Why not do your businessin KANSAI ?
～ Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe ～INVEST JAPAN，INVEST KANSAI

Fukui

Hyogo

Kyoto Shiga

Osaka
Nara
Wakayama－ ２０２４・English －Table of Contents

5

Introduction

1

2

3

４

Growth Industries in Kansai

The Attractiveness of Kansai as a Business City2

5-1

Green Innovation（Storage Batteries)

1３

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan3

5-2

Green Innovation（Hydrogen)

1４

Kansai, an Attractive Tourist Destination

4

5-3

Life Science Innovation

1５

6

Location of the Kansai region and Highly Developed Infrastructure

1-1

Location of the Kansai region and transportation
infrastructure５

1-2

Kansai is connected to the world/Asia by many routes

６

7

The Large Kansai Economy

Well-equipped Business / Living Environment

6-1

Comfortable Working and Living Environment

1６

6-２

Kansai is one of the locations where international
conferences are hosted in any other areas of Asia

17

Support for Foreign Investment

2-1

The Large Kansai Economy

７

7-1

Support Systems for Foreign Investment in Kansai

１８

2-2

Trade Value by Region and Product

８7-2Support for Foreign Investment in Japan ｂｙ Kyoto,
Osaka, and Kobe

１９

7-3

Support Programs for Foreign Investment by theJapanese Government

20

7-４

Examples of Incentives Offered by Local Governments

２１

7-5

Housing Consultation Counter for Foreigners

３1

Attractive Industries, Great Intellectual Cluster

3-1

Diverse Industries in a Diverse Region

９

3-2

University/Research Institute Clusters

10

８

Diversity of Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai

Creation of innovation

4-1

Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai

11

8-1

Creation of innovation

32

4-2

Examples of Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai

12

8-2

Examples of support for overseas startups

33

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

1

Introduction

The Attractiveness of Kansai as a Business City⚫
⚫
⚫

Kansai refers to an area centered around Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, which comprises seven prefectures (Fukui, Shiga, Kyoto,
Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama).
As indicated in the “Six reasons of Kansai as a Business City,” Kansai has an excellent business environment.
With Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan approaching in 2025, Kansai is currently developing its international urban systems,
attracting attention from around the world.

6 Reasonsof Kansai as a
Business CityJAPANKANSAI
Fukui

Hyogo
Kobe
City

１

2

Nara
Wakayama

Abundant routes and public transportation services are available
centered on KIX as the hub. Trade partners are mainly from Asia.

Japan’s second-largest economy after the Tokyo
metropolitan area
Kansai’s GDP is comparable to that of the Netherlands or Switzerland.

3“We can make anything” - High technological capabilities
and diverse industrial clusters

4

A cluster of universities, research institutes, highly skilledhuman resources, and global companies

A diverse range of companies with technological capabilities, primarily
in the field of manufacturing, are concentrated here.

Procurement and collaboration with companies and startups with ahigh global market share are available.

Strengths in the green and life science fields

Kyoto Shiga

Osaka

Located in the center of Japan - Ideal as an Asian base

Kyoto
City

5

Osaka
City

Development/production bases, universities andresearch institutes are concentrated and collaboratingwith each other.

Comfortable living environment and comprehensive support

6

An affordable office environment, comfortable living areas, andcomprehensive support are provided.

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２

Introduction

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan⚫

In Kansai, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will be held with the participation of various countries and internationalorganizations from all over the world.

Theme:

Designing Future Society for Our Lives

Period: April 13–October 13, 2025
Venue: Yumeshima Island, Osaka

Expected number Approximately 28.2 million peopleof visitors:
Saving Lives
Sub-themes:
Empowering Lives
Connecting Lives
People’s Living Lab
Concept:
Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
Goals:(SDGs）
Achievement of Japan’s national strategy “Society 5.0”

Official mascot character of Expo 2025
Osaka, Kansai, Japan
MYAKU-MYAKU ©Expo 2025

Diverse pavilions• Signature Pavilions
Eight producers have developed attractive pavilions to give
shape to the theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

• Domestic Pavilions: Exhibitions by 13 companies andorganizations• Japan Pavilion

TEAM EXPO program
Co-creation activities that will realize the theme of
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and contribute toachieving the SDGs have been registered. Some ofthem will be announced at the venue.
https://team.expo2025.or.jp/

Realizing the theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan andcommunicating Japan’s initiatives• International Pavilions by foreign andinternational organizations
Foreign exhibitions by over 160 countries and regions and over
9 international organizations, etc.

Theme Weeks
Each week, a different global issue will be chosen as the theme,
and a “dialogue program” and a “business exchange” will be
conducted to discuss solutions and to take concrete action,
respectively.

Provided by: Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition

Future Society Showcase Projects

Future Society Showcase Project: Electric buses
for visitor mobility

You will be able to experience demonstrations of
next-generation technologies and social systems(virtual venues, advanced air mobility, electricbuses, etc.) that give a sense of the future,
befitting Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

Expo2025 Official
Experiential Travel Guides

Events
A variety of events will be held at the venue.
E.g., exhibitions and conferences to spread the appeal of Japanesestartups and small and medium-sized enterprises, etc.

Nationwide travel information related to the themeof Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is provided.

Provided by: The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc. / Osaka Metro Co., Ltd.

https://www.expo2025travel.jp/

Advance tickets on sale now
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/tickets-index/

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

3

Introduction

Kansai, an Attractive Tourist Destination⚫ As the birthplace of a wide variety of performing arts and cultural attractions, Kansai including Kyoto and Osaka boasts ahigh concentration of all kinds of tourist attractions, including many World Heritage sites, varied food cultures, seasonal
natural beauty, and diverse hands-on activities.
Kansai at the top of the world rankings

Japan

The best major countries in the world

Ranked 1st

Appealing tourist attractions, etc
Among the National Treasure of Japan,
71% of the traditional buildings and 51%of the art and crafts are in the Kansai
region.

（Source）Condé Nast Traveler「The Best Countries in the World_ 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards」

Japan

Most Desirable Country in the World 2023

Fukui

Ranked 2nd（Source）Wanderlust「Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2023 :Most Desirable Country in
the World」

Kyoto

Kyoto

Travel + Leisure Readers' 25 Favorite Cities
in the World of 2023

Shiga

Hyogo

Ranked 3rd: Kyoto
Osaka（Source)Travel + Leisure「Travel + Leisure Readers' 25 Favorite Cities in the World of 2023」

Nara

Japan

Tourist destinations in Japan people want tovisit 2023
Ranked 3rd: Osaka
Ranked 5th: Kyoto
Ranked 9th: Kobe
Ranked 11th: Nara

Wakayama
Provided by Biwa lake Visitors Bureau

Provided by Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau(Source) “DBJ/JTBF Survey of Tourist Travel to Japan from Asia, Europe, the UnitedStates, and Australia” Development Bank of Japan Inc.

Provided by KANSAI Tourism Bureau

Provided by Wakayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Provided by Nara Visitors Bureau

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

４

１ Location of the Kansai region and Highly Developed Infrastructure

１-１

Location of the Kansai region and transportation infrastructure⚫ Kansai is located almost in the center of Japan and has a well-developed transportation network including air, rail, androad.

⚫ There is convenient access to Tokyo and other major cities in Japan and various parts of Kansai. In particular, Kyoto,
Osaka, and Kobe are adjacent to each other and can be reached in about 30 minutes.
Major transportation networks in Japan （Time required）

Major urban transportation networks in Kansai （Time required）
Kansai is geographically compact, allowing
travel from the center of Osaka tointernational cities such as Kyoto and Kobe in
about 30 minutes.

Sapporo/Shin-Chitose

Fukui

Kyoto
Shiga/Otsu
Hyogo/Shin-Kobe

Osaka
Tokyo/Haneda

Nara■Airplane
1 hourand 50 min.

Hiroshima
Aichi/Nagoya

Fukuoka/Hakata

Osaka（Kansai International Airport/
Shin-Osaka）

1 hourand 10 min.

KansaiInternational

Airport1 hourand 15min.

Wakayama

Sapporo/Shin-ChitoseTokyo/Haneda■Train（Minimum time using Shinkansen
or limited express services）
1 hour and 50
min.

Fukuoka/
Hakata■Expressway
３ hours
Fukui

Fukui
１ hour

３５ min.

Shiga/Otsu

Shiga/Otsu■Shinkansen(bullet train)
2 hoursand 30 min.

50 min.
ShinOsaka
1 hour and 30 min.

2hours and 30 min.

■Expressway
6 hours and 15 min.

Tokyo

2 hours and 30 min.

Aichi/Nagoya

ShinOsaka
Hiroshima

Tokyo

ShinOsaka

１５ min.

Aichi/Nagoya

ShinOsaka

7 hours and 45 min.

４５ min.

Hyogo/ShinKobe
５５ min.
Nara

Hyogo/ShinKobe

Nara

Hiroshima
１ hour and ２５min.

1 hour aｎd １０min.
Fukuoka/Hakata

Kyoto

Kyoto

５５ min.
4 hours and 15 min.

５０ min.

１５ min.

Fukuoka/Hakata

Wakayama

Wakayama

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

５

１ Location of the Kansai region and Highly Developed Infrastructure

１-２

Kansai is connected to the world/Asia by many routes⚫ Kansai International Airport is located in the center of Kansai, Japan, and operates 24 hours a day as an international cargo hub.
It is connecting Asia and the rest of the world.
⚫ In 2019, the number of flights in service per week reached 1,570.
⚫ In 2019, KIX provides direct access to 56 cities in Asia, and has 21 international LCCs connecting it to 29 additional cities,
the largest network access among all the other domestic airports.
⚫ Kansai plays a core role in Asia, with airports and seaports able to handle large volumes of cargo as an international trade hub.
Details of international passenger flights by destination area

24-hour airport, Japan's first joint fixed-temperature storage for medicines
・The only one in Japan! 24-hour Airport with multiple 4000-meter runways.
・- The first in Japan to be able to pack and store pharmaceuticals at a constant temperature for export, realizing coolchain transportation of pharmaceuticals!
・- Large-scale renovations are planned to significantly expand and enhance international flight capacity!

