Investing in Japan

Regional Information

Saitama city

The Gateway to Your Success, SAITAMA

Your Regional Guide: Kunio Miyagawa

Saitama City Concierge

Saitama International Business Support Center
Sonic City Bldg. 8F, 1-7-5 Sakuragi-cho, Omiya Ward, Saitama-city, Saitama Prefecture 330-8669
TEL: +81-48-647-4156 FAX: +81-48-647-4157

Basic Information
Regional Profile
Services for investment in Japan
Available incentives
Living environment for foreigners
Links to Related Websites

Basic Information

Population	1.21 million (Male: 0.61 million, Female: 0.60 million) (May 2008)
Labor force	0.82 million (May 2008)
Area	217km² (2005)
GDP	3,384 billion yen (2005)
Major industries	Wholesaling/retailing, service, restaurant, lodging, construction, manufacturing
Developing industries	Optical lenses, medical devices and other precision equipment, pharmaceuticals, electric/electronic devices, information & communication
Offices in Japan	Tokyo
JETRO office	JETRO Headquarters, Tokyo Ark Mori Bldg. 6F 12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo Prefecture 107-6006 TEL: +81-3-3582-5312 FAX: +81-3-3505-1990 E-mail: jab@jetro.go.jp JETRO Saitama Information Desk Sonic-city Bldg. 8F, 1-7-5 Sakuragi-cho Omiya-ku, Saitama-city, Saitama Prefecture 330-8669 TEL: +81-48-647-7746 FAX: +81-48-647-4157 E-mail: jetro-saitama@saitama-bsc.jp

Regional Profile

Strength of the region's industries and economy

An agglomeration of world-leading R&D companies and the research facilities of major companies
Saitama City is home to numerous world-leading medium-sized R&D companies, primarily in the optical equipment, medical equipment, information & communications, and peripheral technology sectors. Large companies from such industries as optics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and materials are also engaged in R&D activities in Saitama City. The city is forming close networks with these companies and supporting business matching with foreign companies.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

Saitama City hosts a good number of educational institutions and has long been known nationwide as a city passionate about education. In addition to eight universities and junior colleges, the city also provides unified lower and upper secondary education and pursues other educational efforts. The age group 24 – 49 that constitutes the bulk of the work force accounts for 37.5% of the city’s population of 1.2 million, ranking second along with Yokohama among the nation’s largest cities in this regard.

Industry-government-academia collaboration

More than 250 optics companies have converged on Saitama City and central Saitama Prefecture. At present, 51 companies have offices in Saitama City and these companies specialize not only in optical lens manufacturing but also in laser/optic fiber light components/elements and the optical equipment and devices for which these serve as key parts. Taking advantage of this agglomeration of optics-related companies, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture and support organizations are pursuing a Saitama Optics Village Initiative in the hopes of forming a local industry brand and promoting collaboration both inside and outside the area.

Strength of the region's infrastructure

In front of the Omiya station

Located with a 20-30km radius from the center of Tokyo, Saitama City has a well-established railway network – with five Shinkansen Lines passing through JR Omiya Station, one of the largest terminal stations in eastern Japan – and serves as a transport node for eastern Japan. Central Tokyo can generally be reached in about 40 minutes (22 minutes by Shinkansen) from the center of Saitama City, meaning quick travel back and forth.
The Shuto, Kan’etsu, Tohoku, and Joban Expressways can be accessed via the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway and the Saitama-Omiya Expressway, one reason Saitama City has become a transport node for eastern Japan.
Trunk line road and expressway networks facilitate access not only to Tokyo and the Kanto Region but to all of eastern Japan as well, including the Koshinetsu and Tohoku regions.
Narita Airport can be reached by train from Omiya Station in about 78 minutes (about 100 minutes by direct bus).

<Land>

Expressway network: Tokyo Gaikan Expressway, Saitama-Omiya Expressway, Tohoku Expressway, etc.

<Railway>

From Narita Airport to Saitama City: 78 minutes
From central Tokyo to Saitama City: 22 minutes
The city’s railway network includes five Shinkansen lines (the Tohoku, Joetsu, Akita, Yamagata, and Nagano Shinkansen lines), the Keihin Tohoku Line, Saikyo Line and other conventional railway lines, and the subway lines of the Saitama Railway (28 stations within the city; Saitama Shintoshin Station – Tokyo Station: 35 minutes).

Foreign company(s) operating in the industry

Saitama City supported the expansion of nine foreign/foreign-affiliated companies into Saitama City during the three-year period FY2005 to FY2007. These foreign companies were attracted to Saitama City by the convenience of transport from Saitama City to the Tokyo metropolitan area and eastern Japan, by the availability of a large pool of skilled personnel, and by the presence of partner companies with excellent capabilities in optics, precision equipment, and life sciences. The area as whole offers in-depth location support and introductions to partner companies through the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC), and market access has been highly regarded.

