# Top 50 Hospitality Startup Investors in Japan in June 2026 ## Mizuho Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Internet Mizuho is the venture capital firm affiliated to Mizuho Bank, the second-largest Japanese bank in terms of assets. The firm has headquarters in Tokyo.The firm has ¥49.6 billion JPY under management, focusing on information technology and biotechnology investments. Over 600 Mizuho companies have gone public. According to Nikkei, Mizuho is thefifth-largest venture capital firm in Japan.Mizuho Capital was formed in 2002 by the merger of Fujigin Capital, Tokyo Venture Capital and IBJ Investment. Three firms were subsidiaries of Fuji Bank, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan respectively. ## Genesia Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Health Care Genesia Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on seed/early stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia. Since it's inception in Dec 2016, Genesia Ventures has invested in over 90 companies in Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and the US. Genesia Ventures invests in various sectors: SaaS, marketplace, Media, Finance, Insurance,RealEstate, Healthcare, Medical, Travel, Education, Manufacturing, Construction, HR, Agriculture, Sports, Retail, Entertainment, etc. ## JR East Start Up - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series B, Seed - Focus: Information Technology, Internet, Task Management JR East Startup Program is a program operated by East Japan Railway that provides incubator and accelerator services to startups in Japan. The firm was founded in February 2018 and is based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ## NEC Capital Solutions - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series B, Series A - Focus: Internet, Manufacturing, Information Technology NEC Capital Solutions Limited provides financial services in Japan. It's Main Business is Leasing for Information and Communication Equipment, Office Equipment, Industrial Equipment and Installment Sales, Business Loans, Factoring Services, Business Outsourcing and Sales of Used Equipment. ## Monex Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Minato, Chiba, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Financial Services, Information Technology Monex Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Japan that finances seed and early stage investments in startup companies. ## iFund - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Apps, Music, Content ## ANOBAKA - Type: VC Fund - Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology ANOBAKA is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm with rich group resources to add value to seed-stage startups. ANOBAKA actively invests in and supports startups aiming to be a global leader in the innovative Internet business and promising to greatly grow up in the future. ANOBAKA's investment focuses on fledgling seed-stage startups. Inaddition to investment financing, ANOBAKA provides founders with a variety of business support such as development consulting by our engineers, sales support, and international marketing support. ## Nissay Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Health Care, Internet, Information Technology Nissay Capital is a venture capital Company specializing in seed, start-up, growth capital, middle stage, and later stage investment. ## Animal Spirits Ltd. - Type: VC Fund - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: B2B, Legal, Farming Animal Spirits is an investment firm that raises funds for seed and early-stage startups and provides relevant advisory services. ## Shintaro Yamada - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Internet, Finance, Content During his years at Waseda University, Shintaro worked at Japan’s biggest e-commerce mall, Rakuten, Inc. On August 1st 2001, Shintaro established “Unoh Inc.” after graduating university. At Unoh he was responsible for designing and developing several web services, one of which was the online magazine subscription . Services provided by Unohinclude planning, development and management of the film enthusiast community site “Movie Life” (acquired by PIA Corporation) as well as “Sugu.CC” , “NeoAd” (both acquired by GMOAP) and the photo sharing site “Photozou” (acquired by Digital Garage).In 2009 Unoh entered into social gaming, creating multiple successful social games. Among these games, “Machitsuku!” has been its biggest hit with over 5 million users. On August 3rd 2010, Unoh joined Zynga and Shintaro became General Manager of Zynga Japan. He resigned on January 2012. After traveling around the world, He established the new company “Mercari, Inc.” on February 2013 and released the resale shopping app “Mercari” on July 2013 in Japan.He is a true Internet geek, spending a lot of time on the Internet and boasts around 180,000 followers on Twitter. ## Venture United - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Travel, Content Venture United is a provider of venture capital for entrepreneurs, especially for internet-related businesses. ## Norinchukin Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B - Focus: B2B, Agriculture, Health Care Norinchukin Capital is a private equity fund management firm. ## Mizuho Bank - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Debt Financing, Series B - Focus: Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Software Mizuho Bank is a