Contact Us

　 Asian Headquarters Special Zone Division, Headquarters of the Governor of Tokyo

E-mail : ml-office-ahq@section.metro.tokyo.jp

Website : http://www.chijihon.metro.tokyo.jp/ahq_project/index.html

Your Base for New InnovationIntroducing Tokyo’s Special Zone

for Asian Headquarters

Seoul Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo

Shanghai

Singapore

About 2 hours

About 3 hours

About 7 hours

Flight times tomajor Asian cities

Flight timemajor Asian c

g

New York

Tokyo(Haneda Airport)

LondonParis

SingaporeKuala Lumpur

Bangkok

Beijing Seoul

Hong Kong Taipei

Shanghai

Tokyo, the Business Portal of AsiaTokyo, Japan’s capital, is the largest city in Japan and a key business hub in Asia.Numerous companies in a range of industries have their headquarters in Tokyo, including global companies. Tokyo has all the key enabling factors for successful business ‒ skilled human resources, wealth of information, superior technologies and solutions, robust financial sector, vibrant market, and one of the best infrastructures in the world.Tokyo’s access to Asia and the world has dramatically improved with the introduction of regular international flights to Haneda Airport, close to central Tokyo.Aiming to transform Tokyo into the preferred and core hub of business headquarters and R&D centers in the Asian region, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters as a new project to attract foreign companies to Tokyo.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government collaborate to implement preferential tax treatment, as well as bold deregulation and a generous package of fiscal and financial assistance, to foreign companies newly headquartered in this zone in central Tokyo.

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Tokyo’s Strong Points

Tokyo has the highest number of global company headquarters listed in

Fortune Global 500

Japan is the safest country in Asia(Global Peace Index)

Tokyo has the least air pollutant emissions per urban area

City

Tokyo

Beijing

Seoul

Shanghai

Hong Kong

Companies

48

44

11

6

4

Country

　 Japan

China

　 South Korea

　 China

China

City

Tokyo

Seoul

Singapore

Shanghai

Country

Japan

South Korea

Singapore

China

Source : 2012 Fortune Global 500

Tokyo has the highest number of hospital beds per 1,000 population

Beds

14

9

3

2

Source : 2011 TMG survey

Rank

5

23

42

89

Score

1,326

1,521

1,734

2,061

Country

Japan

Singapore

South Korea

China

Source : Economist Intelligence Unit, “2012 Global Peace Index”

City

Tokyo

Singapore

Seoul

Hong Kong

Shanghai

Total emissions

1,484kg/ha

7,172kg/ha

7,541kg/ha

7,602kg/ha

11,703kg/ha

Country

Japan

Singapore

South Korea

China

ChinaSource : 2011 TMG survey

Hugemarket

Market sizeTokyo’s nominal gross product: US$ 910.9 billion (2009)(Around the same level as the GDPs of South Korea and the Netherlands)

8.2 million (2005)

13.2 million (2010)

2,800 companies with capital >1 billion yen (48% national ratio) (2009)

Population employed

Population

Business hub

Business Hub of Global Companies

Safe & Reassuring Environment Environmentally Friendly

Highly Supportive Medical Environment

World’s

No.1

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What is the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters? Target Industries

This comprises areas mainly in central Tokyo where the Tokyo Metropolitan

a new project to attract foreign companies

It features a comprehensive set of bold deregulation and generous tax/fiscal/ financial support

By 2016, it is planned to have 500 or more foreign companies establish operat

foreign companies establish their Asian regional headquarters or R&D centers.

All industries: IT, medical/chemical, electronics, p rec is ion ins t ruments , av ia t ion , finance/securities, content/creative, etc.

Strategically Attract Companies Through a Combination of Tax Benefits, Dereg ulation, and Urban Development

●Living environment concierge service at BusinessDevelopment Center TokyoSupport all living needs from real estate information, shopping, healthcare, to education information

●Build up schools where education is conducted

in English

●Provide living information in multiple languages

Approaches / Business Exchange

Living Environment Development

Business Support

Business Environment to Secure BCP＊

●Provide highly functional office buildings that are quake-resistant and have independent power generation systems for stable electric power supply

●Provide multi-functional office buildings with advanced business support functions, including service apartments and MICE

＊＊ facilities

Special Zonetax breaks

＋TMG

proprietarytax breaks

28.9％

CurrentEffectiveTax Rate

38.0％

Special Zone for Asian Headquarters

＊BCP : Business Continuity Plan

＊＊MICE : Meeting,Incentive Travel,Convention and Event/Exhibition

Government is implementing

●“One-stop” business services provided byBusiness Development Center Tokyo（www.bdc-tokyo.org）English-speaking staff providing professional services will support company operations, including company set-ups, business start-ups, and business match-ups.

