Guides
Japan Business & Real Estate Guides
In-depth, practical guides on starting a business, buying property, and entering the market in Japan — written from direct advisory experience.
Cost & Budget Guide
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Japan? (2026 Breakdown)
A line-by-line budget for foreign founders — statutory fees, registered address, banking and accounting — for a GK and a KK, including the costs most people only discover after they have filed.
Read the guide →Working With a 司法書士
English-Speaking Judicial Scrivener in Japan: What They Do and When You Need One
A 司法書士 (shiho shoshi) is the licensed professional who files company registrations and property titles in Japan. Here is what that means in English, what they can and cannot do, and how to check credentials.
Read the guide →Weekly Brief · Nov 2026
4th November 2026 — Decoding This Week's Uncertainty
A quieter reading of a loud week — what actually happened, what it means, and what is genuinely yours to do.
Read the guide →Business Setup Guide
Why Amazon, Google & Apple run Japan as a G.K. (And how much it costs to do the same)
Amazon, Google and Apple all run their Japan operations as a 合同会社 (Godo Kaisha) — not a 株式会社 (K.K.). A deliberate structure decision with concrete cost, governance and U.S. tax consequences — the facts, with sources.
Read the guide →Market Watch · Nov 2026
Japan Reprices Funding at 1.25% Amid Tokyo Condo Price Surge
Japan repriced while your IC memo was in review: policy rate 1.25%, Tokyo 23-ward new condos at ¥136M, capital-region prices +15.3% in a year, yen near ¥158 — and a rulebook that moved on 5 October.
Read the guide →Japan Regulatory Updates · Oct 2026
Japan's Two New Filing Rules for Foreign Founders & Property Owners
Two rules took effect within five days in October 2026: revised permanent-residence guidelines (Oct 1) and nationality recording in real-property registration (Oct 5). What changed — and what did not.
Read the guide →Regulatory Tracker
Japan Regulatory Updates for Foreign Founders & Property Owners
A dated record of Japanese regulatory and filing changes affecting foreign founders, property owners, and executives — maintained by Pearce Inagaki Legal Advisory LLC.
Read the guide →Business Setup Guide
How to Start a Business in Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide for Foreigners
What foreign founders actually need to know about incorporating and operating a company in Japan — without a resident visa, a Japanese passport, or a local partner.
Read the guide →Real Estate Guide
Buying a Holiday Home in Japan: What Foreign Buyers Need to Know
Japan places no general restriction on foreign ownership of real estate — but due diligence, title registration, and remote coordination all work differently than buyers expect.
Read the guide →Market Entry Guide
Japan Market Entry (GTM): Testing Product-Market Fit Before You Hire
Most Japan GTM failures trace back to one decision: hiring a local team before confirming there is a market to sell to. Here is a better sequence.
Read the guide →Immigration & Visa Guide
Japan's Business Manager Visa Changed in October 2025: What Actually Qualifies Now
The minimum capital requirement rose sixfold — from ¥5 million to ¥30 million — and four new requirements were added. Here is what changed, and what it means if your plan was to live in Japan while running a business.
Read the guide →Real Estate Guide
Can Foreigners Still Buy Land in Japan? The 2026 Rules, Straight
No, Japan has not banned foreign land ownership. 2026 is the year Japan switched on the plumbing to find out who owns its land — not the year it restricted who can.
Read the guide →GTM & Enterprise Sales Guide
How Do We Actually Generate Enterprise Pipeline? The Data, and What It Means for Japan
94% of buyers have settled on a vendor before sales ever engages. Here is what the latest global and Japan-specific research says actually moves enterprise pipeline in 2026 — and why cold calling has not died, but been repositioned.
Read the guide →Niseko & Real Estate Guide
What's Next, Niseko? Planning Your Christmas Holiday — 5 Things You Should Know
Season dates, the biggest new hotel in Hirafu, two 2026 rule changes that touch your wallet, and what it means if your Niseko trip turns into a second home. A quick briefing before you book.
Read the guide →