commercial bank that began operation on July 1, 2013, with its headquarters in Tokyo in Japan. It offers corporate and investment banking services to major corporations, financial institutions, and public sector entities. It also provides current and ordinary, deposits at notice, time, and specified deposits, deposits for tax,nonresident deposits in yen, foreign currency deposits, negotiable time deposits and loans by bill, loans on a deed, and overdrafts as well as discounts for bank acceptances, commercial papers, and documentary bills. Moreover, it offers investment banking and custodial, syndication, bond administrative, real estate finance, acquisition finance and corporate restructuring, project, and asset finance services, settlement and asset management services. It operates as a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group. ## Sagin Capital & Consulting - Type: VC Fund - Location: Saga, Saga, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Series A - Focus: Information Technology, Food and Beverage, Software Sagin Capital & Consulting is the venture capital arm of The Bank of Saga. ## NIPPON STEEL KOWA REAL ESTATE - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: CRM, Career Planning, Management Consulting NIPPON STEEL KOWA REAL ESTATE offers real estate services. ## Change Holdings - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Corporate Round - Focus: Hotel, Finance, Hospitality Change is offers AI and voice Internet, mobility, library of various algorithms such as IoT big data, cloud, security, etc. and training of services and IT human resources development utilizing basic technology. ## Midland Incubators - Type: VC Fund - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Hospitality, Food and Beverage Midland Incubators is an investment firm. ## JTB Corp. - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Travel, Leisure, Sales One the most biggest company in Japan dealing with tourism. ## Ken Takayama - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Reservations, Travel, Apps Ken Takayama - External Audit & Supervisory @ Media Do ## Kiyohiro Sugashita - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Marketing, Travel, Reservations Mr. Sugashita joined Polaris as Advisor in May 2011. He is Director and CEO of Sugashita Partners, Ltd since 1998 and provides consulting services to financial institutions and ventures in and outside of Japan. Prior to that position, he was CEO of Lazard Japan Asset Management from 1991 to 1998. His business career also includes positions at DaiwaSecurities and Merrill Lynch Securities, Tokyo Branch. On the academic front, Mr. Sugashita received a BA in Economics from Ritsumeikan University and since 2009 is Special Advisor for the Dean of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. ## DK Gate - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Internet DK Gate is a joint venture company of Digital Garage and Kodansha. ## JAFCO - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Artificial Intelligence Since its founding in 1973, JAFCO has always worked with leading-edge entrepreneurs. The total capital commitments of its investment funds in Japan and overseas have exceeded 1 trillion yen and the number of portfolio IPOs to date has reached over 1,000. In addition to venture investment, JAFCO also carries out buyout investment and commit to thecreations of innovative technologies and services worldwide. As entrepreneurs’ closest partner in bringing their visions to life, JAFCO provides support in areas of HR, marketing/ sales, and back-office operations, in addition to providing financing. ## Hiroshima Venture Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Seed - Focus: E-Commerce, Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Hiroshima Venture Capital provides venture capital investment services. The firm creates corporate value from a long-term perspective. ## Nobuyuki Idei - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Corporate Round - Focus: Information Technology, Internet, Manufacturing Nobuyuki Idei has served as our independent director since June 2007.Being an experienced director, Nobuyuki Idei currently also serves as director of Accenture, director of FreeBit Co, Ltd., director of Lenovo Group, and chairman of the National Conference on Fostering Beautiful Forests in Japan.Nobuyuki Idei is the founder and chief executiveofficer of Quantum Leaps Corporation, a specialist consultancy that advises private and public institutions on the changing role of technology in the 21st century.Nobuyuki Idei is also the founder and chairman of the board of Asia Innovators’ Initiative, a private non-profit organization that he established in 2011 to serve as a catalyst for social innovation in Asia by bringing together a diverse range of individuals and promoting knowledge sharing.Nobuyuki Idei was chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Corporation from 2000 to 2005, chief corporate advisor from 2005 to 2007, and chairman of the advisory board from 2007 to 2012.Prior to that, Nobuyuki Idei held a range of leadership positions at Sony including general manager of the audio division, senior general manager of the home video group, and president and representative director.Nobuyuki Idei has also served in a number of other advisory positions including as counselor to the Bank of Japan, member of Japan’s national IT Strategy Council, and vice-chairman of Nippon