4.5Mデジタル化・AI導入補助金
For software first. Registers and tablets are covered only together with software on the Invoice track.
- POS & table ordering
- Reservations
- Accounting & invoicing
- Registers (Invoice track)
Small Business Sustainability Subsidy
Up to ¥2.5M小規模事業者持続化補助金
Made for very small shops. Restaurants count as services, so the limit is 5 regular employees.
- Shop renovation
- Flyers & signs
- Website (≤ 1/4)
- New menu development
Work Improvement Grant
Up to ¥6M業務改善助成金
Pairs a wage raise with equipment, at up to 4/5 of the cost. The window closes before your prefecture’s new minimum wage starts.
- Kitchen equipment
- POS systems
- Workflow consulting
Career-Up Grant
¥800K / personキャリアアップ助成金
Many restaurants rely on part-timers. Converting them to regular staff pays per person, all year round.
- Part-time → regular
In Tokyo: inbound support
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) help restaurants welcome foreign visitors with the Inbound Support Subsidy (インバウンド対応力強化支援事業補助金).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who | Restaurants and shops in Tokyo — SMEs only |
| Rate | 1/2 (2/3 for multilingual projects) |
| Maximum | ¥3M per store (security cameras ¥900,000) |
| Applications | Each fiscal year, until the budget runs out — check the TCVB page |
- Multilingual menus, signs and websites
- Listing on foreign-language restaurant sites
- Cashless payment equipment and public Wi-Fi
- Staff training for foreign guests, lockers and luggage storage
Apply yourself — not through a vendor
TCVB does not accept applications made by agents. If the company you plan to buy from prepared your documents, the project will not be funded. Also check the guide for conditions such as being listed on the city's multilingual menu site, EAT Tokyo.
Restaurant checklist
- Your food business permit (飲食店営業許可) is in the name of the business that applies
- You know how many regular employees you have — limits are strict for small-business programs
- You have a gBizID Prime account (same day online, up to 1 month by post)
- You have quotes for what you want to buy
- You will not order or pay before the grant decision
Common mistakes
- Buying the robot first. Equipment ordered before the grant decision is not covered.
- A register on the Standard track. Hardware is only covered with software on the Invoice track.
- A website-only Sustainability plan. Website costs are capped at 1/4 of the subsidy.
- Letting the vendor write your Tokyo application. TCVB will not fund it.
FAQ
Which subsidy is best for a small restaurant in Japan?
For machines like dishwashers or serving robots, the Labor-Saving Subsidy catalog type is the fastest, with rolling applications. For POS or reservation software, use the Digitalization & AI Subsidy. For renovation and promotion with 5 or fewer regular employees, the Sustainability Subsidy fits best.
Can I get a serving robot subsidized?
Yes. Serving robots are a category in the Labor-Saving Subsidy catalog. You apply through a registered seller and can get up to half the cost back, within the cap for your number of employees.
Can I use two programs at once?
Yes, for different costs. You cannot claim the same cost from two programs. For example, a dishwasher from the Labor-Saving Subsidy and a reservation system from the Digitalization & AI Subsidy can work together.
I run my restaurant on a Business Manager visa. Can I apply?
Yes. These programs look at your business — its registration in Japan, size and plan — not the owner’s nationality or visa type.
Sources
- Labor-Saving Subsidy product catalog (製品カタログ)
- Tokyo Inbound Support Subsidy — TCVB (インバウンド対応力強化支援事業補助金)
- Digitalization & AI Subsidy — official site
- Sustainability Subsidy — official site (商工会地区)
- Work Improvement Grant — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.
NEED HELP IN ENGLISH?
Talk to an English-speaking expert
Advisors and registered sellers who work with restaurants — in English.
See experts →PR · Paid listings
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- POS & table ordering
- Serving robots & dishwashers
- Reservation systems