Here’s what makes Yokohama a prospective hub for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts!

For innovators like Aaron Benedek, the sky’s the limit when it comes to running a company based in Yokohama. Born and raised in California, Benedek’s startup company, Nekotronic, is working on technology to enable multi-dimensional flight management, paving the way for a ‘Sky Highway’ of the future. He moved to Yokohama almost three years ago, where he founded Nekotronic, and the local government has provided tremendous support for his company to get off the ground.

Benedek explained that Yokohama has been supportive in terms of finding mentoring from business leaders, introducing Nekotronic to potential partners and customers, and connecting his company with local projects. He is currently running field tests of his technology with the city of Yokohama. City-sponsored events such as the YOXO FESTIVAL provide opportunities for big and small technology and research companies, including Nekotronic, giving them a chance to network and exhibit their products to peers and the public alike.

Yokohama’s support for startups and entrepreneurs in the technology and R&D fields should be no surprise to those who have been paying attention to the city for the past several years. In 2019, Yokohama declared itself an ‘Innovation City’ where researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and students could expand their networks to build relationships that would enable Yokohama to be the birthplace of innovative technology. At that time, Yokohama established YOXO BOX, which stands for ‘Yokohama Cross Over Sand Box,’ as a physical hub to support programs such as accelerator programs, networking, and business mentorship programs. By 2020, Yokohama ranked third in the Foreign Direct Investment Strategy category of the Global Cities of the Future, behind only Greater Montreal (Canada) and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

The push to become a global hub of innovation is a natural progression of Yokohama’s history and culture. Yokohama was one of the first ports to open after over 200 years of Japanese isolation from trade and cultural exchange ending in the late 19th century, making it the first city of industrialised Japan to welcome foreign visitors as residents. As the city grew, major companies were founded in or relocated to Yokohama, including headquarters and R&D centres for Nissan, Shiseido, and Bosch. Yokohama’s spirit of innovation has continued attracting IT engineers, researchers, and software developers to live and work in the city.

As far as Japanese cities go, Yokohama is an easy city for foreign talent to live in. With its long history of welcoming foreign residents, Yokohama has built up a community that includes over 1,00,000 foreign residents from 160 countries. In addition, there are ten international schools and several foreign language hospitals located in the city.

TJ Wheeler, a manager at a company focused on VR and metaverse technology, agrees that Yokohama is a world-class city with plenty of business and entertainment opportunities while being a short train ride away from amazing outdoor experiences. Wheeler and his wife moved to Yokohama from another part of Japan in the spring of last year, and they are still learning to enjoy the culture and attractions of their new home. So far, they’ve enjoyed picnicking in the park to enjoy the summer fireworks festival, and craft beer events like Oktoberfest held around the Akarenga Red Brick Warehouse district along the waterfront.

Although Yokohama is home to 3.77 million people, its layout and use of natural spaces make it feel much more liveable than other large cities. The city contains approximately 2,700 parks, many of which feature seasonal scenery like spring cherry blossoms and fall autumn leaves. Sankeien is a massive historical Japanese garden in Yokohama, with perfectly manicured landscapes and wooden buildings nearly 600 years old. Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in East Asia, featuring authentic Chinese cuisine and culture. Even a weekend getaway from the city is easy, with both hot springs resorts with views of Mt. Fuji and the endless nightlife of Tokyo within an hour away by train. A thriving sauna spa culture has taken root in Yokohama with those in the 20s to 40s demographic, with many sauna and spa facilities popping up around the city. The unique Sky Spa on the upper floor of a high-rise building near Yokohama Station offers a combination of spa facilities, restaurants, and a co-working space that embodies Yokohama’s ‘Work hard, play hard’ culture.

Robert Heldt, CEO of Tokyo-based creative digital agency Custom Media, chose to live in Yokohama for these reasons. Born in Chennai and a graduate of the University of Madras, Heldt came to Yokohama in 2014 and owns a home with a garden and a small terrace where he lives with his family. Heldt regularly commutes to his office in Tokyo, just 40 minutes away by train but finds the lifestyle in Yokohama more to his liking. He finds Yokohama ‘clean, safe, and convenient,’ with many activities and attractions families can enjoy on weekends and holidays.

Heldt sees Yokohama not just as a great place to live but also as a thriving business centre. “Yokohama is an excellent MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. It offers a variety of unique venues and spaces suitable for collaboration and innovation.” This pride the residents have in their city is nearly universal and is perhaps one of the reasons Yokohama is regularly voted as the best city in Japan to live in, in annual surveys.

The path toward becoming a top East Asian hub for innovation and technology companies has only just begun for Yokohama. Still, from the progress they have made so far, the future looks bright for this up-and-coming star of a city.

Contributed by:
Todd Fong
Creative Producer, IGLOOO Japan