North America 54 flights weekly

Europe 35 flights weekly＊including 28 flights to Hawaii

Asia 1,298 flights weekly
KansaiInternational
Airport

Shared constant temperature storage
for pharmaceutical productCooling dollies(KIX-Medipac）

Others 46 flights weekly
Security checkpoint ＊Image
Partial pre-opening in september 2024
Scheduled for complete renewal in spring 2025

（Source）Compiled based on Kansai Airports materials＊Report for summer 2019 peak schedule （August）

Terminal 1

Provided by Kansai Airports■Access to Kansai International Airport

International Flight Network

Regular foreign trade containers using Kansai ports

Airline companies

73

Countries （regions） served

26

Cities served

91

Weekly flights(including freight flights)

1,570

75 minutes by train

KansaiInternatio
nal Airport

47 minutes by train
50 minutes by bus

Kyoto

Osaka/
Umeda

per week
83 minutes by train
65 minutes by bus

Kobe/
Sannomiya

Asia and near areas

139.6(flights weekly)

Ine Port●●Maizuru Port

North America

6

Europe1

Others

5.3（Source） “Number of foreign trade container ships visiting Japan on regularsea lanes（ships/week） ”
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Himeji Port●
Kobe●Osaka PortPort●
● Sakai Senboku
Wakayama
Port
Shimotsu Port●
Hidaka Port●＊As of May 2022
＊Total of ports in Kansai served by regular oceangoing containers.

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI● ShinguPort６

2 The Large Kansai Economy

2-1

The Large Kansai Economy⚫ Kansai is an area that is located in the center of Japan and has a huge market with a population of approximately 21.2
million and a GDP of approximately $842 billion.

Comparison of population with major urban areasof the world
Sao Paulo/Brazil

21,486

New York/USA

21,396

KansaiKansai’s population as apercentage of Japan’s total

17%
Kansai21,169Bangkok/Thailand

18,884

Beijing/China

18,883

JAPAN

Japan’s total
125,416 thousand people（Thousands People）

KANSAI
Fukui※Figures for major world cities other than Kansai include the population of surrounding cities.
(Source)Kansai: “Population based on the Basic Resident Register (as of January 1, 2023）”,Calculated from the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
World：“Demographia World Urban Areas 19th Annual Edition：202308”,Demographia

GDP comparison with countries around the world

938.1

Iran

Kyoto
Kansai’s GDP as a percentage
of Japan’s total

913.1

Netherlands

16%
Kansai

Shiga

Hyogo

841.6

Osaka

KansaiNara

Switzerland
Turkey751.7
Japan$526.93 billion

719.9

Wakayama（US＄billion)(Source)Kansai: “Report on Prefectual Accounts (FY2020) ”, Cabinet OfficeCalculated from the gross prefectual domestic product (nominal) (conversion rate: ￥106.04 per USD)World： “World Economic Outlook Database, April 202２” (2020), IMF

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

７

２ The Large Kansai Economy

２-2

Trade Value by Region and Product⚫ Kansai has been selected as a location for business hubs in Asia due to its higher percentage of exports to and imports
from Asia than the rest of Japan.
⚫ Electric appliances, machinery and chemical products constitute a high percentage of exports from Kansai because many
global manufacturers in the fields of machinery （home appliances, motors, construction/agricultural machinery, etc.） andchemical products （medical products, plastics etc.） are located in the region.

Comparison of Exports by Region(2023)

Asia
62.3%

KansaiComparison of Imports by Region（2023）

North America
ＥＵ
Others17.5%
10.3% 9.9%

Asia
58.0%

KansaiNorth America ＥＵ
10.3%
10.6%

（Export Total Approx. 21.1 trillion yen）

Asia
52.0%

Japan

North America
21.6%

ＥＵ
10.3%

（Export Total Approx. 19.0 trillion yen）

Others
16.1%

Asia
47.2%

Japan

North America ＥＵ
12.3%
10.3%

（Export Total Approx. 100.9 trillion yen）

Value of Exports from Kansai by Commodity(2023)

Others21.2%

Others30.2%（Export Total Approx. 110.2 trillion yen）

Value of Imports to Kansai by Commodity(2023)

Mineral fuels
1.2%
Foodstuffs
1.5%

Others13.5%

Rawmaterials
1.6%
Transportationequipment
4.4%

Electric
appliances
26.2%

Export Total Approx.
21.1trillion yen
Manufactured
goods
14.1%

Chemicalproduct
15.0%

Transportationequipment
1.7%

Others
17.9%

Raw materials
4.9%

Electric appliances
15.1%

Export Total Approx.
19.0 trillion yen

Chemicalproducts
15.0%

Machinery
9.5%
Machinery
22.6%

Foodstuffs
Manufactured
10.3%
goods
10.6%

Mineral fuels
14.9%（Source）“Trade Statistics FY２０２3（reconfirmed Report）" , Ministry of Finance Trade Statistics“Trade Statistics Kinki Area Appendix" (2023) （reconfirmed Report）, Osaka Customs-“Tsuruga Customs Branch Jurisdiction (Fukui Prefecture) Appendix" (2023)

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

８

３ Attractive Industries, Great Intellectual Cluster

3-１

Diverse Industries in a Diverse Region

Industrial field by region in Kansai
関西の地域別産業集積

Composition ratio (%) of Kansai’s (nominal)
GDP by industry

Fukui
⚫
⚫

⚫

⚫

Electrical machinery and equipment manufacturingindustry (consumer electrical machinery, etc.)
Glass and product manufacturing industry

Kyoto
⚫
⚫

A variety of industrial fields are concentrated in Kansai, fromupstream to downstream, including materials, parts processing,and cutting-edge product manufacturing.

Lacquerware manufacturing industry
Textile industry (knit fabric manufacturing industry,dyeing arrangement industry)

Shiga

Electronic component / device / electronic circuit
manufacturing industry
Textile industry (dyeing and sorting industry, textile
industry)

Osaka“We can make anything”: a manufacturing industry hub

Others23%
Transport&p
ostal
services
5%

Professional,scientific&t
echnical,and businesssupport services
8%

Manufacturing
23%

National share of manufactured goods shipments

Publicadministration,education,humanhealth,and social
work activities
17%
Real estate
12%

Wholesale&retaili
ng
12%

Textile industry（2８.0%）

Chemical industry（19.7%）

Tanned leather,tanned leather
product, furmanufacturingindustry（27.1%）

Steel（22.3%）

Metal productmanufacturingindustry（21.8%）

Machinery andequipment
manufacturingindustry for general
purpose（30.6%）

Electricalmachinery andequipment
manufacturingindustry（20.1%）

Manufacture of
production
machinery（28.6%）(Source)“2022 Census of Manufacture Regional Statistics Table”, METI

(Source) “Report on Prefectural Accounts” ,by the Cabinet Office（FY201９)*Note:Figures in parentheses indicate Kansai’s share of the national total⚫
⚫
⚫

Other service industry
Various product wholesale businesses, etc.
Transportation machinery and equipment
manufacturing industry

Hyogo
⚫
⚫

Tanned leather, tanned leather product, furmanufacturing industry (Tanned leather
manufacturing industry, bag manufacturing industry)
General-purpose machinery and equipment
manufacturing industry (boiler / prime mover
manufacturing industry)

Nara
⚫
⚫

Fur manufacturing
Textile industry (Kimono (Japanese clothing) / otherclothing manufacturing industry, knit fabricmanufacturing industry)

Wakayama⚫
⚫
⚫

Textile industry (knit fabric manufacturing industry)
Textile machinery manufacturing industry
Petroleum product / coal product manufacturingindustry (lubricating oil / grease manufacturingindustry)

Companies with high global share are concentrated in Kansai

Kansai is home to a large number of
excellent companies, including those thathave thrived in niche sectors of the global
market and those dealing in parts andmaterials,
which
are
becoming
more
important in the supply chain amid changes
in the international situation.

In Kansai, there are many other small andmedium-sized enterprises withinternationally recognized technicalcapabilities, making it easy to findcollaborative partners.

Hokkaido, Tohoku
3%

Kyushu, Okinawa
3%

Chugoku, Shikoku
9%

Chubu
18%

Kanto
40%

Kansai
27%（Source）2020 Global Niche Top Companies Selection 100 List by METI
(Source) Based on the data of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications “2016 (Heisei28) Economic Census Activity Survey", theindustries with high employee number specialization coefficient are listed (created by
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kansai Bureau).

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

９

３ Attractive Industries, Great Intellectual Cluster

3-２

University/Research Institute Clusters⚫ Kansai is home to a cluster of prestigious universities and research institutions.

⚫ Distinctive R&D bases have been formed and a large number of prestigious universities are clustered in the region. As
such, domestic and international industry-university cooperation is in progress.

Main research and development bases and overseas institutions under industryuniversity cooperation in Kyoto , Osaka , Hyogo-Kobe【Saito（International Culture Park）】＜Life Science Park＞
National Institutes of Biomedical
Innovation, Health andNutrition/NIBIOHN
Bio-Incubator (in cooperation with Osaka
University, etc.)
Japanese Red Cross Kinki Block Blood
CenterVarious companies’ R&D facilities

Osaka
University

Overseas institutions
under industry-university
cooperation in Kansai

Industry-University joint research amountIn terms of monetary amount, 25% of industry-university
joint research throughout Japan is conducted in Kansai, andthe amount of money received per research project is larger
than the national average.

Oxford University Innovation/ OUI Japan office

Industry－university joint research acrossthe nation（Value-basis）

Swissnex in Japan

Kansai2５％

Kobe
University【Harima Science Garden City】＜Large-scale researchfacilities＞
SPring-8/SACLA

SPring-8/SACLA ⓒRIKEN

Kyoto
University（Source） The Keihanna Science City

【The Keihanna Science City】＜City of knowledge creation that is paving the way
to the future＞
Cluster of over 150 public and corporate research institutes
Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth/
RITE
Advanced Telecommunications Research InstituteInternational/ ATR
National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology/ NICTThe National Institutes for Quantum Science andTechnology / QST

The amount of money received
per research project

KansaiJapan【Kobe Medical Industry Development Project】＜Largest Class Medical Bio Cluster in Japan＞

4,113

3,218
（thousand yen）

Cluster of approx. 350 state-of-the-art medical
research institutes, advanced specialty hospitals,
companies, and universities
RIKEN, supercomputer Fugaku（Source）”Implementation status of industry-university cooperation and performance of
joint research（on an institution-by-institution basis）“ Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology （FY2021）

supercomputer Fugaku ⓒRIKENINVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

１０

４ Diversity of Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai

４-１Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai⚫ U.S. and European companies comprise the largest portion of foreign-affiliated companies in Kansai. Asian companies also
comprise 30% which is larger than the national average of 20%.
⚫ By type of industry, foreign-affiliated companies in the manufacturing sector （machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
precision machinery, etc.） comprise approximately 31% of the industry, a significantly larger percentage compared to thenational average of 20.7%.

