Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Ibaraki
Offering the global knowledge center of Tsukuba; providing a manufacturing and distribution hub for the Tokyo metropolitan area
- Your Regional Guide: Masashi Shida
Inquiry form
Tokyo Office, Industry Development Section
Nippon Building 5F, 2-6-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Prefecture 100-0004
TEL: +81-3-3243-0845 FAX: +81-3-3243-0846
- Basic Information
- Regional Profile
- Services for investment in Japan
- Available incentives
- Living environment for foreigners
- Links to Related Websites
Basic Information
| Population | 2.96 million (Male: 1.47 million, Female: 1.49 million) (2008) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 1.93 million (Male: 0.99 million, Female: 0.94 million) (2008) |
| Area | 6,096km² (2006) |
| GDP | 10,956 billion yen (2005) |
| Major industries | Mechanical, electrical, chemical, food product, metal |
| Developing industries | Medical and welfare, information and communications, environmental, biotechnology, semiconductor |
| Offices overseas | Shanghai |
| Offices in Japan | Tokyo(Tokyo office)/Tokyo(Industry Development Section Tokyo Office)/Osaka(Osaka office) |
| JETRO office | JETRO Headquarters, Tokyo |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
Ibaraki Prefecture is located 30 ～ 160km from Tokyo, has a population around 3 million, and offers wide flat terrain well suited to industrial development. Also, in addition to featuring Japan’s largest science city, Tsukuba; the birthplace of Japan’s electronics industry, Hitachi; and one of the country’s leading chemical complexes, Kashima; Ibaraki serves as an attractive destination for business thanks to its position as the industrial transportation hub for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, with a land, sea, and air transportation infrastructure which is steadily developing, such as the Tsukuba Express rail line which opened in August 2005 connecting Tsukuba with Akihabara in Tokyo, and the Ibaraki Airport which is scheduled to open in 2010.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
Approximately 30% of national, etc., research and educational institutions are concentrated in Tsukuba, and when combined the large number of private research institutions and others which have congregated in the surrounding research and development industrial parks, the number of research institutions and companies is roughly 300, making Ibaraki a focal point of Japan’s efforts to develop itself as a nation built on scientific and technological innovation.
Construction of J-PARC, one of the world’s strongest and most advanced proton beams, is nearing completion and is scheduled to begin operation in December 2008.
Industry-government-academia collaboration
Ibaraki maintains a special zone for structural reform known as the “Tsukuba, Tokai, Hitachi Knowledge Zone”. Researchers from overseas come to this zone for extended stays, access to national research facilities, etc., is more freely available, and educators and others are able to start up new business during their tenure as instructors. Also, the Tsukuba Center, Inc. was established with the aim of promoting cooperation amongst industry, academia and government. Based on exchange and partnership between researchers in private industry, academia and the government, the Tsukuba Center, Inc. provides a diverse range of rental laboratories and offices; helps cultivate research and development venture companies; creates opportunities for capitalists and ventures to meet; promotes collaboration between public research institutions, universities and companies; and offers information on technological developments in Tsukuba.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
Work on the transportation network infrastructure in Ibaraki is nearing completion, and this infrastructure has already dramatically improved the business environment for companies. For example, the Tsukuba Express, which allows people to travel between Tsukuba and Akihabara in 45 minutes, was completed in 2005; and the Kita-Kanto Expressway is scheduled to connect with the Tohoku Expressway in November 2009; the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway is scheduled to connect with the Kan-Etsu Expressway, the Tohoku Expressway and the Higashi-Kanto Expressway in mid-2012, allowing travelers to go between Tsukuba and Narita airport in 50 minutes. Also, international distribution is supported by Ibaraki’s four designated ports, such as the Port of Hitachinaka, and a new gateway to and from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area will be available from 2010 with the opening of the Ibaraki Airport.
<Land>
Ibaraki Prefecture continues to work on developing its network of expressways which offer rapid access to Tokyo and the Kanto region. This network provides powerful support for businesses by shortening travel times and allowing a larger amount of freight to be transported.
