Submit from anywhere
Guided intake and document uploads in your portal.
JAPAN, WITHIN REACH
Your company in Japan. Start from where you are.
Set up a Godo Kaisha (GK) from overseas. Submit your details, review documents and follow every milestone online, with a team guiding you through the process.
Consultation fee credited toward your full incorporation service.
Get notified about the free guideNo visit to Japan required. Signed originals still need to be mailed.
- Fixed fee from
- ¥380,000 JPY
- Typical timeline
- 4–8 weeks
- Designed for
- Overseas founders
ONLINE TOOLS. HUMAN SUPPORT.
Less back-and-forth. More moving forward.
Know what comes next
A clear view of your current stage and next action.
Stay connected
Review documents and message your case team online.
INTERACTIVE WORKFLOW PREVIEW
Online, at your pace
Your next step, always clear.
Select a step to explore the process.
Start with your company details.
A guided form brings your company, members and business details together.
- Company information
- Members & capital
- Business purposes
Review documents in one place.
Review your draft Articles of Incorporation and coordinate the documents needed for your case.
- Draft Articles of Incorporation
- Document review
- Questions & corrections
Sign, fund and send originals.
Follow instructions for signed originals and capital remittance, then share supporting files online.
- Sign original documents
- Remit initial capital
- Mail originals to Japan
Follow filing through to delivery.
Your partner judicial scrivener handles filing. Track the milestones until your documents and seals arrive.
- Partner judicial scrivener filing
- Registration milestones
- Documents & seal delivery
Illustrative workflow · your case may varyExplore the full process
How it works
From your desk to a registered company in four steps.
1
Register & submit info
Create an account, then complete the guided intake covering company details, members, capital, and business purposes.
2
Pre-check & draft
We run name and industry pre-checks, prepare your Articles of Incorporation, and share them for your review and confirmation.
3
Sign, fund, mail
Sign documents, remit the initial capital, and mail original signed papers. Track everything in your dashboard.
4
Filing & delivery
Our partner Shiho-shoshi Lawyer files with the Legal Affairs Bureau. You receive registered company documents and the company seal set by mail.
What's included
A structured, English-friendly workflow for overseas founders.
Online intake portal
Bilingual guided form with validation tuned to Japanese incorporation rules.
Partner Shiho-shoshi Lawyer
A licensed judicial scrivener prepares and submits your incorporation filing with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
Company seal set
Official company seal (representative, bank, square) delivered to you, with upgraded materials available on Premium.
Initial capital guidance
Clear instructions for remitting initial capital and recording proof of payment in the manner the Legal Affairs Bureau accepts.
Bank of Japan IDI Form 11
Guidance on the initial Bank of Japan inward direct investment report for foreign-funded incorporations.
Post-setup introductions
Introductions to registered-address providers, tax accountants, and Japanese banks — at no markup.
Pricing
Fixed-fee plans. No surprise charges.
Standard
Most chosen¥380,000JPY
For up to 3 individual members, capital under ¥10 million.
- •Guided online intake
- •Partner Shiho-shoshi Lawyer incorporation filing
- •Up to 30 minutes of online consultation
- •Company wooden seal set
- •Initial capital injection guidance
- •Bank of Japan IDI Form 11 report guidance
- •Introductions to registered-address providers and banks
Premium
¥550,000JPY
For up to 5 mixed corporate/individual members, capital under ¥30 million.
- •Everything in Standard, plus:
- •Up to 90 minutes of online consultation (within plan scope)
- •Upgraded company seal options
- •Priority handling within our workflow queue
- •Introductions to certified tax accountants in addition to address providers and banks
Customized
Custom quote
For clients with special requirements or extended support needs.
- •Complex member structures
- •Additional document coordination
- •Expanded support scope
- •Special timeline or workflow requirements
Plan fees include the partner Shiho-shoshi Lawyer's incorporation filing fee, Japanese registration license tax, and Japanese consumption tax. Domestic Japanese GK incorporation does not normally require notarization, so no notary fees apply. Not included: notarization or apostille of documents prepared by the client in their home country (for example, overseas address proof or foreign-issued ID copies), bank account opening fees charged by the bank, ongoing tax-accountant fees, and virtual-address service fees billed separately by the address provider.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
What is a GK (Godo Kaisha)? +
A Godo Kaisha (GK) is a Japanese limited liability company. It is the local equivalent of an LLC: members have limited liability, the company is treated as a separate legal entity, and it is the most common vehicle chosen by foreign founders incorporating in Japan because it is faster and cheaper to form than a Kabushiki Kaisha (KK).
Do I need to visit Japan to set up a GK? +
No. The entire process — intake, document review, signing, capital remittance, and filing — can be completed from overseas. You will need to mail original signed documents to Japan and remit initial capital from an account in the representative member's name. We provide clear instructions for both.
Is a Japanese GK the same as an LLC in my country? +
Structurally similar, but tax and legal treatment in your home country may differ — a Japanese GK may be treated as a corporation or as a pass-through entity depending on local rules. We recommend consulting a tax advisor in your home country before incorporating.
Can you guarantee bank account opening or payment processor approval? +
No. Bank account opening and payment processor approval are decisions made independently by those institutions and depend on factors outside our control (business model, jurisdiction, regulatory posture). We can introduce you to banks that are foreign-founder friendly, but approval is not guaranteed.
Can I use a virtual office or registered address? +
Yes, for company registration purposes. We can introduce you to virtual-address providers in Tokyo. Note that ongoing business use of a virtual address — including bank account opening, contracts, and licensing — is subject to each provider's terms and may require additional documentation. We do not provide the virtual-address service ourselves.
How long does the process take? +
Typically 4–8 weeks from intake submission to registered company documents in hand. Variability comes from international mail timing, Legal Affairs Bureau processing speed, and how quickly we receive your original signed documents and capital remittance proof.
What happens after the GK is established? +
We deliver your registered company documents and seal set, then introduce you to a tax accountant for the initial tax registrations (national tax, prefectural tax, social insurance) and to banks for account opening. Ongoing accounting, tax filing, and virtual-address service are arranged directly with those providers and billed separately.
Do you provide legal, tax, or immigration advice? +
No. GK Setup is not a law firm. We focus on incorporation support and coordination. Legal filings are performed independently by a licensed Shiho-shoshi Lawyer (judicial scrivener) acting on your behalf. For tax planning, immigration matters, or legal advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified professional in the relevant field.
More questions? See the full Help Center →
Get notified when the guide is published
The Complete Guide to Forming a GK in Japan is in preparation. Leave your email and we’ll notify you the moment the PDF is published.
How we use your data: I agree that GK Setup may use my name and email to notify me when The Complete Guide to Forming a GK in Japan is published. Emails are sent via Resend; data is retained for 24 months, or until I request deletion at [email protected].
Book a 30-minute paid consultation
¥8,800 (tax incl.), credited toward your total fee once you sign up for the full GK incorporation service. Share 3 time slots that work for you and we’ll confirm one by email within one business day.
How we use your data: I agree that GK Setup may use the information I submit to arrange a consultation. Emails are sent via Resend; data is retained for 24 months, or until I request deletion at [email protected]. The consultation is provided by GK Setup and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or banking advice or any guarantee.