Genkan logoGenkan日本語Subscribe

THE FOUNDER'S GUIDE

Everything you need to land and build

Plain-English guides to visas, grants, and support for founders in Japan. Every entry links to the official source so you can verify the current rules.

  1. 01ArriveGet your bearings: show up to something this week
  2. 02VisaFind the route that lets you live and build here
  3. 03WorkspaceFree hubs and coworking to work from
  4. 04PeopleThe communities where everyone already is
  5. 05FundingGrants, subsidies, and programs with real deadlines

Which visa fits you?

Three questions, about 20 seconds.

Do you already have a company registered in Japan?

General guidance, not legal advice.

hand-drawn passport iconVISAS

Visas for founders

How to legally start and run a company in Japan, from the Startup Visa to the Business Manager visa.

Read the guide →
hand-drawn coin iconGRANTS

Grants & subsidies

The main public funding routes for startups in Japan, from entry-level Tokyo subsidies to deep-tech national programs.

Read the guide →
hand-drawn helping hand iconSUPPORT

Support, accelerators & incubators

The programs and organizations that help founders land, build, and scale in Japan.

Read the guide →

Podcasts worth a listen

Founders, operators, and investors telling the real story of building in Japan, in English and 日本語.

Disrupting Japan ENTim RomeroCandid interviews with startup founders and investors building in Japan.Build with Japan ENCoral CapitalTokyo VC Coral Capital on founders, deep tech, and venture capital in Japan.Scaling Your Company ENTyson BatinoPractical advice on growing revenue and a business in Japan.Japan FinTech Observer ENNorbert GehrkeShort briefings cutting through Japanese finance and fintech news.Startup Now 日本語スタートアップ起業家の物語Interviews tracing recently funded Japanese founders' path to launch.スタートアップ投資TV 日本語Gazelle CapitalSeed VC interviews with entrepreneurs and investors on fundraising.Ayo! by Genesia. 日本語Genesia VenturesSeed VC's behind-the-scenes stories of building across Japan and Asia.VIVA VC 日本語Firstlight CapitalVCs candidly discuss investment calls, trends, and the reality of the job.

More resources

Guides and videos for the practical side of setting up in Japan.

SmartStart JapanYouTubeShort videos on company setup, visas, and how to start a company in Japan.Raising Venture Capital in JapanFree ebookA practical ebook on how fundraising actually works in Japan.