- Joban Expressway Originates in Tokyo and cuts lengthwise across Ibaraki
- Kita-Kanto Expressway Cuts across and links Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma. Provides direct access to the Port of Hitachinaka
- Higashi-Kanto Expressway Extends from Tokyo and Narita to Mito
- Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway Cuts across the southern and western portions of Ibaraki; links the major cities of the Kanto region in a network
<Air>
The Hyakuri Air Base used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is currently being adapted for use by civilian aircraft, according to the “Hyakuri Airfield Civilian Air Traffic Development Project”. In 2010 the Ibaraki Airport is scheduled to begin operation. Once it opens, access to Hokkaido, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa and all of Japan’s major cities will dramatically improve, and it will allow for rapid business development by serving as the “northern gate to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area”.
<Sea>
Ibaraki Prefecture promotes enhanced international distribution through the global network it maintains through its designated ports, such as the Port of Hitachinaka.
- Port of Hitachi Linked with Kushiro Port in Hokkaido through a daily route run by a large-scale RORO vessel. In 2006 a route to Kitakyushu was also opened.
- Port of Hitachinaka An international port which can be accessed directly from the Kita-Kanto Expressway and which features a state-of-the-art international sea container terminal.This port has gained attention thanks to the expansion of Komatsu and the Hitachi Construction Machinery Company.
<Railway>
- Tsukuba Express Allows travel between central Tokyo and Tsukuba Science City in 45 minutes, providing a strong push for business growth. The line features six new stations and eight development zones which are helping to promote business. There is a lot of excitement about the new jobs and living opportunities that this rail line is creating.
- Joban Line Work on bringing this line into Tokyo began in May 2008 and is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
Services for investment in Japan
| Menu of services | Fees charged? | Content of services |
|---|---|---|
| Providing market information | ||
| Advice on market participation | No | Available through the Ibaraki Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (only in Japanese) |
| Consulting by external experts and advisers | Fees may apply | Available through the Ibaraki Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (only in Japanese) |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Available through the Ibaraki Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (manufacturing industry (particularly machine-related)) |
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Business conferences held by the Ibaraki Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes | Available through the Tsukuba Center, Inc |
| Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan | No | Available through the JETRO Ibaraki Information Desk |
| Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services) | No | Available through the Ibaraki Industrial Promotion Tokyo Headquarters; Ibaraki Business Promotion Office, Osaka Office; Ibaraki Employment Support Center; and the Ibaraki Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion |
| Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel | No | Available through the Ibaraki Industrial Promotion Tokyo Headquarters |
| Providing information on permits and licensing procedures | No | Available through the Ibaraki Industrial Promotion Tokyo Headquarters |
| Providing information on subsidy programs | No | Available through the Ibaraki Industrial Promotion Tokyo Headquarters |
Support service
The Ibaraki Industrial Promotion Tokyo Headquarters and Ibaraki Business Promotion Office offer support to foreign firms considering investment in Ibaraki.
Database of candidate partners
The Ibaraki Corporate Information Provision System is managed and maintained by the Ibaraki Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion and was created with the aim of using the Internet as a tool for promoting industry in Ibaraki. Users can utilize a variety of methods to search and reference information about companies within the prefecture and will find the system to be a useful aid in business and living. In addition, those who participate in the system and provide their information for listing are able to expand their business opportunities, such as through increased orders and sales; improve their corporate image; and better expand into new areas of business. They also receive priority in the system’s mail magazine distribution service which provides business support information from public institutions and in receiving Internet-related training opportunities.
Available incentives
- Exemption from prefectural taxes Exemption from corporate enterprise and taxes and real estate enterprise taxes accompanying the establishment or expansion of factories, offices, etc.
- Reduction or exemption from municipal taxes Reduction or exemption from fixed asset taxes accompanying the establishment or expansion of factories, offices, etc.
- Introduction of a leasing system Introduction of a leasing system for land allotments within industrial parks managed by the Ibaraki government and Ibaraki Development Public Corporation.
- Reduction or exemption of industrial water charges Cost allowance of 1/2 of industrial water charges for applicable areas
- Indirect leasing Introduction of indirect leasing for land allotments within industrial parks managed by the Ibaraki government and Ibaraki Development Public Corporation. (Prefecture → lease managers / SPC, etc. → companies)
Living environment for foreigners
| Health services catering to foreigners | Website for finding hospitals offering services in foreign languages |
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Links to Related Websites