Companies by region (2023)

Companies by industry（2023）

Other Wholesale
14%

Other areas
3%

Others26%

North America
23%

Total 22５

Steel and metal wholesale
3%

Europe44%

Electrical machinery3%

Machinery wholesale
13%

Total 22５
Chemicals
6%

Asia
30%

transportation equipment
wholesale
3%
Precision machinerywholesale3%
Electrical machinerywholesale
3%

Other services
6%
Machinery6%

Chemicals wholesale
Other manufacturing Information,systems,softw
4%
are
5%
5%

（Source）”Foreign Companies Database 2023” ,Toyo Keizai Inc*Foreign-affiliated: Foreign capital of 20% or more (including branch offices, etc.)

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

１１

４ Diversity of Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai

４-２

Examples of Foreign-Affiliated Companies in Kansai
Company name

Field

Location baseParentcompany
nationality

Company name

Field

Locationbase

Parentcompany
nationality

Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd

Pharmaceutical

Shiga, Osaka

Germany

USJ LLC.

Leisure, entertainment

Osaka

USA

AstraZeneca K.K.

Pharmaceutical

Shiga, OsakaUK

Nestlé Japan Ltd.

Foodstuff

Osaka, Hyogo

Switzerland

Abbott Japan LLC

Pharmaceutical

Kyoto, Osaka,
Hyogo

USA

Tata Consultancy Services Japan

Consulting

Osaka

India

ELI LILLY JAPAN K.K.

Pharmaceutical

Hyogo

USA

Plug and Play Japan

Other service

Kyoto, Osaka

USA

ICON Clinical Research GK

Other service

Osaka

IrelandTÜV Rheinland Japan Ltd.

Other service

Osaka

Germany

BASF Japan Ltd.

ChemicalOsaka, Hyogo

Germany

AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha

Other service

Osaka

USA

P&G Japan Limited

ChemicalShiga, Osaka,
Hyogo

USA

Svanehøj Japan LLC

Other wholesalers

Hyogo

Denmark

RECARO Japan Co., Ltd.

Transport equipment/
Precision mechanicalequipment

Shiga

Germany

Caterpillar Japan LLC

Machinery Wholesale

Fukui, Shiga,
Kyoto, Osaka,
Hyogo, Nara,
Wakayama

USA

Osaka

China

（Source）”Foreign Companies Database 2023”
Toyo Keizai Inc. and the company data obtained from JETRO and O-BIC＊The companies listed here have their HQ, a sales base or a research institute in Kansai.

Haier Japan Sales Co., Ltd.

Electrical equipment
wholesale

Diesel Japan Co., Ltd.

Textile and clothing
wholesale

Osaka

Italy

IKEA Japan K.K.

Other wholesale

Osaka, Hyogo

Netherlands

Gripple Japan K.K.

Other wholesale

Hyogo

UK

Salesforce Japan Co.,Ltd.

Information/
Systems/Software

Prefecture names in the table indicate the location of bases in the Kansai area.
(Underlined: the prefecture where the head office in Japan is located)
Country/region names in the table indicate the location of the parent company.

○The website of the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry features interviews withforeign-affiliated companies operating in Kansai.

Examples of foreign-affiliated companies in Kansai
https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/3-1toukou/invest_kansai/en/e_companies.html

Osaka, Wakayama

USA

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

１２

５ Growth Industries in Kansai

５-1

Green Innovation（Storage Batteries）⚫

Kansai is a major base for development and production in storage battery industries such as lithium-ion batteries and Redox Flow Batteries using vanadium.

⚫

The industrial cluster consists of battery manufacturers and related component/material and device manufacturers, whose shipments account for more than 30%of the national market share.

⚫

The Kansai region is home to a cluster of production bases, including many manufacturers of storage batteries and manufacturing equipment as well as suppliersof components , backed by the technology cultivated in traditional industries such as textiles.

Many lithium-ion battery production bases are locatedin Kansai!

Examples of companies working on next-generation storage batteries

Automotive (and consumer/industrial, etc.) Lithium-ion battery production baseConsumer/Industrial Lithium-ion battery production base
KYOCERA Corporation
Blue Energy Co., Ltd.

GS Yuasa
Corporation
Prime Planet
Energy &Solutions, Inc.

Maxell, Ltd.
Vehicle Energy
Japan Inc.

Panasonic EnergyCo., Ltd.

１８６５

２１７０

４６８０

Scheduled to be producedat Wakayama Plant

A production facility for new automotive
lithium-ion batteries(4680) will be installed at
the Wakayama Plant, with mass production
scheduled to begin in FY202４.

Panasonic EnergyCo., Ltd.

Long-life, High-safety Storage Battery “Redox Flow Battery”
The company develops and manufactures Redox Flow Battery, which
stabilize the power grid, achieve load leveling through power peakshifting, and enhance power resilience, all of which are necessary to
expand the introduction of renewable energy.

(Source)Survey by METI, Battery association of Japan
compiled based on private-public consultative meeting materials

Consortium for Lithium-Ion Battery Technology and
Evaluation Research Center (LIBTEC)“Kansai Storage Battery Human Resource
Development Consortium” established
Together with the Battery Association of Japan (BAJ) and the Battery Association for
Supply Chain (BASC), the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry has establishedthe “Kansai Storage Battery Human Resource Development Consortium,” comprisingindustry, academia and government, with the aim of developing and securing humanresources that meet industry needs and achieving the storage battery industry strategy.
We are working on making battery training more concrete.

▲Equipped with prototype andevaluation equipment

National LABoratory for advanced energy storage technologies（NLAB）
World‘s Largest Thermostatic "Large Storage Battery System Test and
Evaluation” Facility
Compatible with container-sized storage battery systems
The NLAB, located in Suminoe-ku, Osaka, can safely handle combustion,
explosion, and toxic gases generated during the testing of lithium-ion
batteries, allowing the testing and evaluation of large storage battery
systems to be conducted in NLAB’s indoor type testing facility, regardlessof weather conditions. Various other functional tests such as seismic wave,
transportation vibration, nail penetration, and drop tests are also available.
Additionally, in order to test for the next generation battery such as all
solid-state battery the test facilities were enhanced in March 2024.

To assist companies in developing new materials forlithium-ion batteries, the consortium creates standard
battery models in line with battery market trends, createsmaterial evaluation methods, and performs evaluation
analysis. Thirty-five companies, including battery
manufacturers, material chemical companies, andautomotive companies, are involved as members.

Industry

Academia

Curriculum
development,
education

Clarifying required human resources(skills, volume, timing, etc.)
Cooperation in curriculum development

Government

Deliberations onnecessary policies, etc.

LIBTEC Director-General Dr. Yoshino Akira
・2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
・ Graduated from the Graduate Schools of Engineering
at Kyoto University and Osaka University
・ Honorary Fellow, Asahi Kasei Corporation

Textbooks and video
materials（image）

Kansai Battery Human Resources Development Consortium Website
https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/3jisedai/battery/consortium.html

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

1３

5 Growth Industries in Kansai

5-2Green Innovation (Hydrogen)⚫ Kansai is home to many manufacturing companies, including heavy industries in port areas, and has high potential for the demand andsupply of hydrogen.
⚫ Various companies in Kansai are developing technologies in the hydrogen field by using their core technologies and are leading thecountry in many hydrogen-related demonstration projects.
Current projects for public implementation of hydrogen in various parts of Kansai

Port areas in Kansai working toward carbon neutrality■
Kobe Port

Tsuruga area

The world's first facility capable of consistently validating technologies from hydrogenproduction to power generation is now in operation〇Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture
In order to achieve the early commercialization of hydrogen power generation, MHI has
established the Takasago Hydrogen Park within its Takasago Machinery Works, wheredevelopment, design, manufacturing, and validation facilities are located. The park is
the world’s first facility for consistently validating technologies from hydrogenproduction to power generation, in which hydrogen production tests and hydrogen
power generation tests at a large-scale validation facility are currently conducted.
Provided by HySTRA■

Liquid hydrogen carrier and cargohandling base

The first renewable hydrogen station in
the Hokuriku region

Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture

Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture

Demonstration of an international liquid hydrogen supply chain model〇Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. × Iwatani Corporation × Shell Japan Ltd.
Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
The CO₂-free Hydrogen Energy Supply-chain Technology Research Association (HySTRA)
has successfully conducted a technology demonstration using the world’s first liquidhydrogen carrier “Suiso Frontier” to transport liquid hydrogen, including hydrogen
derived from brown coal, from Australia to Japan, and unload it at the liquid hydrogencargo handling terminal “Hy touch Kobe” (Kobe City).

Provided by HySTRA■ Japan’s first commercial liquid hydrogen production plant
Harima coastal area

〇Hydro Edge Co., Ltd. Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture

Osaka coastal area

Hydro Edge began commercial operation in 2006 as Japan’s first commercial liquidhydrogen production plant, contributing to a stable supply of liquid hydrogen in the
country. Expansion work was carried out in 2020, and the plant’s annual liquidhydrogen production capacity has reached 60 million m3, making it the largest plant of
its kind in Japan.

■ Demonstration of RE100 solutions using hydrogen〇Panasonic Corporation Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Provided by The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated

Plaｎned site for a hydrogen power
generation demonstration project

Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Hydrogen/Ammonia SC
construction

Large-scale domestic production of
e-methane using captured CO2 fromexhaust gas and green hydrogen

Osaka Prefecture

Panasonic’s H2 KIBOU FIELD is a demonstration facility for “RE100 solutions”, in which
aiming to use 100% of the power for site operations generated from renewable
resources by using a self-sustaining power system that combines 99 5-kW purehydrogen fuel cell generators and photovoltaic generators (approx. 570 kW) as well as
lithium-ion storage batteries (approx. 1.1 MWh). It has been in operation since April 15,2022.

■ Hydrogen fuel cell ship in action at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan■

Data collection of hydrogen-related companies in Kansai
We have compiled data showing examples of companies based in
Kansai that have entered the hydrogen field.
https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/51shiene/smart_energy_initiative/hydrogen_data/00_zentai_english.pdf(PDF booklet)〇Iwatani Corporation Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
A hydrogen fuel cell ship runs on hybrid power of electricity generated by fuel cells andplug-in power. It uses only hydrogen and oxygen from the air, and emits zero CO₂ during
operation. At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the first passenger service on a hydrogenfuel cell ship in Japan is scheduled to operate (from Nakanoshima Gate to Universal City
Port to the Expo 2025 venue).

