Invest Tokyo

What Invest Tokyo does

Invest Tokyo is an initiative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, operated by its Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, that markets Tokyo as a business location and delivers free, end-to-end support to foreign companies considering expansion into Japan. The program originated from the National Strategic Special Zone framework (2011) and the Asia Headquarters Special Zone designation (December 2011), with active foreign-company attraction activities beginning in January 2013; it serves a wide range of inbound entrants spanning fintech and asset management, AI and software, healthcare and medical devices, robotics, satellite/environmental analytics, and Green Transformation (GX) companies.

Its service portfolio is delivered through a network of operational sub-brands rather than a single software product. Inbound marketing and triage are handled by overseas consultation desks (Access to Tokyo / A2T in London, Paris, San Francisco, Bengaluru, plus a Business Development Center Tokyo presence in Hong Kong). In Tokyo, the Business Development Center Tokyo (BDCT) provides hands-on business support — business matching, recruitment, office location, grant program guidance, and the Startup Visa program (expanded to a maximum 2 years in February 2025); the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC) handles company incorporation, tax, social security, and immigration filings (now entirely completable in English since February 2025); the International Residents Support Center TOKYO (IRSC) and the September 2025 English Life Support Advisor cover family and daily-life needs; and the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC) advises on labor law. Programs include the annual Tokyo Financial Award, GX-related and financial-sector foreign-company subsidy programs, and the May 2024-launched Bengaluru overseas office. The Tokyo International Schools Portal (October 2024) and the e-Business Concierge AI chatbot (November 2022, JIS X 8341-3:2016 Level AA accessibility compliance) are the principal digital touchpoints.

Invest Tokyo is not a commercial business: it generates no revenue from users (all services free of charge), is wholly publicly funded, has no external shareholders, VC, or PE ownership, and operates within the regulatory perimeter of the Special Zones. Its underlying business model is therefore a public-sector economic-development mandate measured by outputs (e.g., 14 companies attracted in FY2016, 20 in FY2017, 25 in FY2019, 21 in FY2022; 50 companies over the 2013–2017 special-zone target period), rather than by revenue or ARR.

Name

Invest Tokyo

Legal name

Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Website

https://investtokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Invest Tokyo is a Tokyo Metropolitan Government initiative operated by the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs that provides free, end-to-end support and one-stop business establishment services to foreign companies — across fintech, AI, healthcare, robotics, and clean energy — seeking to expand into Tokyo, delivered via overseas offices in London, Paris, San Francisco, Bengaluru, and Hong Kong.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foreign Investment Promotion Services

NAICS

Miscellaneous Intermediation (523910)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAMAD

Investment Promotion & FDI Facilitation

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Trade & Economic Development

Keywords

• Foreign investment promotion
• Market entry consulting
• Business establishment support
• Government incentive programs
• Startup visa services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shinjuku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded services: Invest Tokyo operates as a Tokyo Metropolitan Government initiative funded by public budget. All services for foreign companies including consultation, business matching, visa support, and one-stop establishment services are provided free of charge.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Invest Tokyo is a Tokyo Metropolitan Government initiative that provides free, comprehensive one-stop support to foreign companies seeking to establish or expand operations in Tokyo. Its services span pre-entry consultation, business matching, visa and immigration support, company incorporation assistance, recruitment and office-location help, daily-life support for foreign staff and families, and access to special zone tax incentives and regulatory exemptions.

Product overview

Invest Tokyo is a comprehensive government initiative operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to attract and support foreign companies in expanding to Tokyo. The offering consists of multiple integrated support services centered around the Access to Tokyo (A2T) overseas consultation network, the Business Development Center Tokyo (BDCT) providing hands-on business support including recruitment and visa assistance, the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC) for company registration procedures, and the International Residents Support Center TOKYO (IRSC) for daily life assistance. Additional services include the STARTUP VISA program for entrepreneur immigration, Tokyo Employment Consultation Center for labor law guidance, various subsidy programs including GX-related and financial sector support, and the annual Tokyo Financial Award recognizing fintech innovation. The portfolio also includes digital services like the e-Business Concierge chatbot and information portals like the Tokyo International Schools Portal. These services work together to provide end-to-end support from initial market exploration through successful business establishment in Tokyo's special economic zones.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Access to Tokyo (A2T): Overseas consultation desk providing Tokyo business information and Tokyo Metropolitan Government support information
• Business Development Center Tokyo (BDCT)
• Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC)
• International Residents Support Center TOKYO (IRSC TOKYO)