●Offer subsidies and low-interest financing

●Provide administrative information, etc.in multiple languages

●Maximum exemption of local tax　(corporate enterprise tax, etc.)

Preferential tax treatment for foreign companies*(Asian headquarters and R&D centers)

●Ease immigration and re-entry procedures (deregulation)

●Collaboration with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

* Must fulfill certain conditions to receive the benefits.

ions here, including 50 or more

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Shinjuku area Tokyo station

Tokyo station area

Tokyo Big SightOdaiba

Rainbow Bridge

Front of Shibuya station

Shinagawa’s redevelopment area

Haneda Airport

Tenkubashi Haneda Airport

Shinjuku

Shibuya

Toyosu

Ariake

Ueno

S

T

AAAAAAA

Roppongi

rt

The Areas of the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters: Districts Aiming to Strategically Attract Foreign Companies

Imperial Palace

TokyoMetropolitanGovernment

Ginza

Yoyogi Park

Ueno Park

Sumidagawa River

Central Tokyo / Waterfront AreaArea around Shinjuku station

Area around Shibuya station

Vacant site formerly usedby Haneda Airport

Area around Shinagawa / Tamachi stations

H

Haneda Airport(Tokyo International Airport)

TokyoMarunouchi

Nihombashi

Asakusa

Shimbashi

Shinagawa

areaarea

Tokyo Big Sight

（Tokyo International Exhibition Center）

Roppongi area

Odaiba area

Rainbow Bridge

: Major Roads

: Shinkansen

: Train

Rainb

Roppongi area

Tokyo Big Sight

（（Tokyo International Exhibition CenterTokyo International Exhibition Center））

Odaiba area

Shinagawa’s redevelopment area

Tokyo Outer Loop Road (Expressway)

Trans Tokyo bay Expressway

Chiba

TokyoShinjuku

Shibuya

Shinagawa

IkebukuroUeno

Yokohama

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Q.1

A.1

Doesn’ t Japan impose a high tax on corporations?

Q.2

A.2

Can business continue in the event of a natural disaster?

There is a growing number of office buildings that will not be affected by power failures because they have their own gas co-generation systems. In the Special Zone areas, many urban renaissance projects are underway or in the planning stage, providing an

increasing supply of high-function office buildings that can ensure business

continuity.

Q.3

A.3

Low English proficiency and cumbersome administrative procedures aresaid to make business difficult in Japan.

Q.4

A.4

If English is not well understood in Japan,will life be difficult for accompanying family members?

To major destinations in central Tokyo

　16 min to Shinagawa (by train), 30 min to Tokyo station (by train)

　20 min to Odaiba (by car), 40 min to Shibuya (by car)

　45 min to Akasaka/Roppongi (by car), 50 min to Shinjuku (by car)

From Haneda Airport (close to central Tokyo)

To major destinations in central Tokyo

　36 min to Nippori (by train),　60 min to Tokyo station (by direct train)

　75 min to Tokyo (by car), 80 min to Akasaka/Roppongi (by car)

From Narita Airport

*Estimated travel times

Greater International Access to Haneda Airport

・Expansion of international terminal (Scheduled for FY2013)

・Extension of Haneda Airport’s C runway (Scheduled for FY2014)

・Arriving and departing international regular flights increase to

90,000 (Scheduled for FY2013)

Present Future

Frequently Asked Questions Access to Tokyo

Nippori

10mile5mile

CentralTokyo

wawawa

ori

Narita International Airport

Haneda Airport(Tokyo International Airport)

The current effective corporate tax rate is 38.0%. However, preferential tax treatment will apply to foreign companies in the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters, cutting the

effective corporate tax rate to 28.9%.(Preferential tax treatment will apply to companies that establish their Asian regional headquarters or R&D centers in the areas of the Special Zone for Asian Headquarters.Companies must fulfill certain conditions to receive the benefits.)

The business environment has become increasingly English-friendly. A variety of measures will be available to support the smooth conduct of businesses.

・Business Development Center Tokyo

A “one-stop” business support service in which highly skilled English-speaking personnel will support company

operations, including company set-ups, business start-ups, and business match-ups.

