Japan Market Entry, Coordinated End to End

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.

Get your Japan entry plan →

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.

Already know the route? See what is ordered online at a published fixed fee.

Regulatory strategy, trade, tax, and founder mobility, coordinated as one entry.

Japan entity to start

One

Accountable entry team

Working languages: EN · JP · ZH

1 day

To our first reply

Our mandate

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.

Discuss your Japan entry Start with your product, business model, and target date.

The Aplash lifecycle

One partner across your Japan journey.

Stage 01Test the marketImport and sell through IOR or ACP with no Japan entity required.You are here
Stage 02IncorporateEstablish a KK or GK once your volume justifies your own entity.Explore
Stage 03OperateRun the business with ongoing tax, visas, and compliance handled.Explore

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.

Test · TradeIOR & EORImport and export regulated, hazardous, and controlled goods with no local entity. Aplash carries full Importer of Record liability, including shipments others refuse.Explore IOR & EOR Test · TradeACPWe coordinate the Attorney for Customs Procedures (税関事務管理人) role, shipment records and the licensed customs-broker workflow for eligible non-resident importers.Explore ACP EstablishLocal Business SetupPut the right local operating structure in place when the business is ready, with coordinated setup and post-entry compliance support.Explore business setup OperateTax & LegalCorporate tax, Japanese Consumption Tax (JCT), labour law, contracts, and data protection (APPI), for foreign businesses in Japan.Explore tax & legal OperateFounder ImmigrationFounder mobility planning for eligible entrepreneurs building and operating a business in Japan, including Business Manager, HSP, and J-SKIP pathways.Explore founder immigration PlanIndustry InsightsProduct-level entry research: certification routes, the right import structure, and a sequenced path to your first lawful shipment.Explore industry insights GrowM&A AdvisoryBuy-side and sell-side advisory, due diligence, and post-merger integration for cross-border deals in Japan.Explore M&A advisory GrowDesignBrand identity, UI/UX, and campaign design built for how Japan reads and buys.Explore design

How to engage

Decided? Order online. Deciding? Start with the assessment.

Both routes are open. Services with a published fixed fee are ordered online, with the scope, the exclusions and the amount stated before you pay and the eligibility questions answered first. Everything else is scoped before a fee is set.

Order online at a published fee

Each page below states its fee and who the online order is open to. The catalog lists every service sold online, including the ones without a page of their own, such as a registered address of record and Japan tax agent with Qualified Invoice Issuer registration.

See every service and its published fee The order pages and the service agreement are in English.

Start with the assessment

Some routes are scoped before any fee is set: a resident Japan-side director, a 経営管理 (Business Manager) visa track, day-one banking, a business sector designated under 外為法 (FEFTA) or otherwise licensed, and any matter reaching three or more ministries. Dual-use goods and military end-use are never sold online and take an Aplash Director review before scope or terms are set.

Request the assessment Free · Confidential · Reply within one business day

The Aplash advantage

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.

How we work

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.

FAQ

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 timing is case-specific: the customs office, your evidence, product controls, and broker readiness all determine it, and we do not promise a fixed government processing time. IOR onboarding and company incorporation move as fast as your documents arrive, and you get a 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.

Can I order a service online, or do I have to start with a consultation?

Both routes are open. Services with a published fixed fee are ordered online, with the scope, the exclusions and the amount stated before you pay: ACP appointment setup, KK or GK company formation and the entry-tier shelf-company profile are ordered from their own pages, and the order catalog lists everything else sold online. Routes that have to be scoped before a fee can be set start with the assessment instead: a resident Japan-side director, a 経営管理 (Business Manager) visa track, day-one banking, a business sector designated under 外為法 (FEFTA) or otherwise licensed, and any matter reaching three or more ministries. The order pages and the service agreement are in English.

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

Get my Japan entry plan

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.

View all articles

Industry Insights