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

14

５ Growth Industries in Kansai

５-3Life Science Innovation⚫ Since Kansai has long been a center of medicine, it is home to many pharmaceutical company headquarters, foreign-affiliated companies, and medical
equipment manufacturers closely working with each other.
⚫ Various industrial clusters have been formed in each area, centered around Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, and these are concentrated compactly within a
travel distance of about 30 minutes to an hour.
⚫ World-leading research, including clinical research and trials applying iPS cell technology, as well as efforts toward its practical application andindustrialization are actively carried out.

World-leading industry-academia accumulation /Kansai Life Science Cluster

A large cluster of pharmaceutical company
headquarters

Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.

Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

（Osaka Prefecture/Osaka City）

KENTO（ National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center ）Concentration of research and development bases
and core institutions
Ｋａｎｓａｉ Ｂｒａｎｃｈ of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency(PMDA)

Kansai Branch of Japan Agency for Medical Research andDevelopment（AMED）

Formation of a cluster for health and medical related industries（ Osaka Prefecture ）Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University

Osaka University
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)【Saito（International Culture Park）】＜Life Science Park＞

2
ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.

National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and
KOBE Biomedical Innovation Cluster

Nutrition National Institute of Biomedical Innovation

2

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Drug
Discovery Strategy Department, Western Japan Headquarters

Kyoto City
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

1

RIKEN

（Kyoto Prefecture/Kyoto City）
Kyoto City Life Innovation
Promotion Strategy（Kyoto City）

Kobe City

Medical equipment manufacturers concentrated
in this area

3
Kyoto University

Osaka City

Center for iPS Cell Research andApplication, Kyoto University（CiRA）

RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research（BDR）

A large cluster of pharmaceutical company
headquarters

NIPRO CORPORATION

AstraZeneca K.K.

OMRON Corporation

Eli Lilly Japan K.K.

SHIMADZU CORPORATION

Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd.

SYSMEX CORPORATIONICON（Hyogo Prefecture/Kobe City）

3

KOBE Biomedical Innovation Cluster（Kobe City)
Kobe University

1

5
RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)

Center for iPS Cell Research and Application,
Kyoto University（CiRA）

Kansai２８.３％

Life Sciences Related Projects
University (Medicine, Pharmacy)
KOBE Biomedical Innovation Cluster

Research and Development Facilities

Share of production value in quasi-drugindustry（Source） METI-KANSAI“Kansai Life Science Cluster”

Share of products manufactured and shippedin the pharmaceutical industry

Japan
71.７％

Kansai
2２.６％（Source）”Statistics of Production by Pharmaceutical Industry”
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (FY202２）
production of quasi-drugs, import, shipment, and inventory value by region

Japan
7７.４％

(Source) “Census of Manufacture Area Statistics Table” Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry (FY202２)

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

1５

６ Well-equipped Business / Living Environment

６-１

Comfortable Working and Living Environment
Low cost

International schools (International Baccalaureate-accredited
schools)■Office rent

There are 20 International Baccalaureate-accredited schools in Kansai.
Graduates of those high schools obtain university admissions qualification in
Japan and many other countries around the world.

Chubu
８

241 227
88

74

Soul

Osaka

San Francisco

Paris

Tokyo

Singapore

LondonHong Kong

New York

Beijing

213

179

Shiga１,Kyoto４,Osaka９,Hyogo５,Nara１

73
Chugoku・Shikoku
１６International Baccalaureate

Kanto
６９

An educational program implemented in over 5,700 schools in morethan 159 countries and regions around the world to cultivate the skills
and abilities needed to respond to globalization*The number of schools counted by program

Kansai20(Source) Website of the MEXT consortium for promotion of IB education in Japan
https://ibconsortium.mext.go.jp/about-ib/school/

The Global Liveability Index 2023

■Personnel expenses
235

Number of International Baccalaureateaccredited schools in Kansai

Hokkaido・Tohoku
９164
118 110 100
97

Kyusyu・Okinawa
７

Osaka was ranked the 10th most livable city worldwide in 2023 （overall rating）.
Osaka has been ranked in the top 10 four times over the past five years, and its
stability and healthcare in particular are highly rated.

152
100 9375

69

67

City Name

OverrallratingStability

Healthcare

Culture&Environment

Education

Infrastructure1Vienna

98.4

100.0

100.0

93.5

100.0

100.0

2

Copenhagen

98.0

100.0

95.8

95.4

100.0

100.0

9

Toronto

96.5

100.0

100.0

94.4

100.0

89.3

10

Osaka

96.0

100.0

100.0

86.8

100.0

96.4

10

Auckland

96.0

100.0

100.0

86.8

100.0

96.4

33
Beijing

Soul

Hong Kong

Singapore

Osaka

Tokyo

LondonParis

New York

San Francisco

Ranking(Source) JETRO Investment Cost Comparison Model Case (Cost Estimate Guide)
Comparison with each city with the cost in Tokyo set at 100（Source） “The Global Liveability Index 2023”, The Economist*Based on 2021

＊Note: Maximum index of 100

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

1６

６ Well-equipped Business / Living Environment

６-2Kansai is one of the locations where international conferences are hosted in any other areas of Asia⚫

Kansai has international conference halls representing Japan, and Kansai is Asia’s leading international conference
location.
Japan hosted the largest number of international conferences in Asia and Oceania in 2022, of which approximately 20%
were hosted in Kansai.

⚫
⚫

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will be held in Yumeshima, Osaka.
Kobe International
Conference Center

Number of international conferences held in Asiaand Oceania（2022)

228

Kyoto

Kyoto International
Conference Center*Top 10 countries/regions

162
118 109

JPN

KOA

AUS

101 90

CHN

SGP

TWN

81

THA

69

68

MYS

IND

Kobe

Provided by Kobe City
Provided by Kyoto International Conference Center

43

IDN

Osaka

Number of international conferences hosted by
Japanese cities （2019）

City name

NumberDomestic
rankingInt'lranking

Tokyo

131

1

10

Kyoto

67

2

35

Kobe

35

3

82

Fukuoka

28

4

108

Sapporo

25

5

117

Osaka

21

6

143

Yokohama

21

6

143

Nagoya19

8

159

Sendai

17

9

176

Nara

14

10

203

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai,
Japan

Osaka International
Convention Center（Grand Cube Osaka）
Japan’s biggest international
exhibition space,
INTEX Osaka

Provided by
Osaka Prefectural
Government

Provided by INTEX Osaka「KANSAI MICE PLANNER’S GUIDE」
In order to promote the visit of overseas businessdelegations to various parts of Kansai and to attract more
visitors, the guide provides information on support for theholding of MICE, conference facilities, and unique venues
in the Keihanshin area.

３

202
３

・
・https://www.fuku（Source） “Country & City Rankings”, “2019 ICCA Statistics Report

Pictures provided by
Japan Association for the 2025 World Expositione.com/buhttps://www.fukusiness/convention

10 000
TEL: 06 23
20181 FA
Mail: fukui22
10:
fukuioya 0 6 23 3
15
：8:30
do.com1 :15（
・・

e.com/

6/support/index.ht
ml

１

2

）

300

KANSAIMICE

PLANNER S GUIDEINVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

1７

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-1

Support Systems for Foreign Investment in Kansai⚫ The JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center offers a variety of support services, including providing informationand individual consultations, to foreign companies planning to expand their business in Kansai.
⚫ The Council for INVEST KANSAI, made up of the Kansai Economic Federation, JETRO Osaka, the Federation of Chambersof Commerce and Industry in the Kansai Area (Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and Kansai Bureau of
Economy, Trade and Industry, is working in tandem to support foreign investment in Kansai.

First points of contact for Kansai

Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC)JETRO, an organization for attracting foreign direct investment in Japan, provides acomprehensive support service to help foreign companies to locate in Japan and expand
their business in the Japanese market by providing information on the Japanese businessenvironment, identifying companies interested in direct investment in Japan, and assistingthem in establishing a base of operations and expanding their business in Japan.

Contact points to support investment in Japan are available in eachprefecture around Kansai.

Osaka

JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center, Osaka （JETRO IBSC Osaka） Address: Osaka-Kokusai Bldg.
29F, 2-3-13, Azuchi-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 541-0052
TEL: +81-6-4705-8660 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/osaka

Hyogo

JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center, Kobe（ JETRO IBSC Kobe）
Address: Kobe C.I.T. Center Bldg. 4F, 5-1-14 Hamabedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-6591
TEL：+81-78-231-3081 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/kobe

Fukui

JETRO Fukui
Address: Fukui CCI Bldg.6F, 2-8-1, Nishikida, Fukui 918-8004
TEL：+81-776-33-1661 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/fukui

Shiga

JETRO Shiga
Address: Hikone CCI 1F, 3-8 Chuo-cho, Hikone, Shiga 522-0063
TEL：+81-749-21-2450 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/shiga

Kyoto

JETRO Kyoto
Address: Kyoto Keizai Center Bld.3F,78,Kankoboko-cho, Shijo-dori, Muromachi-higashi-iru, Shimogyoku, Kyoto 600-8009
TEL：+81-75-341-1021 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/kyoto

Nara

JETRO Nara
Address: Nara CCI 4F, 8-33 saidaiji minami machi,Nara,Nara 631-0824
TEL：+81-742-88-0070 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/nara/

Wakayama

JETRO Wakayama
Address: Wakayama Prefectural Office Higashi-Bekkan 2F, 1-1, Komatsubaradori, Wakayama City,
Wakayama 640-8269
TEL：+81-73-425-7300 URL： https://www.jetro.go.jp/jetro/japan/wakayama

IBSC provides support for foreign/foreign-affiliated companies toenter the Japanese market and establish a base of operations after theirarrival in Japan. It also offers services to foreign-affiliated companies
that have already established a presence in Japan for business expansion,
such as increasing headcount, expanding operations to regional areas,and establishing new offices.