Products and services

• Access to Tokyo (A2T) Overseas consultation desks providing Tokyo business information and Tokyo Metropolitan Government support information, staffed by members knowledgeable about local industry and business practices. Offices are located in London, Paris, San Francisco, and Bengaluru.
• Business Development Center Tokyo (BDCT) Comprehensive business support services for international companies considering entering or expanding in Tokyo, including business matching, recruitment support, office location assistance, visa assistance, and grant program information. Offices in Akasaka and Marunouchi (Tokyo) plus Hong Kong.
• Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC) One-stop service providing support for procedures necessary for foreign and venture companies to establish a business, including articles of incorporation certification, company registration, incorporation filings, tax information, social security, and immigration control assistance. Offices in Akasaka, Shibuya, and Marunouchi.
• International Residents Support Center TOKYO (IRSC TOKYO) Support desk designed to help foreign nationals and their families navigate daily life in Tokyo, offering advisory support and assistance with administrative procedures, housing, utility setup, bank accounts, medical institutions, and children's schools.
• Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC) Inquiry counter for Japanese employment rules, providing consultation services regarding labor laws and employment regulations for foreign companies operating in Tokyo.
• STARTUP VISA Program Program to promote startup businesses by foreign nationals, providing residence status support for entrepreneurs seeking to establish businesses in Tokyo's special economic zones. The program allows up to 2 years for business preparation.
• Tokyo Financial Award Annual award program recognizing outstanding financial innovation companies. Includes Financial Innovation Sector and Sustainability Sector categories, with award ceremonies held during Japan Fintech Week events.
• GX-Related Foreign Company Support Program Support program for GX (Green Transformation) related foreign companies entering the Tokyo market, providing subsidies and assistance for establishing operations.
• Financial Foreign Company Support Program Comprehensive support services for financial sector foreign companies, including establishment subsidies, one-stop financial services at Business Concierge Tokyo, and assistance with financial license registration procedures.
• e-Business Concierge (AI Chatbot) AI-powered chatbot service launched in November 2022 to provide automated responses and assistance to users inquiring about Invest Tokyo services and procedures.
• Tokyo International Schools Portal Portal site launched in October 2025 providing information about international schools in Tokyo, supporting the establishment and expansion of international educational facilities.
• Foreign Company Discovery and Attraction Program Program that identifies and attracts foreign companies to Tokyo, providing support for market entry, business matching, and establishing operations in Tokyo's special economic zones.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 companies attracted to special zones over 5 years (2013-2017)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJETRO provides business support center services for investment in Japan. JETRO collaborates with Invest Tokyo to support foreign companies entering the Japanese market, offering complementary services including market research, business matching, and consultation. Contact: +81-3-3582-4684
• Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC)coreOthersProvides consultation on Japanese employment rules and labor regulations for foreign companies establishing operations in Tokyo. Part of the comprehensive support ecosystem for foreign companies.
• Japan Patent OfficesupportingOthersProvides information on intellectual property systems in Japan for foreign companies seeking to protect their innovations when entering the Japanese market.
• Asian Headquarters Special Zone Regional Council - Private Sector OperatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate sector facilities within the Asian Headquarters Special Zone provide office space for foreign companies establishing operations. Includes facilities from Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsubishi Estate, Sumitomo Realty & Development, and JETRO Business Support Center. These facilities enable foreign companies to qualify for special zone visa benefits.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• InvestHK: Hong Kong’s FDI promotion agency with sector-focused teams (fintech, asset management, innovation) targeting the same pool of international entrants considering Tokyo as their Asia base.
• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany’s federal economic development agency providing market-entry and FDI advisory to international companies; equivalent government-backed service model and global office network.
• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB): Singapore’s lead government agency for FDI attraction and industry development; competes directly with Invest Tokyo for foreign companies choosing an Asian headquarters, offering similar tax incentives and one-stop establishment support.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan’s national investment promotion and trade agency; provides overlapping market research, business matching, and consultation services for foreign companies entering Japan, making it the closest direct government counterpart within the same country.
• Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA): South Korea’s national investment promotion body operating a global network of Invest Korea centers; offers comparable market-entry advisory, visa/immigration support, and incentive packages for foreign companies choosing Seoul over Tokyo.
• Business France: France’s national agency supporting international business development and FDI attraction; runs a network of overseas offices (including Tokyo) comparable to Invest Tokyo’s Access to Tokyo footprint in reverse.
• UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT): UK government department responsible for trade promotion and inward investment; operates global FDI advisory services mirroring Invest Tokyo’s overseas consultation desk model.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore government agency driving enterprise development and FDI; complements EDB’s investment promotion with sector-specific programs that overlap with Invest Tokyo’s startup and SME attraction mandate.
• Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade): Australia’s national trade and investment promotion agency with a global network; offers matching FDI attraction and aftercare services similar to Invest Tokyo’s BDCT and A2T programs.
• New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC): NYC’s public-benefit economic development corporation promoting business attraction and retention within the city; comparable city-level FDI mandate targeting international companies across financial services, tech, and life sciences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Invest-Tokyo/100048739486818
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bdc-tokyo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Invest Tokyo