Startup accelerators and incubators in Japan
- 22 organizations
- 8 cities
- Oct 2026 last checked
Startups in Japan raised JPY 761.3 billion in 2025 (excluding debt financing), a broadly stable total year on year, according to Speeda's full-year tally. The number of funded startups fell 6%, from 2,869 to 2,700, and the median deal fell from JPY 77.6 million to JPY 62.4 million.
Sources: Speeda via INITIAL, Japan startup funding in 2025, June 2026
Japan's government five-year startup plan, originally set in fiscal 2022, targets investment into startups on the scale of 10 trillion yen, 100,000 startups and 100 unicorns. A June 2026 government update reports that the number of startups has increased to 25,000 and that pre-unicorn candidates grew from 12 to 31 firms.
Sources: Japan Science and Technology Agency (Science Portal), startup policy package news, June 30, 2026
22 of 22 shown
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Aichi Landing Pad
An accelerator for international startups run by Aichi Prefecture that offers mentoring, Japan market education, use-case matching with regional manufacturers and business matching at STATION Ai in Nagoya.
- Run by
- Aichi Prefecture
Climate & energyIndustry & manufacturing
aichi-landing-pad.agorize.com Latest activity: Jun 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Antler Japan
A six-week full-time Inception Residency in Tokyo, taught mainly in English, where founders build and test a product and receive pre-seed investment.
- Run by
- Antler
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Equity
- $100,000 for 10% equity
- Funding
- $150,000 ($100,000 for 10% equity plus $50,000 via an uncapped SAFE with MFN)
antler.co Upcoming: Nov 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Fukuoka Growth Next
A public-private startup facility in Fukuoka City combining a startup consultation cafe, selective growth programs with mentoring and VC pitches, and incubation workspace.
- Run by
- Fukuoka City
growth-next.com Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
JR East Startup Program
An open call in which startups propose joint projects with JR East Group resources and run proof-of-concept trials, with themes of regional, digital and SDG co-creation.
- Run by
- East Japan Railway Company
jrestartup.co.jp Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Kanagawa Startup Acceleration Program (KSAP)
A prefecture program with a seed track for hypothesis validation and an early-stage track with support funds, fundraising mentoring and collaboration with the prefecture, VCs and companies.
- Run by
- Kanagawa Prefecture
- Duration
- Seed edition June to September 2026; Early edition October 2026 to March 2027
- Funding
- support funds of up to 1 million yen (Early edition)
- Founded
- 2017
Social impact
pref.kanagawa.jp Latest activity: Jul 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Kawasaki Global Accelerator
A city accelerator for deep tech startups with domestic training, English pitch coaching, mentoring and a Silicon Valley trip for about five selected participants.
- Run by
- Kawasaki City
- Duration
- Late September 2026 to March 2027 (2026 edition)
Deep tech
contents-jp.plugandplaytechcenter.com Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
KDDI ∞ Labo (MUGENLABO)
KDDI's open innovation program runs four 2026 startup programs covering partner-asset business support, a North America acceleration track, space co-creation and staff side projects.
- Run by
- KDDI
kddi.com Latest activity: Jul 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Kyoto University Growth Strategy Headquarters (IAC)
Kyoto University's growth strategy headquarters runs startup support for researchers, including briefing sessions, and works with its wholly owned venture capital company Kyoto iCAP to foster university ventures.
- Run by
- Kyoto University
iac.kyoto-u.ac.jp Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Open Network Lab (Onlab)
A seed accelerator running recurring batches in Tokyo, with regional tracks in Hokkaido and Fukuoka, ending in Demo Days for early-stage startups.
- Run by
- Digital Garage
All sectors
onlab.jp Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Osaka Innovation Hub (OIH)
An innovation hub at Grand Front Osaka established by the City of Osaka that hosts events and runs startup programs such as SIO Acceleration and global entrepreneur programs.
- Run by
- City of Osaka
- Founded
- 2013
innovation-osaka.jp Latest activity: Feb 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Plug and Play Japan
Japan arm of Plug and Play running corporate-partnered accelerator batches in Tokyo with offices in Osaka and Kyoto, plus government-commissioned programs for cities.
- Run by
- Plug and Play
AIDeep techClimate & energyHealthtechInsurtechMobility
japan.plugandplaytechcenter.com Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Sakura Deeptech Shibuya Accelerator
A deep tech accelerator run by Scrum Studio and Tokyu Land Corporation at Sakura Deeptech Shibuya in Tokyo, giving Japanese and overseas startups corporate collaboration and commercialization support.