Keidanren.Nobuyuki Idei received a bachelor of science degree in economics and politics from Waseda University in Tokyo. ## VOYAGE VENTURES - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Internet, Content Voyage Ventures is the venture capital arm of Voyage Group specializing in seed and early-stage investments. The firm seeks to make investments in the internet and mobile internet industry. It invests from JPY1 million ($.01million) to JPY to 10 million ($.12 million) in its portfolio companies. The firm typically invests in Japan, China, and othergrowing Asian markets. Voyage Ventures, Inc., formerly known as EC Navi Ventures Company, was founded on March 25, 2011, and is based in Tokyo, Japan. ## Evolable Asia Japan - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Corporate Round, Seed - Focus: Task Management, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence Evolable Asia operates a comparison site for travel products focused on domestic airline tickets (the largest in the transaction volume industry), as well as providing travel content and products on an OEM basis. It specializes in wholesale and business trip services for corporations, and it is the fifth-largest online travel agent in Japan.Furthermore, it is expanding its IT offshore development business, employing approximately 500 engineers in Vietnam and becoming the largest Japanese IT offshore development company in Southeast Asia. It specializes in lab-type offshore development, with dedicated teams for clients, and provides services to a variety of Japanese companies as a solution to Japan's engineer shortage and rising labor costs. ## Yusuke Sato - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Internet, Food and Beverage Yusuke Sato is the Co-Representative and Co-Founder of Pulit. ## Mamoru Taniya - Type: Angel - Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Apps, Content, FinTech After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined Solomon Brothers, where he became the youngest managing director in Asia, where he was in charge of Asian investment. After that, he created one of the largest independent Asuka assets. He also launched Japan's first independent online life insurance company,LifeNet Life Insurance, and inspired Japan's first International. ## Robot Home - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Corporate Round, Seed - Focus: Security, Hospitality, Real Estate TATERU is a company that creates new solutions in the real estate industry by utilizing technologies such as IoT. Development and operation of IoT. ## Kakaku.com - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Seed, Series A - Focus: Hospitality, Web Development, Travel Kakaku.com, Inc. is mainly engaged in the operation of electronic commerce (EC) businesses. The Company has two business segments. The Internet Media segment is engaged in the provision of prices comparison services, gourmet food rankings and reviews services, discount hotels and last minute hotels reservation, newly built condominiums and rentalproperties searching services, as well as reviews of travel through the operation of Websites. The segment also generated revenue from the sale of advertising spaces. ## JR West Innovations - Type: VC Fund - Location: Osaka, Osaka, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Seed - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Apps JR West Japan Group, they will utilize innovation based on external technologies and know-how to realize sustainable operation of the railway and expansion of business creation, contributing to the revitalization of areas including the West Japan area. ## FUKUOKA BROADCASTING SYSTEM - Type: VC Fund - Location: Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A - Focus: Travel, Content, Tourism FUKUOKA BROADCASTING SYSTEM is a TV station that produces and broadcasts various programs. ## Chihiro Asano - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Content, Legal, FinTech Chief Technology Officer at Money Forward. ## Daiwa Corporate Investment - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, Task Management, Internet Daiwa Corporate Investment is a private investment firm of Daiwa Securities Group that has been engaged in overseas VC investments by taking advantage of an extensive business network in Japan and foreign countries, long experience and professional knowledge, and by supporting the growth of a number of overseas portfolio companies and their stockexchange listings. ## Daishi Management Consulting - Type: VC Fund - Location: Niigata, Niigata, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Travel, Content, Tourism Daishi Management Consulting is a subsidiary of Daishi Bank engages in venture capital and consulting services ## North Pacific Bank - Type: VC Fund - Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Corporate Round - Focus: Manufacturing, Aerospace, Consulting North Pacific Bank provides various banking products and services for individuals and corporations in Japan. It offers deposits, and negotiable certificates of deposit, as well as loans. North Pacific Bank also offers ATM, foreign exchange, and investment trust services. It operates 171 branches and 3 overseas representative offices. HokuyoSogo Bank that began operation in 1917 became North Pacific Bank in 1989. It has its headquarters in 1917, with its headquarters in Sapporo in Japan. ## DCM Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Menlo