Grants & subsidies for startups in Japan

12 grants and subsidies for startups in Japan, national and Tokyo, each with who it is for, how much, the deadline and the official link.

Checked Oct 2026

This guide covers Japan’s public funding only: grants, subsidies and competitions. Two quick distinctions:

Grants & subsidies - non-dilutive public money you keep (Tokyo city rounds for early stage, NEDO and JST for deep-tech R&D).
Competitions - pitch contests with prize money (Tokyo Startup Gateway).

Looking for equity, mentorship or a cohort instead? Accelerators and incubators (Techstars Tokyo, Antler, Plug and Play) live in the Support, accelerators & incubators guide, and visa routes are in Visas for founders.

One timing note

Amounts, eligibility and deadlines reset every fiscal year (Japan’s year starts in April, and many calls open around December to January). Treat the listed figures as a guide, then confirm the current round on each official page before you plan around a number. The list below was checked against each official page on 20 October 2026.

the programs

12 programs

common questions

Does the Japanese government give grants to startups?

Yes, and more than most founders expect. National programs range from NEDO's deep-tech grants (up to 2.5 billion yen across phases) to JETRO subsidies, and Tokyo runs its own startup subsidies. The list on this page gives each program with its amount and deadline, and links to the official page.

Can foreign founders get startup grants in Japan?

Many programs are open to any company incorporated in Japan, regardless of the founder's nationality, and several accept applications in English (JETRO's and Tokyo's foreign-founder programs in particular). Eligibility usually hinges on incorporation and business substance, not passport.

What is the biggest startup grant in Japan?

For deep tech, NEDO's phased support reaches up to 2.5 billion yen with VC co-investment requirements. For most early-stage software startups, metropolitan subsidies and smaller national programs in the single-digit millions of yen are the realistic entry point.

When are the deadlines for Japanese startup subsidies?

They vary by program and round. The list on this page gives a date only when an official source publishes one; anything without a published date says rolling, or when the last call closed.