The Council for INVEST KANSAIThe Council for INVEST KANSAI provides support such asproviding information on investment incentives, factory
locations etc., as well as finding business partners with local
governments, regional business communities and specialists.
Foreign-affiliatedcompanies

Kansai Economic
Federation

ＩＢＳＣ
JETRO Osaka

Ｃｏｕｎｃｉｌ for INVEST KANSAI
Federation of Chambersof Commerce andIndustry in the Kansai
Area (secretariat is
Osaka Chamber ofCommerce and Industry)

METI-KANSAIThe Kansai Bureau of
Economy, Trade andIndustry (METIKANSAI)

HP“INVEST KANSAI WEB”
https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/31toukou/invest_kansai/en/e_index.html

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

１８

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-2

Support for Foreign Investment in Japan ｂｙ Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe
In Kansai, foreign investment support organizations belonging to local governments offer various kinds of one-stop
services.
Major support organizations for investment in Japan in Kyoto,
Osaka, Kobe

We are working as a one-stop service center with a meticulous support systemthat provides necessary information and accurate advice to foreign companies,
foreign embassies, and economic organizations wishing to set up operations in
Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, as well as to foreign companies in Japan wishing to set up
secondary operations in these cities.

KANSAI

Kyoto

Kyoto Overseas Business Center
Address: Kyoto Keizai Center Bld.3F,78 Shijyo-dori Muromachi-higashiiru,
kankobokocho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8009
TEL：+81-75-366-4364 075-366-4364 URL： https://www.kyoto-obc.jp/en/

Osaka

Osaka Business and Investment （O-BIC）
C/O International Division, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
2-8 Hommachibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0029
TEL: +81-6-6944-6298 URL： https://o-bic.net/

Osaka

Osaka International Business Promotion Center
International Affairs Department (IBPC Osaka)Intex Osaka 2F, 1-5-102 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-Ku, Osaka 559-0034
TEL : +81-6-6615-7130 URL： https://www.ibpcosaka.or.jp/en/

Kobe

Hyogo-Kobe Investment Support Center
Kobe Commerce, Industry and Trade Center Bldg 4F
5-1-14, Hamabe-dori,Chuo-ku,Kobe, Hyogo-pref., 651-0083
TEL: +81-78-271-8400 URL：https://hyogo-kobe.jp/his/en/top-english/

Fukui
Kyoto Overseas BusinessCenter(Kyo-OBC)

Kobe Investment
Support Center (HKIS)

Kyoto
Hyogo

Osaka
Nara

Wakayama

Kyoto Overseas
Business Center

O-BIC

IBPC
Osaka

Hyogo-Kobe
Investment
Support Center

Visa acquisition
support

○

○

×

×

Expert support

○

○

○

○

×

○

Shiga

Arrangingbusinessmeetings*Exhibition participation support○*In collaboration with
JETRO and Kobe City×○

Introduction ofbusiness
properties○○★In addition to the usual
property introductions, we
also offer rental offices for
up to six months free ofcharge as a base forpreparing for businessexpansion.

Support for
securing humanresources

×

○

○

○
○
*Employment subsidy

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

１９

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-3⚫

Support Programs for Foreign Investment by the Japanese Government

Incentives for foreign/foreign-affiliated companies
Act for Promotion of Japan as an Asian Business Center (Act on Special Measures for the Promotion of Research and Development Business, etc. by Specified Multinational
Enterprises )OutlinePreferential measures, including shortened investment procedures, are available for global businesses planning to set up a company in Japan to conduct new
R&D projects and business operations. <Application can be filed in English>

Assistance for fund raisingSpecific efforts

Details and latest
information
For Inquiries⚫

Fundraising assistance offered by Small and Medium Business Investment & Consultation Co., Ltd. （Also applicable toincorporated companies with capital of 300 million yen or more） ＊Applicable only to SMEs

Acceleration of patentexaminations

Accelerating patent application screening and proceedings[about 22 months in ordinary cases → shortened to about 2 months] (FY2011 actual)

Shortened investment
procedures

Shortened screening period of advance notifications of direct inward investment, etc. in industries subject to regulations[30 days in ordinary cases → shortened to 2 weeks]

Acceleration of status ofresidency examinations

Accelerating screening for the Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence applied by foreign nationals who intend towork in Japan [Ordinarily 1 month → shortened to about 10 days]

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Promotion of foreign direct investment in Japan, Act for Promotion of Japan as an Asian Business Center
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/external_economy/investment/act_information.html

Investment Facilitation Division, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau,
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
TEL：03-3501-1662

Action Plan for Attracting Human and Financial Resources from Overseas

Outline

Details and latest
information

The Government of Japan adopted the Action Plan for Attracting Human and Financial Resources from Overseas at the Council for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japanon April 26, 2023. It also established the Task Force for Attracting Human and Financial Resources from Overseas, which follows up on the progress of the initiatives of relevant
government ministries and agencies, identifies issues and international barriers in terms of systems, assists in the operation of the Council for Promotion of Foreign Direct
Investment in Japan, and coordinates with relevant government ministries and agencies.
＜Specific Undertakings＞
1. Stimulating investment in strategic sectors and restructuring global supply chains in light of the changes in the international environment
2. Strategies for the formation of Asia’s largest startup hub
3. Attracting highly skilled foreign professionals, and improving the system for establishing a center for global knowledge exchange
4. Improving the business and living environment to attract human resources and investment from overseas
5. Fundamentally strengthening all-Japan’s efforts for the mechanism to attract investment and to follow up this Action Plan, and globally disseminating these undertakings on theoccasion of the G7 and other international events

Cabinet Office Invest Japan Council for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan,
https://www.cao.go.jp/invest-japan/en_index.html* For information on other incentives, etc., see JETRO’s website.
JETRO https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/support_programs.html
JETRO

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２０

10 Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments

Fukui＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.
Name of support systems

FinancingprogramFinancing to promote establishment ofcorporate sites

Corporate attraction subsidy（facility maintenance subsidy）
Subsidy
programTax cuts

Period ofapplication

Contents
Low interest loan for the companies located in the prefecture and hiring citizens of theprefecture（interest rate: 1.5% or less per year）

Period ofapplication

limit amount
JPY ¥500 million（JPY ¥1 billion
if specially approved）

Assistance for equipment acquisition of companies that can cooperate with prefectural projects.
（Subsidy amount: 25% investment /No employment requirements）-

JPY ¥1 billion

Subsidy for equipment acquisition related to general manufacturing industry and advanced
technology industry （subsidy amount 10 to 20% of acquisition）-

JPY ¥1 billion

Subsidy for equipment acquisition and new employment related to head office functions（including test research） （subsidy rate 25%）-

JPY ¥300 million

Subsidy for attracting companies （subsidy forbusiness activity costs）

Subsidy for product transportation costs for new locations in the advanced technology industry（subsidy rate 10-50%）

3 years

JPY ¥100 million
per year

Office invitation subsidy＊Support with the municipalities that have thesystemExpenses related to office opening and operation are subsidized. （50% for land and building
rent, etc., communication line fee 100%）

3 years

JPY ¥15 million

Regional Future Investment Promotion Law

Machinery / equipment: 40% special depreciation, 4% tax reduction for building, etc. .: 20% special depreciation, 2% tax reduction for real estate
acquisition tax exemption

Message from Fukui Prefecture
Our prefecture has a comprehensive support system for companies with an environment that encourages young people and women to work, and for offices that accept“U/I-turners.”
The transportation network will be further strengthened with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Fukui and Tsuruga on March 16, 2024 and the openingof the Chubu Jukan Expressway in spring 2026.
We are also currently developing a new prefectural industrial park, and will do our utmost to support companies that are considering investing or expanding into rural
areas with generous incentives.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.
〈 Contact desk 〉
Fukui Prefecture Department of Business,
Industry and Labor Business Attraction Division Corporate Location
TEL 0776-20-0375 FAX 0776-20-0678
Mail k-yuchi@pref.fukui.lg.jp“Fukui Prefecture Business Location Guide”

Fukui mascot "Hapilyu"（center） and his brothers

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２１

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments

Shiga＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.
Name of support systems

Contents

Period of application

limit amount

Business start-up subsidy

This incentive subsidizes companies' expenses for efforts to secure
human resources and improve the operating environment due to newcapital investment in the prefecture.

There are regulations for each
initiative （please contact usfor details）

Subsidy limit of JPY ¥5 million in a
fiscal year （in the case of a joint
project by multiple businesses:
JPY ¥7.5 million）

Industrial Location Strategy Promotion Subsidy

Subsidize part of the costs for setting up headquarters, factories,
research and development facilities, etc. in growth sectors－

JPY ¥1 billion（Capital investment：JPY ¥900
million , public health facilities：
JPY ¥100 million）

Subsidy for promoting information and communicationsindustry locations

Subsidize part of the rent, communication fees, etc. required for
information and communications businesses from outside theprefecture to set up new offices, etc. within Shiga Prefecture－

JPY ¥6.5 million

Maximum 8 years

No ruleSubsidy
program

Subsidies for Businesses Establishing New Facilities Near
Nuclear Power Plants

Assistance with electric power bills paid under the contract for the
supply of power to new and added business facilities（Only applicable to specific areas and projects）

Uneven taxation of real estate acquisition tax

Real estate acquisition tax exemption [Act on Strengthening a Framework for Regional Growth and Development by Promoting Regional
Economy Advancement Projects]

Uneven taxation of business tax, exemption from anduneven taxation of real estate acquisition tax

In the target areas and businesses, business tax will be unevenly taxed for three years, and real estate acquisition tax will be exempted andunevenly taxed.[Regional base strengthening tax system]

Tax cuts

Message from Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture, which is located in the center of the Japanese archipelago, is a node of the three economic zones of Kansai, Chubu, and Hokuriku, and has well-developed
wide-area transportation infrastructure such as highways, making it an excellent prefecture in terms of transportation convenience.
Due to these advantages, this prefecture is rated as one of the leading “manufacturing prefectures” in Japan by companies in various fields such as chemistry, automobiles,
electric appliances, electronic parts, and pharmaceuticals.
There are many development bases with active industry-academia collaboration occurring against the backdrop of the high concentration of diverse university faculties.
In addition, we have set up the “Shiga Prefecture Corporate Location Support Center” in the Investment Promotion Division as a centralized contact point for companies
located in the prefecture to quickly respond to issues in the operating environment and Establishing a new support system to promote capital investment.
Please consider investing in Shiga Prefecture.

