Support · UPDATED JUNE 24, 2026
Support, accelerators & incubators
The programs and organizations that help founders land, build, and scale in Japan.
ACCELERATORS & PROGRAMS · 16 PROGRAMS
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs running in Japan, including global brands with a Tokyo cohort.
500 Global J-StarX SVEP
500 Global / JETRO
11-week Tokyo plus Bay Area program for US-market access.
Japan-incorporated startups with traction and English.
JETRO Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP)
JETRO
Pairs Japan-based startups with US accelerators for global expansion.
Japan-based startups that can operate in English.
X-HUB TOKYO (Inbound)
TMG / Deloitte
TMG inbound accelerator: mentoring plus Japan corporate and VC matching.
Overseas startups entering the Tokyo market.
Alchemist (Japan + Silicon Valley)
Alchemist Accelerator
Enterprise B2B accelerator bridging Tokyo and Silicon Valley.
B2B enterprise startups (3 months Tokyo, 6 months SF).
Google for Startups Accelerator Japan
10-week virtual program with Google mentors and early AI / Cloud access.
Growth-stage tech startups.
Open Network Lab (Onlab)
Digital Garage
Japan's oldest seed accelerator (since 2010), two cohorts a year.
Pre-seed / seed; foreigners ok if authorized to stay in Japan.
Plug and Play Japan
Plug and Play
Corporate-innovation batches across mobility, fintech, IoT and more.
All stages; about 20% of the fund is reserved for global startups.
Techstars Tokyo
Techstars / Mitsui Fudosan / JETRO
Tokyo accelerator backed by Mitsui Fudosan and JETRO.
Any sector or nationality; in-person in Tokyo.
UTokyo IPC 1stRound
UTokyo IPC
Japan's largest university non-dilutive program; deep-tech focus.
Pre-Series A teams affiliated with a partner university.
Antler Japan
Antler
Build from scratch in a Tokyo residency, with funding unlocked early.
Idea / pre-seed; full-time on-site in Tokyo.
DEEPCORE
DEEPCORE (SoftBank)
SoftBank-backed AI incubator with technical and network support.
AI / deep-tech, seed stage (Japan-based or relocating).
J-Startup
METI / JETRO
Government endorsement: regulatory help, global VC and trade access.
Japan-registered high-growth startups (nominated by recommenders).
KDDI ∞ Labo (Mugenlabo)
KDDI
KDDI open-innovation program for B2B co-creation with major firms.
Unlisted companies under 10 years old.
NEXs Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
TMG cross-industry program with community, mentorship and matching.
Companies under 10 years old (Tokyo, or expanding to Tokyo).
Shibuya Startup Support
Shibuya City / Startup Deck
Shibuya's foreigner-first program: visa, bank and testbed-city access.
Foreign entrepreneurs (English-language support).
Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
TMG flagship hub: hardware fab, pitch events, one-stop support desk.
Open to founders, students and foreign entrepreneurs (bilingual).
No opportunities match these filters.
You do not have to figure Japan out alone. There is a dense layer of support, and a lot of it is free and in English.
Government support: JETRO
JETRO is the first door for most foreign founders. It runs free support for investors and startups, regional business support centers, and acceleration programs that connect Japanese startups to global markets. Free guidance on visas, legal, tax, and market entry is the kind of help that would otherwise cost a fortune.
Accelerators & incubators
Tokyo has an active accelerator scene, from global names with a local presence to university-led deep-tech programs commercializing research. Cohorts run on schedules, so check timing early if you want in.
Community-led support
Some of the most useful help is informal. Communities like Venture Café Tokyo give you weekly access to people who have already solved the problem in front of you. For an English-speaking founder, that human network is often worth more than any single program.
How to use this
Start with JETRO for the official path, plug into one community for the human path, and apply to an accelerator when your stage fits. Confirm current programs and dates on the official links above.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Which startup accelerators in Japan run in English?
Techstars Tokyo, Antler Japan and Alchemist Japan all run English-friendly programs, and several government-backed programs (like JETRO's Global Startup Acceleration Program) specifically support foreign founders. Our board tags each program English-OK where it applies.
Is there free startup support in Tokyo?
Yes. Tokyo Innovation Base and Startup Hub Tokyo offer free workspace and one-on-one consultations backed by the city, and Venture Cafe Tokyo runs free weekly networking every Thursday. None of them require membership fees.
How does JETRO help foreign founders?
JETRO (the Japan External Trade Organization) supports foreign companies entering Japan with advisory services, temporary office space, and acceleration programs, and its services for qualifying startups are free.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Genkan is an orientation, not legal advice. Rules and amounts change, so always confirm the current details on the official pages above.