Startup Visa — METI Overview
METI’s official English explainer for the startup visa, which lets foreign founders prepare a business in Japan before switching to a Business Manager status of residence.
Directory
Every entry is a real organisation we would point a friend to. Entries link out to the source — we don’t rank, and nobody pays to be listed.
Visas
2Shibuya Startup Support
Shibuya City’s one-stop support for foreign entrepreneurs, including startup visa applications handled in English.
Incorporation
1Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center
Tokyo Metropolitan Government counter that bundles company registration, tax, and immigration paperwork into one desk.
Funding
1Coral Capital
Tokyo-based seed and Series A fund; publishes some of the best English-language writing on the Japanese startup market.
Accelerators
2Antler in Japan
Six-week Tokyo residency that backs founders from day zero with pre-seed investment and a path to global follow-on.
Plug and Play Japan
The global innovation platform’s Japan arm, running themed accelerator batches alongside major Japanese corporates.
Coworking
1Impact Hub Tokyo
Long-running coworking and community space near Shibuya, home to many of Tokyo’s international and social-impact founders.
Jobs
1Japan Dev
Job board and media site for tech roles in Japan, filtered so every listing is genuinely English-friendly.
Communities
1Startup Lady Japan
Nonprofit community supporting women founders in Japan with events, mentoring, and its own incubator program.
Government
3JETRO Startup Support
Free consultation, market information, and accelerator programs from Japan’s government trade-promotion agency.
J-Startup
METI’s flagship program that selects high-potential Japanese startups and concentrates public support behind them.
Startup Cafe Fukuoka
Fukuoka City’s free walk-in consultation counter for founders, from idea stage through hiring and expansion.