Top Japan Address Rental Services in 2025

In Japan, there are a variety of address rental services available, each with unique features and pricing options.

The best of these services provide virtual mailboxes, which enable users to access their mail online from any location domestically or globally.

Depending on the address rental service, users may also have access to additional features such as translation summaries, mail forwarding, package consolidation, and personal shopping services. Customers may also be able to use the rental address for company registration.

This article discusses the most popular Japanese rental address services that you can use for company incorporation in Japan, to set up your online store, or for other business or personal purposes.

What are the types of address rental services available in Japan?

Essentially, address rentals fall into one of two categories. You can go the traditional route and lease a physical space or you can use a rental address provided by a virtual office service, i.e., a virtual office address.

We'll cover both types briefly in this section.

a. Rental address with physical space

Traditionally, this is what the majority of people think of when it comes to renting an address somewhere for office space or for bringing your business to Japan. You find a physical location and sign a lease. Then, the use of the address is yours.

Take note: With this option, the overhead costs are quite high. For example, a fully furnished private office/serviced office in Tokyo can range from 65,000 to 300,000 yen per month. One plus here is that these offices will likely be fully furnished and include meeting rooms, a business lounge, coworking space (depending on the plan), and/or desk space. See our article on the types of office space available to rent in Tokyo.

b. Rental address via virtual offices

Virtual offices in Japan are the second option for you to consider. They provide you with a rental address that is yours in name only.

Virtual office addresses are ideal for businesses that require a professional address for their business registration, correspondence, and marketing purposes, but do not require a physical office space. Depending on the virtual office service you choose, some provide a mail forwarding service to catch any mail that comes addressed to you.

Top Rental Address Services in Japan for 2025

1. MailMate

MailMate's homepage

MailMate is a service that combines a virtual office address and cloud mail, ideal for startups, small businesses, and operators looking to break into Japan's ecommerce market.

Here are MailMate's standout features:

a) A cost-effective virtual office address

MailMate offers cheap virtual office addresses in Shinjuku and Minato-ku in Tokyo as well as virtual office addresses in Hakata and Tenjin in Fukuoka.

Although there are services where you can rent a cheap virtual office for less than 1,000 yen per month, many such services involve addresses where corporate registration is not possible, frequent forwarding of mail is not available, or overseas forwarding charges are high. 

However, MailMate’s addresses are available for corporate registration as well as opening a corporate bank account.

b) Get your physical mail in the cloud

One of the biggest advantages for MailMate users is that you can receive paper mail in the cloud by simply forwarding your physical mail to MailMate's HQ.

When MailMate receives your mail, you can view the scanned envelope from the MailMate dashboard. From there, you can take action on mail items, e.g., open, forward, shred, or even pay your bills. Yes, that’s right. MailMate will pay your bills on your behalf.

Don’t worry if you are not in Japan. MailMate can forward your mail abroad, upon your request.

c) Share mail data with multiple people

When running an online store, paper mail addressed to the company often needs to be managed by multiple people. 

In such cases, you can share PDF data of paper mail with your teammates from the dashboard with one click, and by sharing account information, multiple people can access one dashboard.

Price: Plans with bilingual support start at 6800 yen.

2. GMO Office Support

バーチャルオフィス⑩GMOバーチャルオフィス｜総合的なサービス力

GMO Office Support is a popular service for ecommerce online sellers in Japan. This service allows businesses to use a business address without physically renting an office space.

The business addresses they provide can be used for corporate registration, mail forwarding and receiving, and for establishing corporate bank accounts.

Please note: They do not provide bilingual support. So it's recommended that you be able to read and understand Japanese if you use this service.

Price: Plans start from 660 yen per month.

3. Nawabari

Nawarabi

NAWABARI is a virtual office rental service that will provide you with an address to use for your online shop as well as a phone number, providing essential office functions without the need for a physical office space.

This allows the service to be offered at a low cost, and the rented address and telephone number can be used for business registration. The service is ideal for startups, small businesses, freelancers, and online shop operators, as it allows for the speedy acquisition of a business address while keeping costs low​.

Please note: This service does not provide English support. All communications must be done in Japanese.

Price: Plans start from 1078 yen a month.

Comparison table: Japan address rental services (2025)

Below, we compare the top address rental services in Japan for 2025, including bilingual options, pricing, and whether they support company incorporation and mail forwarding.

Reasons for using an address rental service

1. Company registration in Japan

If someone wants to expand their business to Japan, renting a virtual address can be a cost-effective way to establish a presence in the country.