Company name	Preservation Technologies Japan
Industry sector	Deacidification treatment of book materials
Date of entry	March 2008 (start of business)
Motivation for selecting region	Staff from Saitama City and Saitama Prefecture helped us in patient searches for properties. We received enthusiastic location support from the area as a whole, including a one-year lease of a startup office by the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC). Transportation access is good and there are plentiful human resources available. We sensed Saitama City’s enthusiasm in undertaking new urban development, especially in the Shintoshin District.
Support provided by local government or JETRO	Provision of information on properties and introduction to personnel Leasing of startup office by the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC) Coverage by JETRO of costs entailed in procedures to establish a Japanese corporation (part of its foreign company inducement local support program) Rent subsidies for the head office and deacidification treatment plant from the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC)
Comments	Foreign Companies in SAITAMA1

Company name	Lambda Research Optics, Inc.
Industry sector	Manufacturing/sales of parts and components for advanced optical equipment
Date of entry	February 2008 (start of business)
Motivation for selecting region	Saitama City has good transportation access to central Tokyo and the rest of the country and is convenient for developing a customer base. The area has a concentration of optics-related companies, and Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture and the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC) were vigorous in their efforts to attract our company. The local community and JETRO provided a variety of support, including the provision of information on properties, support for the establishment of a Japanese corporation, and rent subsidies for properties.
Support provided by local government or JETRO	Invitation by JETRO to head office president to examine location site (part of its foreign company inducement local support program) Coverage by JETRO of costs entailed in procedures to establish a Japanese corporation (part of its foreign company inducement local support program) Office rent subsidies from the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC)

Company name	Nichibei Translations,LLC
Industry sector	Translation and interpretation services
Date of entry	July 2005
Motivation for selecting region	We received advice and support from the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC) and others, as well as proposals regarding prospects for growth in the Japanese market. We determined that the convenient location of Saitama City less than one hour from central Tokyo was optimal for carrying out business in the surrounding Kanto Region. Corporate/business tax rates and commodity prices are lower in Saitama than in Tokyo, making it possible to hold down business costs such as rent and office supplies to a minimum (summarized from the Saitama International Business Support Center website)
Support provided by local government or JETRO	Advice pertaining to establishment procedures
Comments	Foreign Companies in SAITAMA2

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services	Fees charged?	Content of services
Providing market information
Advice on market participation	No	Provided by advisors from the Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC)
Consulting by external experts and advisers	Yes	Services provided by law offices, tax accountant offices, patent offices, and other SBSC business support network members with proven records of performance and reliability; introduction to these offices in accordance with needs
Arranging appointments with potential customers and partners	Yes	Provided by SBSC business support network members
Support for establishing a base
Monitoring surveys (evaluation of products and services)	Yes	Provided by SBSC business support network members
Listing of potential customers and partners	No	Introductions utilizing networks of companies, universities, research institutes, etc., that are continually being compiled; lists also provided in cooperation with other support organizations
Listing of potential customers and partners	No	No difficulties in arranging appointments because networks have been developed through personal contact with company managers; cooperation can also be obtained from other support organizations
Support for establishing a base
Providing incubation facilities or other facilities	No	Startup offices within SBSC provided free of charge for a maximum of 12 months
Providing incubation facilities or other facilities	No	Provided by SBSC advisors. Consultations on specialist matters are provided (for a fee) by SBSC business support network members
Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan	No	Provided by SBSC advisors. Consultations on specialist matters are provided (for a fee) by SBSC business support network members
Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services)	No	Provided by SBSC advisors
Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel	No	Provided by SBSC advisors
Providing information on permits and licensing procedures	No	Provided by SBSC advisors. Consultations on specialist matters are provided (for a fee) by SBSC business support network members
Providing information on subsidy programs	No	Provided by SBSC advisors

Support service

SBSC Saitama International Business Support Center <Saitama International Business Support Center (SBSC)>
Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, and the Saitama Chamber of Commerce and Industry jointly run the Saitama International Business Support Center, which provides one-stop support to foreign companies moving into Saitama. The SBSC has formed a network of 80 R&D companies and supports business matching with foreign companies. It has also built a support network of international business specialists as well as a human resources network, and it supports all facets of the expansion of foreign companies into the Japanese market.

SBSC’s two missions (support for foreign companies moving into Saitama, overseas business support for Saitama-based companies)
SBSC’s three networks (network of R&D equipment companies, network of international business specialists, human resources network)
SBSC’s principal services for foreign companies (introduction to business partners, introduction to specialists, subsidies/leases for startup offices, seminars, etc.)

Database of candidate partners

SAITAMA Excellent Companies

R&D companies in Saitama City and Saitama Prefecture are listed by field on the website, and booklets of standardized forms completed by the companies themselves have been prepared. Networks of foreign law offices and specialists on company establishment are also introduced.

Available incentives

One-stop service is available offering free of charge information and advice on markets, customer/partner candidates, business location establishment, personnel, real estate properties, etc.
Networks of R&D companies that could become partner candidates have been formed and information on these companies disseminated.
A network of specialists – foreign law offices and offices of administrative scriveners (gyosei-shoshi lawyers), certified tax accountants, and patent attorneys specializing in international business – is available to ensure that operations in Japan run smoothly.
Startup office with English- and Japanese-language secretarial services are available free of charge.
Programs are in place to subsidize part of the costs entailed in requesting specialist assistance necessary for corporation registration, etc.
Subsidies partially covering office rent are available.

Saitama International Business Support Center Support Programs

Living environment for foreigners

Living environment	Extensive green spaces have been maintained in the periphery of Saitama City; in the eastern part lie the 1200-hectare Minuma Paddy Fields, while in the western part can be found the Tajimagahara Wild Primrose Area (designated a special national treasure) and Akigase Park. World-renowned aspects of traditional culture such as bonsai and Japanese dolls have been carefully preserved, and Saitama City offers full urban amenities alongside natural surroundings and traditional culture. Known as a passionate soccer town, Saitama City is also the home town for two J League professional soccer teams, the Urawa Red Diamonds and the Omiya Ardija.
International schools	Although not in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture does have one school (Tokorozawa City), students can easily commute to international schools in central Tokyo from Saitama City.
Health services catering to foreigners	Search site for hospitals able to communicate with patients in foreign languages “Saitama City Medical Care Navigator”
Other	Informal discussion meetings are held with foreign residents. The city holds discussions on problems faced by foreign residents, and is continually working to ensure a convivial multicultural society in which all residents enjoy living.