Shibuya Startup Support is an initiative of the Shibuya City Office in Tokyo, launched in September 2020. It acts as a concierge for domestic and international founders who want to start and grow a business in Shibuya. It handles the city's English-language startup visa, runs Testbed City trials with residents, and operates the SHIBUYA BRIDGE shared office near Shibuya Station, which opened in October 2024. It also points founders to related programs such as the S-Startups certification.
Open to
Market entry partners
Legal, tax or visa help
Co-marketing & events
The events page invites people who want to organise an event through Shibuya Startup Support to send a request through its contact form. Applications for the startup visa and Testbed City are taken through the website.
Services
Service
Startup Visa
Visa support for foreign founders starting a business in Shibuya
Who it's for: Foreign entrepreneurs
✓Program conducted in English
✓No Japanese language requirement
✓Applications open year-round
ServiceOpen for applications
Testbed City
Proof-of-concept trials in Shibuya with feedback from residents
Who it's for: Startups
✓Coordination with the city for testing
Service
SHIBUYA BRIDGE
Free shared office and community space near Shibuya Station
Who it's for: Startup visa holders and S-Startups
✓Free 24/7 access for eligible startups
✓Business matching with investors
✓Weekly open networking brunch
Customers
Foreign founders moving to Japan to start a scalable business in Shibuya, pre-seed to early-stage startups based in Japan, and startups, universities and research institutes that want to test new technology with residents. Its site says the startup visa holders it has supported range from solo founders to foreign startups, across various stages and industries.
“Shibuya city gives you a great opportunity to enter Japanese market thanks to their hands-on support regarding startup visa, investments, business partnerships, as well as settling down in Japan with your family.”
Fariza Abidova · Co-Founder, Trusted Corporation
“Shibuya City, where Stripe's office is currently located, brings excitement as well as a cosmopolitan, young energy.”
Daniel Heffernan · Representative Director, Stripe Japan
Traction
100+companies taking part in Testbed City as of March 2025
~400applicants to Testbed City from Japan and abroad
2,500+residents in the monitor programme that tests new services
4thS-Startups certification term, with support starting January 2027