2. Enhanced privacy

Renting an address in Japan can also provide a level of privacy for individuals who do not want to use their home address for business or personal purposes. This can be particularly useful for entrepreneurs who work from home or individuals who want to keep their personal and professional lives separate.

3. Online store

If you're considering starting an online business in Japan, you're likely to encounter a key legal requirement: the need to disclose your address when selling online. This can be a significant hurdle for home-based sellers who value their privacy. However, rental address services can be an effective solution, providing a legal address for your business without compromising your personal information.

What points should one consider when choosing an address rental service in Japan?

When choosing an address rental service, pay attention to the following points:

1. Services provided—Some business address rental services offer more than just an address. They may provide bilingual support, like MailMate, or phone answering services, like Newabari. Consider what additional services your business might need.

2. Cost—Consider the cost of the service and what's included in the plan you are considering. Be sure to look at any extra charges for additional services.

3. Reputation—Check reviews and ratings of the service provider to ensure they are reliable and have a good reputation in the market.

4. Customer service—Good customer service from the rental service is crucial, especially if you need to resolve issues or have specific requests. Look for a service that is known for being responsive and helpful. Bilingual support is also crucial if you need help reading Japanese.

5. Contract Flexibility—Some services might require long-term commitments, while others might offer month-to-month options. Depending on your business needs, one might be more appealing than the other.

Frequently asked questions

What are the types of address rental services in Japan?

Address rentals in Japan fall into one of two categories. (1) A physical space or (2) a rental address provided by a virtual office service, i.e., a virtual office address.

What are the top rental address services in Japan?

If you are comfortable with Japanese, then the top rental address services for Japan are GMO Office Support and Newabari. If you would like a bilingual rental address service for Japan, then the top service is MailMate, a virtual address provider for businesses looking to expand to Japan.

Can a foreigner rent a virtual address in Japan without living there?

Foreigners can rent a virtual address in Japan without being physically present in the country. Most virtual office providers allow remote sign-up and can support business uses such as company registration and ecommerce. However, not all services cater to non-residents, and some require Japanese language proficiency. Services like MailMate are specifically designed for international users and provide bilingual support.

Is it legal to use a rented address in Japan for company registration?

Using a rented address from a virtual office is legally allowed for company registration in Japan, as long as the address provider permits it and complies with registration requirements under Japanese corporate law. Some virtual offices are explicitly structured to meet these standards, making them suitable for registering a corporation or other business entity.

Can I use a virtual office address to register a sole proprietorship (個人事業主)?

A virtual office address can be used to register a sole proprietorship in Japan by submitting a business opening notification (開業届) to the local tax office. In some cases, the tax office may ask for confirmation that you have permission to use the address, so it's important to choose a service that clearly states it supports individual business registrations.

Can I use a rented address for an online store in Japan under the 特定商取引法?

A rented address can be used to meet the legal requirement of publicly disclosing your address when selling products online in Japan under the Specified Commercial Transactions Act (特定商取引法). This allows home-based sellers and small businesses to protect their personal privacy while remaining compliant with ecommerce regulations, as long as the service permits use for online sales disclosure.

What happens to my mail if I don’t live in Japan?

If you don't live in Japan, your mail will still be received by the rental address service and handled according to the plan you've selected. Most services offer scanning so you can view mail online, forwarding to addresses inside or outside Japan, and options to store or securely shred mail. MailMate, for example, offers all of these features for remote users.

Do I need Japanese language skills to use a virtual office in Japan?

Some virtual office providers require users to communicate in Japanese, while others offer full bilingual support in English and Japanese. If you are not comfortable reading or writing in Japanese, it’s best to choose a service like MailMate that offers English support for account setup, mail instructions, and customer communication.

What’s the difference between a virtual office and a rental address in Japan?

A rental address in Japan typically refers to a mailing address you can use for business or personal purposes without leasing physical space, while a virtual office includes that address along with services such as mail scanning, cloud dashboards, business phone numbers, or customer support. Virtual offices are more comprehensive and are especially helpful for remote businesses or foreign entrepreneurs.

In closing

Several rental address services are available in Japan, with MailMate standing out as the only bilingual virtual mailbox service.

It combines a virtual office address and cloud mail, making it ideal for startups, small businesses, and operators breaking into Japan's ecommerce market.

With MailMate, you can receive physical mail in the cloud, share mail data with multiple people, and access all services from your computer, all at a cost-effective price.