"Shiga Prefecture Company Location Guide "https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/richi/english/index.html

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２２

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments
Kyoto City

Kyoto①＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems .
Name of support systems

FinancingprogramContents

Low interest loan （for businesslocation promotion loan for
employment, etc.）

Low interest loan （interest rate （fixed forthe first 10 years）: 1.7% per year, special
interest 1.2%） for "Kyoto Industrial Location
Strategy 21 Special Measures Project Cost
Subsidy" or "Kyoto Prefecture Traditionaland Cultural Manufacturing Industry
Promotion Subsidy"

Kyoto Industrial Location Strategy 21
Special Measures Project Cost Subsidy

When a manufacturing facility, naturalscience research institute, informationrelated entity, etc. establish a base in theprefecture in response to the invitation of
Kyoto Prefecture or municipalities, or whenthe existing factories in the prefecture are
expanded, the amount of capital investment
and the new, regular permanent employment
are subsidized.

Period of application[Equipment funds] Within 15 to 20 years[Working capital] Within 7 years

limit amount

JPY ￥300million-￥2billion

Local
government
who carried out
incentives

Kyoto
Prefecture[Business establishment promotion
subsidy]
JPY ¥0.25 million-￥300 million
5 years including the fiscal year of starting
operation（* Current system must be specified by March
31, 202７）[Subsidy to promote regular
employment within the prefecture]
JPY ¥400 million- ￥800million[Subsidy to promote of improvement ofworking environment]
JPY ¥3 million yen*Increase or decrease depending on the region and thenumber of permanent employees in the prefecture.

Kyoto Prefecture Traditional andCultural Manufacturing Industry
Promotion Subsidy

Subsidized for the amount of capital
investment and the number of new regular
employees in the prefecture for the
traditional and cultural manufacturingindustry located in the prefectural industrial
park "Kyoto Shinkoetsu Village" at theinvitation of Kyoto Prefecture ormunicipalities

5 years including the fiscal year of starting
operation[Business establishment promotion
subsidy]
JPY ¥20 million-200 million[Subsidy to promote regular
employment within the prefecture]
JPY ￥3 million-30 million
Increase or decrease depending on thesite area, etc.

Subsidies for supporting businesses
located near nuclear power plants, etc.

Subsidies based on actual electricity
charges, etc. for companies that have
expanded into new locations or facilities
that generate increased employment.

Maximum 8 years

Electricity benefit + special benefit

2 years

JPY 1００milion

Subsidy
program

Subsidy forpromotingthe locationof rental
businessfacilities

Large-scale officebuilding location
support system

Rental Laboratory
Facility Location
Support Program

Subsidies for the amount of property tax
and city planning tax for new construction
or expansion of a tenant office building witha rental office floor area of 3,000 m2 or
more in the office lab promotion district will
be provided.
Subsidy amount: Equivalent to property tax
and city planning tax

Kyoto
Prefecture

Kyoto City

Subsidies for the amount of property tax
and city planning tax for new and expanded
rental wet labs within the city
Subsidy amount: Equivalent to property tax
and city planning tax

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２３

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments
Kyoto City

Kyoto②＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems .

Name of support systems

Contents

Period of application

Rank A companies certified by the Kyoto City Venture Company
Connoisseur Committee will receive subsidies equivalent toproperty tax and city planning tax as well as the cost of an
excavation survey of buried cultural properties when they
establish new or additional offices.
Subsidy amount: Amount equivalent to property tax and city
planning tax
1/2 of the amount equivalent to the cost of the excavation surveyof buried cultural properties

Tax equivalent subsidies: 2-3 years
Cost of excavation survey of buried
cultural properties:
Only once at the time of implementation（Subsidies equivalent to tax）
JPY 100 million（ buried cultural property
excavation survey）
JPY 25 million

Support programfor first-timebusiness
expansion in thecity

Subsidies will be provided to companies from outside the citysetting up offices, etc. in the city for the first time, based on thenumber of full-time employees living in the city.
Subsidy amount: Number of regular employees living in the city x
up to JPY 200,000

Up to 2 years

Up to JPY 10 million per year
2 years total: Up to
JPY 20 million

Trial location
support program

Subsidies will be provided to companies from outside the city thatare considering setting up operations in the city for the first timeand are using shared offices and coworking spaces in Kyoto on a
trial basis, covering usage and transportation costs.
Subsidy amount: 1/2 of the usage and transportation costs

Maximum 3 months

Usage cost: Up to JPY 250,000
Transportation cost: Up to
JPY 250,000* There is an upper limit
according to the number of days
and users.

Support programfor establishingnew/additional
head offices andplants

Subsidies equivalent to property tax and city planning tax on
newly acquired fixed assets for new expansion of office with
headquarters functions, factories, research institutes,
development bases, etc. in the city.
（20% increase in specific areas such as Rakunan shinto, etc.）
In addition, the cost of excavating buried cultural properties
Subsidy amount: Amount equivalent to property tax and city
planning tax(1/2 of the tax equivalent for large companies)
1/2 of the amount equivalent to the cost of the excavation surveyof buried cultural properties
Additional subsidy is available for companies from outside the citythat are setting up operations in the city for the first time.

(Subsidies equivalent to tax）Middle/small
sized companies: for ２ ３years
Large companies: １year(Subsidies equivalent to tax）
JPY １00million
Large companies:
There is a limit based onincrease of regular employees

Kyoto-type global niche top
enterprise fostering subsidy

Subsidy
program
Kyoto city
firm location
promotion
institutional
subsidyTax cuts

Real estate acquisition tax
reduction measures

limit amount（ buried cultural property excavation
survey）
Only once at the time of sale

Local
government
who carriedoutincentives

Kyoto City（ buried cultural property
excavation survey）
JPY ２５million

When building new factories, etc. in the manufacturing industry
agglomeration promotion area, reduced by up to half on conditionof new employment creation, etc.

when acquiring a house or land forbusiness use

JPY ２00million

Kyoto
Prefecture

Company certified by Kyoto Genki-jirushi certification for SMEs,
receives subsidies real estate acquisition tax on acquisition ofland and houses （factories, research institutes, etc.）is reduced by
１／１０, when acquiring a house or land for business use such as
research and development.

when acquiring a house or land forbusiness use

JPY ２00million

Kyoto
Prefecture

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２４

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments
Kyoto City

Kyoto③＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems .

Message from Kyoto Prefecture

Kyoto, which was once the capital of Japan for more than a thousand years, has developed
many global companies that are active in the world by evolving traditional techniques into
high-tech techniques in addition to traditional industries that utilize the techniques ofcraftsmen that have been passed down from generation to generation.
In recent years, entrepreneurs from Japan and overseas have also opened a series of startup companies and support organizations focusing on the characteristics of Kyoto, including
its abundant human resources as a university city, its agglomeration of cutting-edge
research institutes, and innovation environment.
Kyoto is attracting attention from entrepreneurs from Japan and overseas.
In Kyoto Prefecture, we will support you with our unique support system that is ahead of
the other prefectures,
including exchanges of advanced technology and support for hiring employees!

“Kyoto Prefecture Business Location / Land Information Search Site”
https://www.kyotofuyouchibank.com/

Message from Kyoto City

We promote “Kyo-working,” which refers to “living in Kyoto and working from Kyoto.”
Kyoto has ranked highly in various domestic and international city rankings, and its global
reputation can be a powerful driving force for business expansion.
With approximately 150,000 students studying at 36 universities and junior colleges, Kyoto
has great potential in terms of recruitment.
For companies expanding into Kyoto, we offer a wide range of comprehensive, one-stop
support, including helping securing offices, assisting with on-site visits, and holding
collaboration and exchange events with universities, local companies, and students.
Kindly consider setting up a base in Kyoto City.

6 Reasons to Choose Kyoto as a business "Kyo-working “
https://kyo-working.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kyoto-asset-en/

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２5

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Osaka City

Examples of incentives offered by local governments
Sakai City

Osaka①＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.

Name of support systems

FinancingprogramFinancing program

Period of application

Financing the funds required to locate （construct） factories, research facilities, etc. in
the prefecture（handling differs depending on the financial institution）

limit amount

depending on loan options

Local
government who
carried out
incentives
Osaka
Prefecture

Subsidize the cost of acquiring an office for foreign-affiliated companies that havetheir office with headquarters functions in Osaka Prefecture.
（5% of office / equipment, etc.）－

JPY ¥100 million

Subsidize the cost of renting an office to foreign-affiliated companies whose officewith headquarters functions is located in Osaka Prefecture （One-third of the rent, etc）

24 months

JPY ¥60 million

Subsidies for investment in new construction / extension / renovation of factories or R
& D facilities in the designated area－

JPY ¥30 million

Subsidy for corporate business tax（However, only when subsidized for the above investment）－

JPY ¥20 million

Subsidies for Establishing a
Base for Foreign Financial
Companies

Subsidies are provided to foreign financial companies to cover part of the necessary
expenses when they set up a new business office (hereinafter referred to as “baseestablishment") in Osaka City.

After a preliminary survey orbase establishment, by
January 31 of the same
fiscal year

Subsidy for preliminary
survey：JPY ¥ 1.1 million yen
Subsidy for baseestablishment : JPY ¥10million yen

Osaka
Prefecture/
Osaka City

Subsidy for locating head
office functions

Subsidies for building rental fees (up to half the rent) will be provided to businesses(with a domestic business history of 5 years or more) that are newly establishing
offices with head office functions in Osaka City.

24 months

JPY ¥ 1 million per month

Osaka City

Sakai City Corporate
Growth Promotion Subsidy

Subsidize 5% to 15% of subsidized expenses for investment for renewal of head office
functions / R & D facilities and challenge in the growing fields.
Subsidy of JPY ¥200,000 per new resident employee in the city x 3 years

Investment assistance:
Business start year
Employment assistance:
3 years

Subsidy for investment:
JPY ¥100 million
Subsidy for employment:
JPY ¥50 million

Sakai City

Subsidies for establishing
operational offices

When a foreign-affiliated company opens a new office in urban area, 40 to 60% of therent is subsidized.

3 years

JPY ¥5 million

Subsidy for ForeignAffiliated Companies

Subsidy for Investment
Promotion

Subsidy
programContents

Osaka
Prefecture

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２6

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Osaka City

Examples of incentives offered by local governments
Sakai City

Osaka②＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.

