Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Nagahama city
A major center for processing and assembly industries in the Kinki district, focusing on nurturing new and developing industries like biotechnology and environment
- Your Regional Guide: Kazunori Kakimi
Inquiry form
Department of Economy and Industry, Strategic Project Promotion Section
12-34, Takada-chou, Nagahama-city, Shiga Prefecture 526-8501
TEL: +81-749-65-6520 FAX: +81-749-64-0396
- Basic Information
- Regional Profile
- Services for investment in Japan
- Available incentives
- Living environment for foreigners
- Links to Related Websites
Basic Information
| Population | 0.08 million (Male: 0.042 million, Female: 0.043 million) (2007) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 0.05 million (Male: 0.027 million, Female: 0.026 million) (2007) |
| Area | 247km² (2007) |
| GDP | 337.5 billion yen (2005) |
| Major industries | General machinery, metal goods, plastic, textile industry, and food |
| Developing industries | Environment, health, biotechnology, and high-tech manufacturing |
| JETRO office | JETRO Osaka |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
Nagahama City welcomed a number of companies and research/development facilities with high-level technical capabilities in the field of manufacturing textiles, synthetic resins, industrial machinery, and information/communication devices. Above all, the shipment value of the information/communication devices accounts for approximately 90% of the one of Shiga Prefecture (industrial statistics survey of Shiga Prefecture in 2005), and thus this business has become one of the major strength of the city. It is also endeavoring to invite the environmental and biotechnology-related industries. As for the former field, the Shiga Environmental Business Exhibition Enviro-Shiga, one of the largest comprehensive trade fairs of the environmental industry, is held every year, and about twenty companies participate from Nagahama and neighboring cities. The exhibition is highly evaluated by the companies tackling the environmental business because participation in it leads to an improved corporate image and the proof of high technical capability. As for the latter field, the Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Japan’s first four-year college specialized in bio-science, is located in the Nagahama Science Park, and it is designated as the base of biotechnology business promotion. It focuses its efforts on the creation of new business through collaboration with existing companies or change of business categories/development of new business areas.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
One universities, one junior college, and four senior high schoolsThe Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology provide a consulting service specialized in industry-academia collaboration to answer inquiries on collaborative research and technologies.
Industry-government-academia collaboration
Nagahama City designated the Nagahama Special Bio/Life-Science Zone for the purpose of inviting bio-related industries on the premise of having industry-government-academia collaboration with Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology. The college’s Industry-Government-Academia Collaborative Research/Project Development Center plans a collaborative project with the college and coordinates work among the parties concerned. Another project is in process, where Nagahama City and Kyoto University play a central role in taking more effective measures to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
Nagahama City is located midway between the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area and Nagoya and is a hub of road and rail traffic.
- One hour to Nagoya and Kyoto. One hour and a half to Osaka without a transfer
- Access to international airports:120 minutes to Kansai International Airport80 minutes to Chubu International Airport
- Access to international ports150 minutes to Osaka Port90 minutes to Nagoya Port and Yokkaichi Port30 minutes to Tsuruga Port, which provides abundant regular container services to China and Korea
<Land>
Meishin Expressway, Hokuriku Expressway and Route 8, 21, and 365
<Air>
Osaka International Airport, Kansai International Airport, Chubu International Airport, Nagoya Airport, etc.
<Sea>
Osaka Port, Nagoya Port, Yokkaichi Port and Tsuruga Port
<Railway>
Tokaido Shinkansen, JR Biwako Line, Hokuriku Line, Kosei Line, etc.
Services for investment in Japan
| Menu of services | Fees charged? | Content of services |
|---|---|---|
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes | A five-year lease is provided in the Nagahama Bio-Incubation Center, adjacent to the Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology. (A renewal procedure is required every 18 months.) |
Database of candidate partners
Registered company information or data on bulletin boards can be searched by keyword.
Search refinement by category or industry is also provided for your easy information retrieval.
Available incentives
- A subsidy is granted to the companies who are located in the City, according to the amount invested to fixed assets and the number of employees.
- The Nagahama City Government provides full support, including reduced time required for administrative formalities, for those who are located in the City.
<Major subsidies>
Subsidy provided by Nagahama City to companies building a new factory in the city
- Tax exemption for the construction of new factories
1) 100% of fixed asset tax for the first fiscal year
2) 75% of fixed asset tax for the second fiscal year
3) 50% of fixed asset tax for the third fiscal year
- Requirements:
1) 100 million yen or over invested to fixed assets (excluding acquisition of land)
2) 10 new employment or over
3) Conclusion of an environmental conservation agreement
- Rent subsidy for those moving away from an incubation center
700 yen per square meter per month (300,000 yen maximum per year)
- Requirements:
Those who moved away from an incubation center (including the ones in other cities)
- Subsidy for promoting employment (100 persons maximum)
1) If the employee is a resident of Nagahama City: 100,000 yen per person
2) If the employee is a resident of Ika District or Higashi Azai District: 50,000 yen per person
Living environment for foreigners
| Living environment | Nagahama City won the first place for three consecutive years and still ranks high in the “Most Comfortable Cities to Live in” survey conducted by Toyo Keizai Inc. every year. It is a land with Lake Biwako and rich nature as well as traditional culture, and brings comfort to its residents. With Route 8 and other major roads running through the City, it is conveniently located in terms of public transportation and has many commercial facilities.The area seldom meets with serious natural disasters including typhoons and major earthquakes. . Although it is located in the area called northland, snow does not accumulate thick there years, providing safe and comfortable living environment. |
|---|---|
| Health services catering to foreigners | Two general hospitals and one specialty hospital in the City |
| Other | Nagahama City pioneered in providing primary school pupils with formal English education and thus citizens have higher ability to understand English in general. The City prepared “Handbook for Citizens” to explain what residents need to know for their daily living, in English, Portuguese and Spanish. |
Links to Related Websites
- INDUSTRIAL LOCATIONS OF NAGAHAMA CITY Corporate Location Guide
- Shiga Prefecture
- Shiga Prefecture Industrial Support Center
- Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization (SIA)
