INDUSTRY · RETAIL
Subsidies for retail shops
小売店向けの補助金・助成金For grocery, gift, fashion and specialty shops
Self-checkouts, shelf labels, POS systems, a refreshed shop front and help for foreign visitors — the programs shop owners in Japan use most, and what each one pays for.
Fastest route
Catalog
Labor-saving catalog — rolling applications
Small-shop limit
5 staff
Commerce, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Add self-checkouts, electronic shelf labels or cash deposit machines | Labor-Saving Subsidy (catalog) | ¥5M–¥10M ¥15M with wage increase |
| Introduce POS, inventory or accounting software | Digitalization & AI Subsidy | ¥4.5M Registers ≤ ¥200,000 (Invoice track) |
| Renovate the shop, make flyers or a website to win customers | Sustainability Subsidy | ¥500,000 ¥2.5M with special conditions |
| Raise wages and buy equipment | Work Improvement Grant | ¥6M |
| Make part-timers regular employees | Career-Up Grant | ¥800,000 per person |
| Add multilingual signs, 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 through a registered seller. The official catalog includes several items for shops.
- Self-checkouts
- Electronic shelf labels
- Cash deposit machines
- RFID bulk reading
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 & inventory
- 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. Retail counts as commerce, so the limit is 5 regular employees.
- Shop renovation
- Flyers & signs
- Website (≤ 1/4)
- Exhibitions & events
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.
- POS systems
- Store equipment
- Workflow consulting
Career-Up Grant
¥800K / personキャリアアップ助成金
Shops often rely on part-time staff. Converting them to regular staff pays per person, all year round.
- Part-time → regular
In Tokyo: inbound support for shops
The Tokyo Inbound Support Subsidy (インバウンド対応力強化支援事業補助金) covers shops as well as restaurants — SMEs only, up to ¥3M per store at 1/2 (2/3 for multilingual projects), applications each fiscal year until the budget runs out.
- Multilingual signs, price tags and websites
- Cashless payment equipment and public Wi-Fi
- Staff training for foreign customers
Apply yourself — not through a vendor
The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau does not accept applications made by agents. See the details on the restaurant page.
Retail checklist
- Any licence your products need (alcohol, food, second-hand goods) is in the name of the business that applies
- You know how many regular employees you have — 5 or fewer for the Sustainability Subsidy
- 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 self-checkout first. Equipment ordered before the grant decision is not covered.
- Buying stock with a subsidy. Products you resell are not an eligible cost.
- 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.
FAQ
Which subsidy is best for a small shop in Japan?
For machines like self-checkouts or electronic shelf labels, the Labor-Saving Subsidy catalog type is the fastest, with rolling applications. For POS or inventory 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 self-checkout subsidized?
Yes. Self-checkouts 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 a subsidy pay for the products I sell?
No. Stock for resale is not an eligible cost. Subsidies pay for equipment, software, renovation, promotion and similar costs.
I run my shop 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)
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 shops — in English.
See experts →PR · Paid listings
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- POS & inventory
- Self-checkouts
- Cashless payments