REGION · TOKYO
Subsidies in Tokyo
東京都の補助金・支援On top of the national programs — what Tokyo adds for your business
Tokyo runs its own grants for new businesses and for shops and hotels serving foreign visitors, plus free English help desks for foreign companies.
Startup Grant
¥4M
2/3 of early costs
Inbound support
¥3M
Per shop or hotel, each fiscal year
Minimum wage
Yearly
Revised every year — affects wage programs
English help
Free
Business Development Center Tokyo
Tokyo programs
| Program | For | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Startup Grant創業助成事業 | People starting a business in Tokyo, or within 5 years of starting | 2/3, up to ¥4M (min ¥1M) | In rounds — check the official page for the current one |
| Inbound Support (TCVB)インバウンド対応力強化支援事業補助金 | Hotels, restaurants and shops in Tokyo serving foreign visitors | 1/2 (2/3 multilingual), up to ¥3M per facility | Each fiscal year, until the budget runs out |
Tokyo Startup Grant in detail
Run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center. It covers early-stage costs: rent, advertising, equipment, intellectual property, expert advice, staff salaries and market research. About 200 businesses are selected each year.
- Your head office or main place of business is in Tokyo
- You are planning to start, or started less than 5 years ago
- You have used a designated startup support service first — for example, the business-plan support at TOKYO Startup Station (TOKYO創業ステーション)
Start the preparation two months early
Meeting the support-service requirement takes about two months or more. Check when the next round opens and start the preparation well before it.
National programs — where to apply in Tokyo
| Program | In Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Sustainability Subsidy | Support letter from your local chamber — in the 23 wards, the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce (東京商工会議所) branch for your ward; elsewhere, your city's 商工会議所 or 商工会 |
| Career-Up & Work Improvement | Tokyo Labour Bureau (東京労働局) |
| Digitalization, Labor-Saving, Monozukuri | Online, nationwide — same as everywhere in Japan |
See the program pages for amounts and deadlines.
Tokyo minimum wage
Tokyo's minimum wage is revised every year. Several programs use your prefecture’s current minimum wage — for example, wage conditions and the application window of the Work Improvement Grant. Check the current amount in the official minimum wage table.
Work Improvement Grant: watch the date
The grant window closes the day before the new minimum wage takes effect in your prefecture — sometimes earlier than you expect.
Free English help in Tokyo
Business Development Center Tokyo (BDC TOKYO) is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's one-stop desk for foreign companies and entrepreneurs who run, or plan to set up, a business in Tokyo. Business consulting is free and the staff are bilingual. You can talk to them in person at three desks (Marunouchi, Akasaka and Yurakucho, on weekdays — book an appointment in advance), by email or by phone. They also introduce lawyers, tax accountants and other specialists, and help with funding and daily-life questions.
BDC TOKYO gives general consultation. For writing subsidy applications, see our English-speaking experts.
FAQ
What subsidies does Tokyo offer to new businesses?
The Tokyo Startup Grant (創業助成事業) covers 2/3 of early costs up to ¥4M for businesses planning to start or within 5 years of starting in Tokyo. You must first use a designated startup support service such as TOKYO Startup Station.
Can foreign entrepreneurs apply for the Tokyo Startup Grant?
The requirements are about your business and its location in Tokyo, not your nationality. You need a head office or main place of business in Tokyo and must complete a designated startup support service first.
Where can I check the minimum wage in Tokyo?
On the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s table of regional minimum wages. It is revised every year, and several programs use it.
Sources
- Tokyo Startup Grant 2026 — Tokyo Metropolitan Government press release (創業助成事業)
- Inbound Support Subsidy — TCVB
- Minimum wages by prefecture — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Business Development Center Tokyo — services (INVEST TOKYO)
- Business Development Center Tokyo — access and hours (INVEST TOKYO)
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.
NEED HELP IN ENGLISH?
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