Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Chiba city
The flower city, Chiba
- Your Regional Guide: Misao Ikehara
Inquiry form
Economic Promotion Section
1-1 Chiba Minato, Chuo-ku, Chiba-city, Chiba Prefecture 260-8722
TEL: +81-43-245-5276 FAX: +81-43-245-5558
- Basic Information
- Regional Profile
- Services for investment in Japan
- Available incentives
- Living environment for foreigners
- Links to Related Websites
Basic Information
| Population | 0.93 million (Male: 0.47 million, Female: 0.47 million) (2008) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 0.63 million (Male: 0.32 million, Female: 0.31 million) (2008) |
| Area | 272km² (2007) |
| GDP | 3,986 billion yen (2004) |
| Major industries | Wholesaling/retailing, service, restaurant/lodging, construction, medical care/welfare |
| Developing industries | Information & communications, environment, medical care/welfare, new manufacturing technology |
| Offices in Japan | Tokyo |
| JETRO office | JETRO Chiba |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
<Principal industries> Development in the reclaimed seaside district including Chiba Port is centered on iron & steel and electric power, the city’s backbone industries; basic materials companies (including foodstuffs companies in the New Port area) have gathered in this district, and general machinery and metals processing companies are concentrating in an iron/steel industry complex being formed in the inland area.
<3 city centers> There are three city centers driving the city’s economy: the Chiba City Center, the nucleus for information-related companies, commerce, and business functions; the Makuhari New City Center, an area rich in the spirit of innovation and internationalism and endowed with high-level commercial and business functions as well as convention facilities; and the Soga City Subcenter, where commercial and business functions, housing, parks, and other urban amenities are being established. These three areas thus form a diverse industrial community. The new Soga Ecology Park, built as a 21st century-style environmental site for recycling technology R&D and environmental education, is endeavoring to establish and attract environmental firms to assist in the
creation of a recycling-oriented society.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
Chiba City is home to 16 universities and junior colleges specializing in such specialist fields as economics, information, and welfare – among them Chiba University
– and the Institute of Developing Economies is just one of many public and private research institutions based in the city.
The Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan has opened a Chiba University Inohana Innovation Plaza on Chiba University’s Inohana Campus (School of Medicine, School of Nursing) to provide various support tools and information, to offer comprehensive support for business startups and creative activities utilizing research results from the University and elsewhere in the fields of cutting-edge medicine and medical-industrial collaboration, and to assist in new business development by small and medium-sized companies.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
Located essentially midway between the capital of Tokyo and Narita International Airport, the gateway to Japan, Chiba City is directly linked to other cities in the Greater Tokyo Area by railway and roadway networks, and very conveniently offers access by various routes. Chiba Port and Narita International Airport are optimal hubs for expanding business into both Japanese and overseas markets, and the availability of ground, air and sea routes make Chiba City an advantageous location.
<Land>
Situated near the center of Chiba Prefecture and about 40km from the capital Tokyo, Chiba City, which has well developed main roads, is about one hour via highway from Haneda Airport and about 30 minutes (approx. 30km) from Narita International Airport, which links Japan with the rest of the world. The Tokyo Bay Aqua Line gives very convenient access to the Haneda, Kawasaki, and Yokohama areas without having to pass through the Tokyo metropolitan area.
<Air>
Haneda Airport can be reached in about one hour, and flights from Haneda go to other cities in Japan as well as to Asian countries such as China and South Korea. Narita International Airport is only 30 minutes away. The extension of parallel runways to 2500m in 2010 will make possible a greater diversification of the routes flown, increases in the numbers of arrivals and departures, and the operation of new routes, all of which will undoubtedly stimulate business with other parts of the world.
<Sea>
Chiba Port, one of Japan’s leading international trade ports, is second in Japan only to Nagoya Port in the volume of cargo it handles. The port has become an international logistics hub, offering regular container services once weekly to destinations in South Korea, China, and Southeast Asia.
<Railway>
Chiba City is the starting point for several JR and private railway lines, and the Tokyo metropolitan area can be reached in a short time.
Foreign company(s) operating in the industry
IBM Japan, QVC Japan and many other foreign companies operate in Makuhari New City Center, elevating its status as an international business city. As proved by the expansion of Costco into the area and the establishment of Metro's distribution point in Shinminato Area, Chiba City's potential is attracting many foreign companies.
Services for investment in Japan
| Menu of services | Fees charged? | Content of services |
|---|---|---|
| Providing market information | ||
| Advice on market participation | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Consulting by external experts and advisers | Yes | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services) | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel | No | Provided by the Chiba Investment Support Center |
| Providing information on permits and licensing procedures | No | The Chiba City Economic Promotion Section provides free of charge a “Company Location Guide Map”, which provides contact information for organizations relevant to various procedures. |
| Providing information on subsidy programs | No | Provision of information by staff at the Chiba City Economic Promotion Section |
Database of candidate partners
- Chiba Overseas Business Support Center
Searches for companies in Chiba Prefecture interested in business dealings/collaboration with overseas companies
Available incentives
"Subsidy programs"
<Company location promotion subsidies>
- New construction of factories, offices, etc.
Subsidies for fixed property tax and city planning tax (maximum of 500 million yen per year for five years) on acquired land, buildings, and depreciable property
* Conditions pertaining to districts, industry sectors, investment amounts, etc., apply.
- New construction of head offices (offices with head office functions)
Subsidies for fixed property tax and city planning tax (maximum of 500 million yen per year for five years) on acquired land, buildings, and depreciable property
* Conditions pertaining to investment amounts, etc., apply.
<Leased company location promotion subsidies>
- Lease of factories, offices, etc.
Foreign companies are eligible for subsidies of up to two-thirds of lease expenses (up to 3 million yen).
Living environment for foreigners
| Living environment | Chiba City’s well-developed business environment is complemented by its good living environment and bountiful natural surroundings. Housing rents are lower than in Tokyo, and large-scale supermarkets such as Costco and Carrefour offer enjoyable shopping from a lineup of products satisfying the needs of foreign residents, ensuring comfortable day-to-day living. Sports are popular in Chiba City, which has two professional sports teams (Chiba Lotte Marines in pro baseball, and JEF Chiba in J-League soccer), seaside parks for windsurfing, lush green parks for camping, and other recreational facilities that create a high-quality environment for both living and leisure. |
|---|---|
| International schools | A kindergarten/elementary school accepting children returning to Japan from overseas and the children of foreign business people is scheduled to open in April 2009 as an official school (an Article 1 School under the School Education Act) established through industrial-academic-governmental collaboration. Chiba Prefecture and Chiba City have requested, and been granted approval for, designation of this school as a special zones for structural reform.
|
| Health services catering to foreigners | Search site for hospitals capable of communicating with patients in foreign languages |
Links to Related Websites
- City of Chiba English top
- Chiba City International Association
- Welcome to Makuhari New City
- Chiba Investment Support Center
- Chiba Research Park
