Initiative of City of Yokohama
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Yokohama is an innovative city with a global startup ecosystem. This portal highlights the opportunities, incentives and entrepreneurial culture of the region.

Notable Startups
startup icon3DOM
startup iconJ-Pharma
startup iconCoreTissue BioEngineering
Top Coworking Spaces
startup iconG Innovation Hub YOKOHAMA
startup iconWeWork Ocean Gate Minatomirai
startup iconTHE BAYS
Top Accelerators
startup iconConnect’s International Springboard Program
startup iconCROSSBIE JAPAN
startup iconYOXO College
Notable Organizations
startup iconYokohama Future Organization
startup iconYOXO BOX
startup iconIDEC Yokohama
View complete Yokohama startup ecosystem database

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Key Stats of the Tokyo-Yokohama Area Startup Ecosystem

Rankings provided by
Top Industries
Marketing & Sales icon
Marketing & Sales
#5 worldwide
Hardware & IoT icon
Hardware & IoT
#8 worldwide
Energy & Environment icon
Energy & Environment
#9 worldwide
Ecosystem Rankings
National ranking
1st
In Japan
Regional Ranking
3rd
In East Asia
Global Ranking
14th
worldwide

Yokohama Ecosystem Landscape

Taxes and Incentives
    • The city of Yokohama offers tax incentives for office leasing up to 500 million JPY to rent space for a major HQ or R&D base, up 5 billion JPY subsidy for office purchase/construction.

    • The city government offers location subsidies for specific industries up to 2.5 million JPY.

    • Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) in Yokohama by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) supports foreign and foreign-affiliated companies to enter the Japanese market.

    • For foreign-affiliated companies moving to Yokohama, the city of Yokohama provides support related to establishing new businesses in the city, such as corporate registration, searching for an office, securing personnel, subsidies for office rent and more through cooperation with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

    Investor Landscape
    • The most notable investments are in these areas: robotics, automotive, R&D and e-commerce.

    • Over the first half of 2021, Japanese startups raised approximately JPY 324.5 billion (USD 3.01 billion) in investments.

    • According to CB Insights, startups in Yokohama have received a total of $304.6M in funding as of 2022.

    • The University of Tokyo in 2021 launched a $536 million fund to invest in startups, the largest university-backed fund in Japan.

    Incubators and Accelerators:

    IDEC Yokohama (Yokohama Industrial Development Corporation): IDEC Yokohama supports SMEs and startups stabilize and strengthen their business bases through business matching, offers solutions for corporate management and other consulting services, operates incubation facilities, and promotes the launch of businesses and the development of overseas business.

    CROSSBIE JAPAN: CROSSBIE is an organization/accelerator with a focus on bringing Japan and the global startup ecosystem together. CROSSBIE creates a tech marketplace for both companies and startups, promotes the development of new innovations, and drives business and societal impact.

    The Drivery Japan: A German-Japan accelerator that supports global mobility startups entering the Japanese market, free of charge.

    Connect’s International Springboard Program with Yokohama: Connect, a San Diego-based accelerator, has partnered with Yokohama City to create a mentoring program held every year that supports life science startups based in Yokohama prepare for entering global markets.

    Notable events
    • BioJapan conference: Asia’s largest bio business and partnering event is held in Pacifico Yokohama, a premier convention center in Yokohama.
    • The Asia Smart City Conference (ASCC): is an international conference hosted in Yokohama that brings together representatives from Asian cities, national governments, international organizations, academic institutions, and private companies, aiming at establishing a knowledge hub for Smart Cities.
Read more about Yokohama startup ecosystem

Why Yokohama is a great City to live in

Part of the Greater Tokyo metropolitan region, but carving a niche for itself through its unique blend of history and modern architecture, Yokohama, the second-largest city in Japan by population, has a long-established history of welcoming international residents and travelers since the opening of its port in 1859.

Why Yokohama is a great city to live in
Population
4m
as of 2019
GDP
$8,830
per capita
Cost of Living
$1,208
per person and month
Read more about life in Yokohama

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