- Run by
- Scrum Studio and Tokyu Land Corporation
Deep tech
scrum.vc Latest activity: Jan 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Sendai Startup Studio
Sendai's one-stop startup support base offering free consultations, a mentor network, a global startup hub, meetups and city programs for overseas expansion and research-based startups.
- Run by
- Sendai City
sendaistartupstudio.com Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Shibuya Startup Support
Shibuya's startup support hub offering a startup visa route, a testbed city scheme and the S-Startups program for startups aiming at global markets from Shibuya.
- Run by
- Shibuya City
shibuya-startup-support.jp Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Startup Initial program OSAKA (SIO) Acceleration
A six-month acceleration program for seed-stage and pre-founding entrepreneurs aiming at global markets from Osaka, with hypothesis validation workshops, mentor one-on-ones and a Demo Day.
- Run by
- Osaka Industrial Promotion Organization
- Duration
- 6 months
osaka-startup.com Latest activity: Jul 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
SusHi Tech Global Startups and Growth Acceleration Program
A Tokyo government program that selects growth-stage sustainability startups for tailored mentoring and offers a growth acceleration program with funding support for high-potential projects.
- Run by
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- Funding
- up to 200 million yen per project (Growth Acceleration Program)
sushitech-global.metro.tokyo.lg.jp Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Techstars Tokyo Accelerator
A three-month Techstars accelerator in Tokyo powered by Mitsui Fudosan and JETRO Startup, providing mentoring, corporate access and seed funding.
- Run by
- Techstars with Mitsui Fudosan and JETRO
- Duration
- 3 months
- Equity
- 5% common stock plus the value of the uncapped MFN Safe
- Funding
- $120,000 total ($100,000 uncapped MFN Safe or J-KISS plus $20,000 convertible equity agreement)
All sectors
techstars.com Latest activity: Aug 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government startup hub in Marunouchi with a STUDIO program for young founders, a hardware prototyping lab, trial retail space, open-innovation support and weekly community meetups.
- Run by
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government
tib.metro.tokyo.lg.jp Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
TOKYO STARTUP STATION (Startup Hub Tokyo)
Tokyo's startup support desk offering founder consultations, events, business plan consulting with specialists, financing advice and a startup grant, at Marunouchi and Tama.
- Run by
- Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center
startup-station.jp Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
UTokyo IPC 1stRound and Startup Building Program
The University of Tokyo's venture company runs the 1stRound program, which gives selected teams about half a year of expert support and seed funding, plus a startup building program with entrepreneurs in residence.
- Run by
- The University of Tokyo
- Duration
- half a year (1stRound)
utokyo-ipc.co.jp Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
Waseda University Center for Entrepreneurship
Waseda's entrepreneurship center runs venture incubation, a PoC fund, a social entrepreneur program and co-creation programs with companies for students, researchers and alumni.
- Run by
- Waseda University
waseda.jp Latest activity: Sep 2026 · Checked Oct 2026 -
X-HUB TOKYO
A Tokyo government platform with outbound courses that take Tokyo startups to overseas ecosystems, an inbound program for foreign startups and an early-stage SCRUM program, with seminars.
- Run by
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government
x-hub-tokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp Latest activity: Oct 2026 · Checked Oct 2026
How this list is made
Every card on this page passed the same three checks before it was published.
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Opened on its own website
Each organization was read on its own site, not on a directory or press page.
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Active in the last 18 months
A dated cohort, open call, demo day or news item is required. Its date is on the card; an announced one shows as Upcoming.
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Checked a second time
A separate review re-read every record. Anything it could not confirm was left out.
What gets listed
- Accelerator cohorts
- Incubation with coaching or lab access
- Startup studios
- University founder centers
- Public programs with an application process
What is left out
- Investment funds without a program
- Office or coworking space without a program
- Programs with no dated activity in 18 months
Only what they state
Sector focus, duration, equity and funding appear only where the organization states them itself. A blank means it does not say, not that the answer is none.
Spotted a mistake?
Something out of date, or a program missing? Write to info@mentornity.com with a link to the official page.
Running a program like these?
Our guide covers how accelerators and incubators set up mentor pools, match founders with mentors and keep track of sessions across a cohort.