Name of support systems

Tax cuts

Contents

Period of application

limit amount

Local government
who carried out
incentives

Tax Incentive System forSpecial Zone for Growing
industries

When entering a special growth zone in the prefecture, receiving approval for a business plan, and conducting business related to new energy andlife science, the maximum prefectural tax is zero （coordination with Osaka City, etc.）

Tax Incentive for Industrial
Cluster

Real estate acquisition tax on acquisition of land and houses （factories, research institutes, etc.） in the industrial agglomeration promotion area isreduced by half （up to JPY ¥200 million）

Special local tax incentive
for foreign financial
companies

For foreign financial companies operating in the asset management or fintech businesses that set up operations in Japan or Osaka City for the firsttime, local taxes (corporate inhabitant tax (prefectural inhabitant tax and municipal inhabitant tax) and corporate business tax) will be reduced to up
to zero (for up to 10 years).

Osaka Prefecture/
Osaka City

City tax incentives under
the Sakai City Innovation
Investment Promotion
Ordinance

City tax incentives under the Sakai City Innovation Investment Promotion Ordinance

Sakai City

Osaka Prefecture

Message from Osaka Prefecture

Message from Osaka City

Message from Sakai City

Global Finance One-Stop Support Center Osaka
In Osaka Prefecture, we provide information on businesssites and subsidies, such as new locations and businessexpansion from Japan and overseas, and support matchingwith partner companies such as business alliances andinvestment.
In the fields of new energy and life science, we support
new business locations and reinvestment by using theprefecture's unique Tax Incentive System for Special Zone
for Growing Industries and other incentives.
Click here for information on various support measures for

As part of efforts to make Osaka an international financial
city, we provide a one-stop service for foreign financial
companies and foreign investors wishing to set up
operations
in Osaka, providing professional advice on financial
licences and consultation on business and daily life.

We also provide consultation on the incentives listed in
the table above.
・Special local tax incentive for foreign financial companies
・Subsidies for Establishing a Base for Foreign Financial
Companiesbusiness location in Osaka
Please see our website
for further details.→

Located almost in the center of the Kansai region, a huge
consumer market with a population of 20 million, Sakai
City is an ideal location for doing business, boasting oneof the largest industrial clusters in the country.
The city implements support measures focused oninvestment in growth industries and research anddevelopment functions, such as enactment of the Sakai
City Innovation Investment Promotion Ordinance, and isseeing a rise in the concentration of large-scale researchfacilities.
The Nakamozu area has opened an innovation exchange
hub called “cha-shitsu,” where entrepreneurs and otherpeople who support the area can gather and interact tocreate new value.

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２7

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments
Kobe City

Hyogo＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.
Name of support systems

Subsidy
programContents

Period ofapplication

limit amount

Local government
who carried out
incentives

Employment subsidy

Subsidy for new employment of full-time workers living in the prefecture (300,000 yen or
600,000 yen per person)－

JPY ￥300 million

Capital investment subsidy

Subsidy for investment related to the acquisition and installation of facilities, equipment, etc.
(3% ,5% or 7%) *Hydrogen:10%－

JPY ￥10 billion

Subsidy for market research cost, etc. (up to 1/2)－

JPY ￥1 million

Subsidy for corporate registration cost, etc. (up to 1/2)－

JPY ￥200,000

3 years

JPY ￥20 million
per year

Hyogo Prefecture,
Kobe City－

20% of tax amountthe relevant fiscal
year

Kobe City

Establishment support subsidy forforeign/foreign-affiliated companies

Hyogo Prefecture

Office rent subsidy for foreign/foreignaffiliated companies

Subsidy for office rent for foreign/foreign-affiliated companies:
Up to 1/2 (1/4 by the prefecture, 1/4 by Kobe City)

Subsidy for transfer of headquartersfrom outside Kobe City （excluding the 23
wards of Tokyo） to the city

Subsidy for acquiring buildings （up to 4% of the acquisition cost）, subsidy for employment（¥300,000 per person）, etc.
＊The 23 wards of Tokyo are subject to the national preferential treatment system.

Reduction of corporate enterprise tax
and real estate acquisition tax

Reduction of corporate enterprise tax by one-third or half for 5 years and reduction of real estate acquisition tax by half （maximum
JPY ¥200 million） for transfer of headquarters from foreign countries and 3 major metropolitan areas or expansion into theprefecture.

Hyogo Prefecture

Reduction of property tax, business tax,
etc.

In the case of strategic industries, property tax, business tax, etc. are reduced by two-thirds for five years （10 years for large-scalespecial cases） （no upper limit） （half for non-strategic industries）

Kobe City

Tax cuts

Message from Hyogo Prefecture

Message from Kobe City

Hyogo Prefecture, where 8８* foreign-affiliated companies are headquartered, provides the“6 Bests" in conjunction with the related organizations such as municipalities in theprefecture and Hyogo-Kobe Investment Support Center, while coordinating with JETRO Kobe
and other national agencies.
*Source: Foreign Companies Directory 2023 (Toyo Keizai Inc.)

English website is here
A wealth of human resources
Excellent transportation access
Provision of financial support

Click here for details

Support for companies that expand into the city

6 Bests

１

２

３

４

５

６

AccessLivingStandards

SafetyFacilities
施 設Start-up
Services

優遇制
Incentives

Kobe City is perfect for doing business.

「Best Portal Zone」

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２8

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments

Nara＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.
Name of support systems

Challenge Fund
【Regional future investment promotion 】

Financingprogram

Challenge Fund
【Accommodation facility development frame】

Start-up capital【Accommodation slots】

Subsidy
programTax cuts

Contents

Period of application

limit amount

Based on the Regional Future Investment Promotion Law, small and mediumsized enterprises can obtain the necessary funds for projects conducted inaccordance with the "Regional Economic Driving Business Plan" approved by
the Governor.
（Guarantee fee: 0.00% （prefecture bears the full amount）, interest rate:interest rate prescribed by financial institutions)）[Equipment funds] Within 15
years（Of which, the deferment
period is within 1 year）[Working capital]
Within 7 years（Of which, the deferment
period is within 1 year）

Maximum JPY ¥280 million（Secured JPY ¥200 million,
unsecured JPY ¥80 million）* Separate from ordinary guarantee

A loan program available to those who are planning to open a lodging facility
in the prefecture or expand or renovate an existing lodging facility in theprefecture and whose business plan has been approved by the governor.
（Guarantee fee: 0-0.9% , interest rate:1.75%(*The prefecture will subsidize
interest up to 2% for five years from the date of loan execution))[Equipment funds] Within 20
years（Of which, the deferment
period is within 1 year）[Working capital]
Within 10 years（Of which, the deferment
period is within 1 year）

Maximum JPY ¥280 million

A loan program available to those who are planning to start a lodging facility inthe prefecture and have their business plan approved by the governor.
（Guarantee fee: 0.00% （prefecture bears the full amount）, interest rate:
0.00% % （prefecture bears the full amount）)[Equipment funds/Working
capital]Within 7 years（Of which, the deferment
period is within 1 year）

Maximum JPY ¥15 million

Subsidy for corporate advancement businesspromotion

Subsidies are provided to companies that set up factories, research institutes,
or specific logistics facilities within the prefecture, or relocate their head
office functions.

－

JPY ¥1 billion

Data Center Location Promotion Subsidy

Subsidies provided to companies that set up data centers－

JPY ¥200 million

Local base strengthening promotion subsidy

Subsidies will be provided to companies that make investments due to therelocation of head office functions from outside the prefecture and the
expansion of head office functions within the prefecture.

－

JPY ¥100 million

Accommodation Facility Location Promotion
Subsidy

Subsidies are provided to businesses that build or renovate inns and hotels
within the prefecture.

－

JPY ¥100 million（The average guest room area is 20
m2 or more and there are 100 or more
guest rooms:JPY ¥200 million）

Real estate acquisition tax, corporate
enterprise tax exemption measures

Real estate acquisition tax exemption, corporate enterprise tax reduction measures （three-quarters usual rate, three years）

Message from Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture, an ideal area for business locations
Generous incentive system / Comfortable and convenient transportation network /Affordable land prices
We support companies in establishing new offices and expanding operations!

Please see here for Nara Prefecture's support measures!

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

２9

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-4

Examples of incentives offered by local governments

Wakayama＊Please contact the local government for details on various support systems.
Name of support systems

Financingprogram

Wakayama Prefecture Corporate Advancement
Promotion Fund Loan System

Period ofapplication

Contents

limit amountLow interest loan to companies advancing in the prefecture and employing
citizens of the prefecture （interest rate: long-term prime rate x 3/4%）

Within 10 years

JPY ¥200 million

Granted to companies that build the designated facilities in the prefectureand employ citizens of the prefecture

3 years

Up to JPY ¥1 billion for 100 or more
employees

Granted up to 10% of the amount of fixed assets invested to designated1 yearUp to JPY ¥9 billion for 1,000 or
more employees

Incentive system （employment incentive）
Subsidy
program
Incentive system （advancement incentive）

Tax cuts

Business tax, real estate acquisition tax, property tax,etc.

companies that employ citizens of the prefecture

Reduction of business tax, real estate acquisition tax, property tax, etc. for up to 3 years in the designated area

Message from Wakayama Prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture actively promotes efforts to attract companies in order to create new industries and employment
opportunities. We listen to the needs of companies and work together with them to quickly and carefully resolve any issues. If
you are interested in expanding your business into Wakayama Prefecture, please feel free to contact the Business Location
Division or the Wakayama Prefecture Tokyo Office.
We promise to provide all our support so that you will be glad to have chosen Wakayama Prefecture.

Click here for Wakayama Prefecture's support measures

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

30

７ Support for Foreign Investment

７-５

Housing Consultation Counter for Foreigners
訪及び在住外国

に対す 生

企

（一例）

Consultation counter for foreigners
A full range of consultation desks for general living support is available in each local
government, such as multilingual status of residence, labor / work, medical care,welfare, and education.
(Public interest incorporated foundation) Fukui
International Association
https://www.f-i-a.or.jp/en/

https://www.yolo-japan.co.jp/

Shiga Foreign Residents Information Center
https://www.s-i-a.or.jp/en/counsel(Public interest incorporated foundation) Kyoto
Prefectural International Center
https://www.kpic.or.jp/english.html(Public interest incorporated foundation) KYOTO
CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
https://www.kcif.or.jp/en(Public interest incorporated foundation) Osaka
Foundation of International Exchange
https://www.ofix.or.jp/english/(Public interest incorporated foundation)
International House, Osaka
https://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/english/(Public interest incorporated foundation) Hyogo
International Association
https://www.hyogo-ip.or.jp/en/index.html(Public interest incorporated foundation) Kobe
International Community Center
https://www.kicc.jp/en

Nara Prefecture International Citizens Center
https://www.pref.nara.jp/65045.htm(Public interest incorporated foundation)
Wakayama International Exchange Center
https://wak-kokusai.jp/en/top_en/

Providing living information for people from overseas
Based on the decision by the Council for the Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment
in Japan, the JETRO website collects and provides living information on hospitals,
banks, cell phones, electricity and gas supply, and more.

