Enter Japan with one accountable partner.
We map the regulatory route, sequence every workstream, and coordinate the specialists needed to get you trading and operating in Japan. One plan, one team, and clear ownership from the first decision onward.
Free initial consultation · Confidential · Reply within one business day
Not sure which route fits? Tell us your goal and we will map the next steps.
Most companies enter Japan by stitching together separate vendors: a customs agent, a lawyer, an accountant, a visa specialist. Each owns one slice, and the regulatory risk lives in the gaps between them. Aplash is a regulatory strategy and market-entry firm, not a logistics provider. We take the entire entry under one accountable team, so nothing falls between vendors and no filing is missed.
日本進出のすべてを、一つのパートナーで。
- ステップ 01市場を試すIOR または ACP を利用し、日本法人なしで輸入・販売できます。現在のステップ
- ステップ 02法人設立取扱量が増えた段階で、株式会社（KK）または合同会社（GK）を設立します。詳しく見る
- ステップ 03事業運営税務・ビザ・継続的なコンプライアンスまで一括で対応します。詳しく見る
One entry plan. The right capabilities at the right time.
We sequence what you need now, what can wait, and which specialist owns each step. You keep one accountable relationship as the entry grows.
One plan keeps every workstream moving.
Regulatory decisions affect trade, tax, product readiness, local operations, and founder mobility. We manage those dependencies before they become delays.
Regulatory route first. We identify the approvals, ownership, dependencies, and sequence before execution begins.
Senior coordination. The people shaping the route stay close to execution and specialist review.
Clear accountability. Every workstream has an owner and every dependency has a visible next step.
Built to stay with you. Start with market testing, add local operations when ready, and keep tax and compliance aligned as you grow.
A clear route from first inquiry to market.
We turn your goal into a sequenced plan, coordinate execution, and stay accountable as the business grows.
Tell us the goal
Share what you plan to sell, build, or operate, where you are starting from, and your target date.
Map the route
We identify the practical entry structure, required approvals, dependencies, and the right first move.
Coordinate execution
We organize the specialists, documents, filings, and handoffs against one accountable plan.
Operate and scale
Tax, compliance, founder mobility, and expansion stay aligned as your Japan footprint grows.
Entering Japan, answered.
The questions companies ask most before they choose an entry route.
What should I include in my first inquiry?
Tell us what you plan to sell, build, or operate in Japan, where you are starting from, your target date, and whether you already have a local structure. You do not need to choose the service first. We use those details to map the right route and next step.
Do I need a Japanese company to sell in Japan?
No. You can import and sell through an Importer of Record (IOR) or an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP / 税関事務管理人) with no local entity. Set up a Japanese KK or GK later, when your volume earns it. Aplash handles that step when you are ready.
IOR, ACP, or company setup, which one do I need?
ACP fits general consumer goods and Amazon FBA. IOR fits regulated, hazardous, or controlled goods, where a legal importer must carry the liability. Incorporation fits established operations that want their own entity. Tell us your product on a call and we name the right route.
How does one accountable team make entry easier?
Aplash coordinates trade compliance, local operations, tax, and founder mobility against one plan. Decisions are sequenced, responsibilities are clear, and specialist work stays connected. You manage one relationship instead of rebuilding context with separate vendors.
How is Aplash different from a freight forwarder or customs broker?
Aplash is a regulatory strategy and market-entry firm, not a logistics company. We carry the legal and compliance responsibility for entering the Japanese market and direct the licensed brokers and carriers on your behalf. We do not move freight ourselves.
How long does it take to start?
ACP registration is approved in two weeks. IOR onboarding and company incorporation move as fast as your documents arrive, and you get a firm, sequenced timeline on the first call.
Which languages and markets do you cover?
English, Japanese, and Chinese, from bases in Hong Kong and Osaka. We take companies into Japan from anywhere in the world.
Show us the goal. We’ll map the Japan route.
You do not need to arrive with the service already chosen. A useful first inquiry only needs the essentials.
- What you plan to sell, build, or operate
- Where you are starting from
- Your target launch date
- Your current Japan footprint, if any
Free initial consultation · Confidential · Reply within one business day
Get your Japan entry plan.
You do not need to pick a service first. Tell us what you want to sell, build, or operate in Japan, where you are starting from, and your target date. We will route the inquiry to the right team.
From the journal.
Field notes on entering and operating in the Japanese market.
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