Where to invest in Japan's local regions

Osaka city

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan/Provided by: Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition

INTEX Osaka

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan! OSAKA, a city full of international business opportunities

Regional News

Contact

Business Development, Economic Strategy Bureau

ATC O's South Bldg. 4F, 2-1-10 Nanko-Kita Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-0034

 ga0024@city.osaka.lg.jp


Basic information

Population *1

2690 thousand

Labor force *1

1187 thousand

Nominal GDP*2

N.A.

Number of Establishments*3

198,329 establishments

JETRO office
  1. *1

    Population Census 2015, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

  2. *2

    Prefectural Citizens'Economic Accounts 2018, Cabinet Office

  3. *3

    "2016 Economic Sensus", Statstics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Basic information updated on:Jan. 2022

Business Environment

Osaka City is a central city of the Kansai area, which has the second economic scale in Japan, and its economic scale is about 3.8% (as of 2019) of Japanese GDP. In addition, it is located in the center of Japan. It has a well-developed transportation infrastructure that has a hub function connecting Asia and the world as well as major cities in Japan, making it an optimal location for businesses, logistics and tourism. Furthermore, compared to Tokyo, there is also the advantage of reducing business costs such as land prices in commercial and industrial areas, offices and store rents and wages.

Incentives

Partial subsidy for corporate registration

Subsidies

We will subsidize a part of the cost of registering corporate registration to companies from foreign countries to Osaka.

Business Support Office (BSO)

Others

We offer free office space that can be used 365 days for up to six months, six individual rooms, and one shared-office to businesses and organizations in all industries looking to establish a business base in Osaka City. They come with communications and office equipment in the room. BSO also assists in opening a business office in Osaka City.

Preferential treatment on local taxes in Comprehensive Global Strategic Special Zones

Tax reduction

When a company that conducts pioneering businesses related to new energy and life science starts a new business in the area designated by Osaka City[*1], city tax[*2] will be exempted in full for up to five years, and will be exempted by half for the next five years.
*1 Around Osaka Station, Yumeshima/Sakishima area, Hanshin Port area
*2 corporate municipal tax, property tax, business tax, city planning tax

Startup Visa

Startup Visa Available

Industrial cluster information

Environmental and new energy

In particular, companies and research institutions related to the environment and new energy industries, such as solar cells and lithium-ion batteries, are accumulated, especially on the Osaka Bay coast. The Sakishima Cosmosquare District also has the world's largest large-scale storage battery test and evaluation facility (National LABoratory for advanced energy storage technologies (NLAB)).

Local companies

Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., Iwatani Corporation, Espec Corp., Yashima Dengyo Co., Ltd.

Educational/research institutes of the industry

Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology

Others

National Laboratory for Advanced Energy Storage Technologies [NLAB], TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd. Kansai Technology Assessment Center [KTAC]

Life Sciences

Osaka City has been prospering as a "medicine town", mainly in Doshomachi. Currently, in addition to pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturers that actively engage in biotechnology, companies such as chemistry and medical equipment have been accumulated, and research institutions such as universities which have medical schools, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, and National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Osaka Prefecture have also been accumulated.
In addition, PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency) Kansai Branch is also located, where they offer various consultations on pharmaceuticals and medical devices before they reach the market.
Furthermore, in 2024, Nakanoshima Qross (International Center for Future Medical Care) will open in Nakanoshima, which is expected to further promote the industrialization of cutting-edge medical technology.

Local companies

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

Educational/research institutes of the industry

Medical Center for Translational Research Osaka University Hospital

Others

Nakanoshima Qross (International Center for Future Medical Care), PMDA Kansai Branch, Medical Device Industry Forum

Global financial functions

Osaka is the birthplace of derivatives, and there are two exchanges, the Osaka Exchange and the Dojima Exchange. In March 2022, the "Global Financial City OSAKA Strategy" was formulated. Utilizing the Big Projects like the Expo, the city aims to attract investment and human resources from Japan and overseas, and to create a pioneering financial product and service as a hub city for derivative transactions in Japan.

Others

The Global Financial City OSAKA Promotion Committee, Osaka Global Finance One-Stop Support Center

Links

Living environment

Osaka has been in the top 10 in a row since 2018 in "Global Livability Ranking" published by the Economist, the British magazine, and has been highly evaluated as a livable city.
In addition to the proximity of work housing, there are department stores and shopping centers, a world-renowned theme park, museums and theaters. There are many specialty parks, such as Osaka Castle Park surrounding Osaka Castle, which is a special historic site with plum and cherry blossoms, Nagai Park, where professional soccer teams hold a home stadium, and Tennoji Park with a zoo and a museum, blessed with a comfortable living environment.
In the city, there are also international schools, Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital that can support foreign languages. In addition, Osaka International House is compatible with multilingual consultations for foreign people, such as status of residence, labor, medical care, welfare, and education.

International schools
Hospitals with foreign language support

Logistics and infrastructures

Osaka is convenient for land, sea, and air routes, and all means of transportation, and is an excellent location for corporate location, logistics and tourism.
It is directly connected by the bullet train "Shinkansen" with major domestic cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.
Also, there are networks with about 30 cities around the world, including Asian countries, from Kansai International Airport, which can be accessed in about 50 minutes from Osaka city.
In addition, it has Osaka Port, which has the longest large water depth container terminal in western Japan, and is connected by about 300 regular containers on a monthly basis to China, Southeast Asia, Australia and North America. Osaka Port is a port that makes up Hanshin Port, an international container strategic port.
There is a sufficient transportation network as a base to do business with major cities nationwide and worldwide.

Air: Access from Kansai International Airport to major cities. About 50 minutes by train from Osaka Station to Kansai International Airport.
Land: From Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station by Shinkansen bullet train: About 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Map of Osaka city

Support

The Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC) supports companies that want to enter Osaka. O-BIC provides various information that companies need, such as providing incentive information and real estate information, introducing experts, and accepting consultation on corporate registration procedures.
In addition, Osaka Global Financial One-Stop Support Center has a wide range of consultations for financial foreign companies and foreign investors, such as professional inquiries such as financial licenses, business consultations, and daily life consultation.

Success Stories in Osaka city

Business Expanding

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