JapanCompany

Japan Company Guide ·

Start your company in Japan, step by step.

Clear, current guides to setting up and running a company in Japan as a foreigner — incorporation, the Business Manager visa, taxes, and daily operations. Written in plain language.

Compare company types→Start here
● UPDATED MONTHLY● CITES OFFICIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SOURCES● 6 BUILDING BLOCKS

Choose your pathway

Where do you want to start?

Compare all company types →
Incorporation

Kabushiki Kaisha (KK)

The standard joint-stock company. Most credible form, but costlier to set up.

CAPITAL
CAPITAL ¥1 (no minimum)
FOREIGN-OWNED
FOREIGN-OWNED yes
Incorporation

Godo Kaisha (GK)

An LLC-style entity. Cheaper and faster than a KK, popular with startups.

CAPITAL
CAPITAL ¥1 (no minimum)
FOREIGN-OWNED
FOREIGN-OWNED yes
Visa

Business Manager Visa

The residence status that lets you run your own company in Japan.

CAPITAL
CAPITAL ¥5M guideline
FOREIGN-OWNED
FOREIGN-OWNED yes
Tax

Corporate Tax

National corporate income tax plus local enterprise and inhabitant taxes.

CAPITAL
CAPITAL ~23–30% effective
FOREIGN-OWNED
FOREIGN-OWNED yes
Operations

Registered Office

A real physical address is required to incorporate and keep the visa.

CAPITAL
CAPITAL Required
FOREIGN-OWNED
FOREIGN-OWNED yes
Operations

Registered Seal

The registered personal seal (jitsuin) you need to sign company deeds.

CAPITAL
CAPITAL ~¥5–20k
FOREIGN-OWNED
FOREIGN-OWNED yes

The founding checklist

From idea to registered company.

Every foreign founder follows roughly the same path: pick a company type, draft articles of incorporation, get a (registered seal), and register at the Legal Affairs Bureau. We explain each step — and how to tie it to your Business Manager visa.

Read the getting-started guide →

“Setting up a company in a foreign country is hard enough. We make Japan's make sense — in plain language.”