Our “Startup Welcome Service” aims to be a one-stop shop for the startups who want to start their businesses in Shibuya. Wikipedia defines “One-stop shop” as “A business or office where multiple services are offered; i.e., customers can get all they need in just ‘one stop.'” Until now, the startups have had to do their research on their own and talk to different agencies to go through the administrative procedures independently, just to get to the start line. This has been a significant barrier to entry, and the language barrier made it even more difficult for foreign ventures to establish a business in Japan.

To improve this situation, Shibuya City Office will soon launch the “Startup Welcome Service,” a one-stop service for overseas startups. One of the precedents for this kind is the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC). TOSBEC is jointly operated by the national government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, providing a single location to handle the administrative procedures required to establish a company or start a business (authentication of articles of incorporation, registration, taxation, pensions/social insurance, and immigration). The center provides a one-stop service for all ministries, and the consultants answer questions and provide support through the application process.

We envision our service to take unique advantages of being in Shibuya and become one of the pillars to help establish a diverse range of startups. As part of its efforts to attract startups, the Shibuya City Office plans to implement special measures, including the “Startup Visa” set to launch by the end of 2020. This one-stop center will not only support startups through administrative processes but also help them leverage the unique benefits like Startup Visa. We will share future developments with you on this website as the details become available. Stay tuned.