ＪＥＴＲＯ
ＨＰ

YOLO JAPAN CORPORATION「Living in Japan」
https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/setting_up/living.html「Investment Opportunities in Japan’s Regions」
https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/region/

YOLO JAPAN CORPORATION provides
one-stop services to provide total support
for foreigners living in Japan, and has
more than 270,000 registered members
from 226 countries and regions.
“YOLO BASE” a complex that opened in
Naniwa Ward, Osaka City in September
2019, features restaurants and event
spaces, and is a lively hub where peopleof various nationalities can interact,contributing to revitalizing the local area.

Dream Catcher Inc.
https://dreamcatcher.co.jp/

Dream Catcher Inc. is working to
improve the medical interpretation
environment to ensure the safety
and security of foreign visitors andresidents in Japan. Since
multilingual services at medical
institutions require specializedinterpreters, their subsidiary
provides services such as remote
medical interpretation, hospital
guidance, and medical interpreter
training. They are making efforts
to improve the medical
interpretation environment, aiming
to make it a safe and secure
infrastructure for foreign visitors
and residents in Japan.

Provided by Flower of Japan-Kansai (Hanayaka Kansai) Appeal-enhancing Award
https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/3-1toukou/toukou_award_outline.html

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

３1

8Creation of Innovation

8-1

Creation of Innovation⚫ Efforts are underway to promote open innovation between overseas and Japanese companies including startups, such as through“Japan Innovation Bridge (J-Bridge)” and “International Innovation Conference Hack Osaka.”⚫ Kansai is home to 1,387 companies that lead innovation (as of December 2022; “Kansai Venture Company List” by the Kansai Bureau of
Economy, Trade and Industry). Industry-academia-government efforts to build a startup ecosystem are also in progress.

Japan Innovation Bridge “J-Bridge”
https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/j-bridge/

Focus Countries / Regions

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and JETRO
launched J-Bridge, a business matching platform to create open
innovation through collaboration between Japanese and overseas
companies, in 2021. It facilitates such collaboration in both thedigital and green fields by providing support for business matching,such as finding business partners and arranging meetings, and byorganizing events and other activities.
Service nameCollecting
information• Providing information through “J-Bridge Portal”
site, such as events, public applications fordemonstration subsidy programs, and somesuccessful collaboration cases

Events• Holding various events that lead to collaboration,such as seminars, pitches, and business meetings

Membership services

Finding
Collaboration
partners• Providing a database of promising overseas
companies• Providing opportunities to promote your company tooverseas through “Japan Partner Finder”• Access to past events• Interaction among J-Bridge members

Meetup• Arranging business meetings with companies listedon the member-only portal• Providing information on bussines meeting offersfrom promising overseas companies

Individual
supportprogram• Providing sourcing support and spot advisory
services (permanent services)• Providing reverse pitch and integrated support
programs, etc. (intensive support services throughpublic application)

For companies that have decided on a partner
Finalizing thedetails of
collaboration• Australia• Israel• Africa• JapanCollaboration aimed at reducing greenhouse gas
emissions through logistics efficiency improvements(Logistics and carbon neutrality)
Japanese company:

×
Overseas company:

Focus Fields

×Japanese company:

Main services

J-Bridge
PortalMembersonly forums• Southeast Asia
• India• U.S. & Canada• Europe

Example of the Collaboration Case

Demonstration • Subsidies for the implementation of PoC in thedigital field in Asia and other regions
subsidy* The demonstration subsidy programs are different from the Jprograms*

Digital

Green

•
•
•
•
•

•

•
•
•

Mobility
Health Tech
Life Sciences
Agri Tech
Retail TechNAGASE & Co., LTD.
Import/export and domestic sales of chemicals
etc.
LOGIVAN VIETNAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY,
LTD.(Vietnam)
Operation of matching apps between shippers
and delivery companies
Zeroboard Inc.
Provision of GHG emissions calculation andvisualization services• Smart Cities

Outline of collaboration
LOGIVAN is engaged in platform business,
including the operation of matching apps that
• Information security
connect shippers and delivery companies.
etc.
Combining LOGIVAN’s logistics date digitization
service with Zeroboard’s GHG emission
calculation and visualization service, Nagase &Renewable energy• Smart infrastructure Co. will propose solutions for optimal logistics(offshore winde3fficiency and GHG emissions reduction to the• Greening andpower, biomass, etc.)
environmental
customers in Vietnam.
Energy conservationconservation
This project was selected by JETRO for its “Asiatechnologies
etc.
Storage batteries
Digital Transformation(AD ) program” in ASEAN
Hydrogenand Japan.
• Fintech• Robotics➢

Using J-Bridge’s pitch events and meetup services* J-Bridge provides services mainly in Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam in Southeast Asia, theU.K. and Germany in Europe, and Nigeria and Kenya in Africa.

Startup ecosystem base city
“The Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo–Kobe Consortium”
Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe is one of the four locations in Japan selected by the Cabinet Office as a global hub
city. With an emphasis on the healthcare, manufacturing, and information and communications fields,
the area is home to collaboration between universities, research institutes, and companies, centeredaround Osaka University, Kyoto University, and Kobe University. The area aims to create opportunities
for startups to develop new technologies and services by building a support system that encompasses
the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area, including the business community, for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

Bridge program.

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

32

８ Creation of innovation

８-2

Examples of support for overseas startups
Large companies in Kansai welcome collaboration
with startups

Business matching pitch event (example)

The Kansai Association of Corporate Executives is committed
to promoting the ecosystem. In cooperation with the Kyoto
and Kobe Associations of Corporate Executives, They invitedcompanies and organizations that would sincerely respond to
consultations from would-be founders and startups, without
stating that they would be turned away if they did not have a
proven track record of success.
The names and contact information of companies that haveendorsed the Declaration of Startup Friendly Kansai arepublished on the website.

Global Innovation Forum Osaka (GIF)

Organizer

OutlineOsaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Osaka Business andInvestment Center (O-BIC)
The purpose of the event is to realize “Osaka, a meeting place to createbusiness” through matching support for domestic and overseas startups with
cutting-edge technologies and products in fields such as carbon neutrality,
health tech, XR, and new materials.
At GIF2024, we will hold the GIF Meetup to introduce overseas startups toJapanese companies and the GIF Challenge to support the overseas expansionof Japanese startups.

“The Declaration of Startup Friendly Kansai”
https://gif.osaka.cci.or.jp/common/pdf/gif2024_en.pdf

The list includes 110 companies!
An English version is also available on our website.
(As of February 27, 2024)

International Innovation Conference "Hack Osaka"

Organizer

Outlinehttps://www.kansaidoyukai.or.jp/wpcontent/uploads/2024/05/18079df6e390a296c83ef
268578cff9f.pdf

Hack Osaka Executive Committee (Osaka City, Urban Innovation
Institute, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Osaka, andOsaka Business Development Agency)
Hack Osaka is one of the largest innovation festivals in Kansai. In order tomake Osaka a city of co-creation connected to the world, Hack Osaka is
working to provide a place and opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors,
large companies, students, and various other players to interact acrossorganizations, regions, nationalities and generations, through talk sessions,pitch contests, meetups with Japanese companies, and other programs. (Heldonce a year)

https://www.innovationosaka.jp/hackosaka/en/index.html

KGAP+ (Keihanna Global Acceleration Program Plus)
Organizer

OutlineAdvanced Telecommunications Research Institute International(ATR)
Keihanna Research Complex Promotion Council
A three-month support program for start-up companies in Japan and overseas.
Startups nominated by domestic and overseas innovation organizations(partner organizations) participate in this program held twice a year and seekout partners to collaborate on PoC. The total number of participants was 155
companies from 17 countries and regions, with 68% successful matches and aparticipant satisfaction rate of 4.3/5.
Partner organizations also host short-term special programs to help startups
not only expand into the Japanese market, but also establish a foothold for
expansion outside of Japan.

https://www.kgap.jp/

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

３3

Reference information「WHY NOT DO YOUR BUSINESS IN KANSAI?
―INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI 」 （YouTube videos）

Kansai Industrial Facility Guide"Kansai Technical Visit Guide"

METI-Kansai has published a "Kansai Technical Visit Guide" on its website,
listing approximately 300 industrial facilities (factories, workshops, corporate
museums, research institutes, etc.) that are open to the public and enable
visitors to learn about, experience, and interact with industries and companies
in the Kansai region.
Please use this guide to experience industrial tourism in Kansai, including
industrial tourism, general tours, social studies field trips, off-campus learning,
corporate inspections and training, and school trips.

"WHY NOT DO YOUR BUSINESS IN KANSAI? - INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI " is a video that introduces the attractions and strengths of Kansai as aninvestment environment.
This compact guide covers a wide range of information, including an overview
of the Kansai economy, the region's well-developed infrastructure andlocations, the concentration of universities, research institutes and diverse
industries, and support information from major local governments in theregion.Take advantage of business opportunities in Kansai.

5 minute video ＞＞ https://youtu.be/ANHz-82Uqrs

Kansai Technical Visit Guide（METI-Kansai Website）
https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/english/t
vlist/e_visit_list.html

Short video＞＞ https://youtu.be/ET8MKZb4IFQ

Instagram(managed byInternational Investment Promotion Division, METI-Kansai)

We provide information on industrial facilities for inboundtourists.

https://www.instagram.com/kansai_unique_experiences/

INVEST JAPAN, INVEST KANSAI

３4

Contact information about this brochure
One-window support for investment in Kansai

INVEST KANSAI WEB

International Investment Promotion Division,
Kansai Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Address: 1-5-44 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-8535
TEL： 06-6966-6033
E-mail： bzl-invest-japan-kansai@meti.go.jp
URL：https://www.kansai.meti.go.jp/3-1toukou/invest_in_kansai/e_invest_kansai_english.html

You may quote freely from this brochure by indicating the source.
However, you may not reproduce or copy pictures used in this brochure.
Please contact us for more information.

(Printed in September 202４）