・Information dissemination in multiple languages, including administrative information

Full support will be provided to family members to live comfortably in Japan, similar to their home countries, including an expanded range of English services and information dissemination.

・Living environment concierge service at Business Development Center TokyoA “one-stop” service for all of your living needs, including real estate information, shopping, healthcare, and

education information.

・Provision of education conducted in English

・Build up Schools where education is conducted in English

・Provide living information in multiple languages

・Haneda Airport’s fourth runway (D runway) opened October 2010

・International terminal opened October 2010

・Regular flights to 16 world cities, incl. London, Paris, Singapore, Seoul,

Shanghai, and Hong Kong (60,000 arriving and departing international

regular flights) (As of February 2013)

Tokyo, Japan’s capital, is the political, economic,

and cultural center of Japan.

Appreciate the 400-year history and culture handed down

from old Edo to modern Tokyo through this glimpse into

the ever-evolving city of Tokyo.

Tokyo Sky Tree (opens 2012)

(World’s tallest free-standing

broadcasting tower)

Tokyo’s oldest temple,Sensoji Temple, is

symbolic of the shitamachi

(old town) culture

Akihabara,a district at the forefront of

Japan’s anime culture

Summer’s delights,

Bon Odori danceand fireworks

Japan’s traditional national sport,

sumo

Cherry blossoms at the famous

Chidorigafuchi

Ogasawara Islands,“Galapagos Islands of the East”

Inscribed on the UNESCO World

Heritage list in 2011

Japan’s most well-known food culture,

sushi and sake

Mt. Takao,a popular spot

with foreign tourists

the ever evolving city of Tokyo.

Imperial Palace Marunouchi(Area around Tokyo station)

Nihombashi bridge Image of Nihombashi’sredevelopment

Marunouchi is located between the Imperial Palace and the massive

transport terminal, Tokyo station. The name originates from its location

within the outer moat of the Edo Castle in the Edo Period (1603-1868).

Today, this area, including neighboring Otemachi, is a business district

where Japan’s leading companies are headquartered.

Shinjuku’s skyscrapersand Mt. Fuji

Tokyo’s leading landmark, theTokyo Metropolitan Governmentbuildings Shibuya Hikarie

Odaiba Tokyo Big Sight

A waterfront area with plenty of shopping,

restaurants, and entertainment. It is also

the site of Japan’s largest international

exhibition center, Tokyo Big Sight.where Japan s leading companies are headquartered.

Ginza Tsukiji Market Shiodome after redevelopmentand Hama-rikyu Gardens Image of Shimbashi /

Toranomon’s redevelopmentToranomon

The Att ract ions of Tokyo

Roppongi

Tokyo Tower(333m-high broadcasting tower)

Tokyo Midtown

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Marunouchi and Nihombashi

Ginza, Shimbashi, Toranomon

Roppongi

Shinjuku and Shibuya

Odaiba

Nihombashi flourished as a commercial center from the Edo Period, and is

an area where one can find traditional old shops in harmony with

state-of-the-art buildings. Today, with Japan’s central bank - the Bank of

Japan - and the Tokyo Stock Exchange, among other organizations,

headquartered here, Nihombashi serves as the center of Japan’s finance.

In Shinjuku, the east and west sides pose an interesting contrast: the west

side has the Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings and rows of other

majestic skyscrapers such as office buildings and hotels, while the east

side has one of Tokyo’s most lively atmospheres, notably Kabukicho, a

major entertainment district. It is an area with a variety of “faces” and filled

with energy.

Shibuya is at the forefront of young people’s fashion and culture and is

bustling with many young people. It is a growing hub of the creative

contents industry.

The name for Ginza originates from the fact that the agency in charge of

minting silver coins was located here during the Edo Period. With streets

lined with department stores and high-end boutiques, Ginza is

well-known as one of the world’s leading shopping districts, drawing

tourists from all over the world.

In the Shimbashi and Toranomon area, a new symbolic street, Ring Road

No.2, is under construction. In parallel with this road development, a

project is now underway to redevelop the surrounding area.

Roppongi is a popular area, which in recent years has seen the construction

of megacomplexes like Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, complete with

shopping centers, hotels, museums, and other facilities. This is Tokyo’s

rapidly changing, trendsetting district. A highly cosmopolitan flavor is also

present due to the numerous foreign embassies, government establishments,

and companies in and around the area.

A popular fashion buildingwith young women, “SHIBUYA109”

I t’s a l l here

The National Art Center,Tokyo