Registered Head Office Address in Japan: Legal Requirements for Foreign Entrepreneurs

When incorporating a company in Japan, the registered head office address (honten shozaichi) must be
located within Japan. This requirement applies universally, regardless of the nationality of the founder
or the type of business being established.

Foreign nationals who hold unrestricted, status-based residence statuses—such as
Permanent Resident or Spouse or Child of a Japanese National—are, in principle,
free to establish their head office at virtually any location. This includes operating from a private residence and
registering a home address as the company’s official head office.

By contrast, applicants seeking to obtain a Business Manager Visa are subject to far stricter scrutiny.
To satisfy the substantive requirements of the Business Manager status, the applicant is generally required to secure a
dedicated business office or commercial premises separate from their residence.

Permissible Head Office Locations by Status of Residence

The table below outlines how permissible head office locations differ depending on the foreign national’s
status of residence:

Status of Residence	Permissible Head Office Location
Japanese National Permanent Resident Spouse or Child of Japanese National Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	Head office may, in principle, be established at any location, including a private residence. However, certain regulated industries may separately impose requirements regarding office layout, size, or facilities.
Business Manager Visa Applicants	A physical business office must be secured and verifiably exist. The permitted use of the property must be commercial (business use only); residential use is not acceptable. The lease agreement must be executed in the company’s name; personal leases are not permitted. As a general rule, the office must be located separately from the applicant’s residence (subject to limited exceptions under strict conditions).

Property Types Generally Not Accepted for the Business Manager Visa

• Private condominium units used as personal residences (exceptionally, detached houses with fully segregated business and living areas may be accepted in rare cases)
• Monthly short-term rental apartments (so-called “monthly mansions”)
• Virtual offices without physical exclusive space
• Shared offices or subleased spaces within another company’s office

Property Types Commonly Accepted for the Business Manager Visa

• Standard commercial office space under a long-term lease
• Rental offices with fully independent private rooms
• Incubation and startup-support office facilities with exclusive-use units

Source: Continental Immigration Administrative Scrivener Corporation

Practical Guidance on Selecting a Business Premises

In practice, most foreign entrepreneurs select one of the following:

• A conventional commercial office unit,
• A SOHO-type studio apartment legally approved for business use, or
• A private-room rental office facility.

Because the Immigration Services Bureau applies strict review standards when assessing the physical
existence, exclusivity, and business-use legitimacy of the office, careful property selection is critical.
Choosing an unsuitable premises can directly result in a Business Manager Visa denial—regardless of how strong the
business plan itself may be.

FAQ: Japan Company Name Rules: Selecting a Trade Name (Shogo) for Incorporation

 

New Publication Release
“Handbook for Supporting Foreign Entrepreneurs in Japan”
By Masakazu Murai
Published by Nihon Horeisha, August 21

 

Professional

Masakazu Murai Immigration consultant, financial advisor 18 years’ experience in Investment Banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley. He had provided financial advisory more than 500 entrepreneurs and senior management.

Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer
– Co head of the Tokyo Gyoseishoshi Association, Minato branch
CMA(Japanese financial analyst license)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
MBA in Entrepreneurship
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