Park, California, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Series B, Series C - Focus: Software, Internet, E-Commerce DCM Ventures assists entrepreneurs in building companies that will change how institutions and people use and live with technology.DCM Ventures focuses on the size of its team, the money they raise, and the investments they make all so that it can focus on the business of helping portfolio companies succeed. Collectively, the DCM investingpartners have over a century of investing and operational experience and each DCM partner has experience building hyper-growth startups into billion-dollar businesses.DCM Ventures manages ten funds totaling $4.0 billion and has made investments in more than 400 technology companies across the United States and Asia. With offices in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Tokyo, DCM provides hands-on operational guidance and a vast network of global business and financial resources to its portfolio companies. ## Goshi Yamaguchi - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Corporate Round - Focus: Digital Media, Food and Beverage, Apps Goshi Yamaguchi ## Chukyo TV - Type: VC Fund - Location: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Content, Audio, Travel JOCH-DTV, branded as Chukyo TV, is the Chukyo metropolitan area flagship station of the Nippon News Network and Nippon Television Network System (NNS), owned by Nippon Television Holdings through the Chukyo TV. Broadcasting Co., Ltd. Its studios are located in Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. ## 500 Startups Japan - Type: VC Fund - Location: San Francisco, California, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, Software, SaaS 500 Startups is the most active seed VC in the world. 500 Startups Japan is a $35M regional fund focusing on Japan. ## Zeroichi Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Toranomon, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A - Focus: Apps, Fitness, Wellness Zeroichi Capital is an independent venture capital firm that invest/R&D startups. Zeroichi Capital assists in a variety of areas, including pre-startup consultation, ideation, business plan planning, establishment procedures, teaming up, and financing, with the goal of reaching the Series A round as soon as possible and putting you on agrowth trajectory beyond that. ## Japan Airport Terminal - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A - Focus: Hotel, Hospitality Japan Airport Terminal is a facility management business that supports customers' safe travels, a product sales business that meets diversifying needs, and a restaurant business. They also involve the management and operation of airport passenger terminal buildings. They sell materials and equipment used in passenger terminals and invite andhold bonded art auctions. ## Learning Entrepreneurs Lab - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Hospitality, Food and Beverage Learning Entrepreneurs Lab is a process-oriented startup accelerator that introduces startup tools and practice it with entrepreneurs. ## Shibuya Startup Oasis - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Employment, Recruiting, Hospitality Shibuya Startup Oasis is a place where new connections between entrepreneurs, senior entrepreneurs, and investors can be naturally formed. ## FGN ABBA Lab - Type: VC Fund - Location: Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Software, Aerospace, Information Technology FGN ABBA Lab is an investment fund that mainly supports pre-seed to series A early stage startups. In this FGN ABBA Lab fund, they will support startups with the idea of ​​creating “things and things” that make the world exciting without limiting the genre, investment, training, and social implementation. ## MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE Venture Capital (MSIVC) - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Health Care MSIVC is a venture capital firm that invests in Japanese and global startups scaling to IPO. It focuses on startups in verticals of Fintech, SaaS, Healthcare, AI, E-Commerce, Foodtech, and Environment etc. ## Japan Airlines (JAL) - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Series A, Corporate Round - Focus: Transportation, Robotics, Aerospace Japan Airlines (JAL) was founded in 1951 and became the first international airline in Japan. A member of the oneworld® alliance, the airline now reaches 405 airports in 66 countries and regions together with its codeshare partners with a modern fleet of 234 aircraft. Awarded as one of the most punctual major international airlines and a certified5-Star Airline by Skytrax, JAL is committed to providing customers with the highest levels of flight safety and quality in every aspect of its service, and aims to become one of the most preferred and valued airlines in the world. ## Hokkaido Bank - Type: VC Fund - Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Corporate Round - Focus: Travel, Tourism, Electronics Hokkaido Bank is offers banking and financial services. ## Kotaro Chiba - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Content, Information Technology, Travel Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University. ## Dogan - Type: VC Fund - Location: Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Medical, Health Care, Big Data an is a professional group that provides corporate investment and advice to revitalize the local economy.