In the month of November, three major business expansions were announced in the City of Yokohama. Two of these were part of the Business Location Incentive Program offered by the city.

Sony Corporation (https://www.sony.net/) has announced its plans to establish a new location in the Minato Mirai 21 District for its subsidiary for imaging products and solutions businesses, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc (SIPS). SIPS covers the R&D functions of Sony’s consumer camera and imaging solutions businesses with a focus on broadcast- and professional-use products as well as applications for medical use, such as endoscopy devices. SIPS plans to set up offices in the YOKOHAMA GRANGATE complex that is currently under construction and start operations in late 2020. Around 3,000-4,000 employees will be working in the Yokohama location.

Sekisui House (https://www.sekisuihouse-global.com/), one of Japan’s largest homebuilders, has announced plans to construct a brand-new Westin hotel in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai 21 District. The Westin brand has over 200 hotels in more than 40 countries across the globe, and their hotels are known for high-class services that revitalize guests and improve their well-being through comfortable accommodation spaces and unique wellness programs. The City of Yokohama is excited about this latest development that will further add to the city’s value as a tourism/MICE destination. The Westin Yokohama will be operated by Marriott International. The City of Yokohama has decided to offer its Business Location Incentive Program for Growth Industries to Sekisui House’s Westin hotel project.

This November, the City also selected a new R&D facility development plan submitted by Shibusawa Warehouse Co., Ltd  (https://www.shibusawa.co.jp/, Japanese only) as a recipient of this incentive program. Shibusawa Warehouse is a warehousing and harbor transportation services company that offers a range of value-added services to meet the diversifying needs of its expanding client base. The company has announced plans to create a new high-spec rental R&D facility in the upper floor of a distribution center in the Keihin Waterfront Area, a development they hope will boost the region’s capacity as an innovation hub. The company aims to create a multifunctional business space that enables companies to have office, R&D and distribution functions all in one location, which will create an ideal environment to fuel innovation.

Learn more:
Yokohama’s Business Support & Incentives
Minato Mirai 21 and other business districts in Yokohama