Tochigi Wage-Increase Environment Improvement Promotion Subsidy

Overview: Tochigi Prefecture operates this subsidy in FY R8 (2026) using the national priority-support local grant. Conditional on a defined wage increase, it subsidizes capital investment that improves productivity and the working environment for SMEs and sole proprietors based in Tochigi. Eligible applicants: SMEs and individual businesses with a workplace in Tochigi (manufacturing capital up to 300M JPY or 300 employees; wholesale up to 100M JPY or 100 employees; services and retail up to 50M JPY etc.). Deemed-large enterprises and businesses whose three-year average taxable income exceeds 1.5B JPY are excluded. Wage requirement: from 1 Oct 2025 onward, raise the workplace minimum wage by 50 JPY/hour or more; the pre-raise workplace minimum wage must be at least 51 JPY above the regional minimum wage and not exceed 1,500 JPY (1,119–1,500 JPY in Tochigi). Eligible expenses: capital investment for productivity (automation, labour-saving and energy-saving equipment) and for workplace-environment improvement (family-friendly facilities, accessibility for seniors and persons with disabilities). Examples: POS systems, lift-equipped vehicles, serving robots, kids rooms, ramps, anti-slip flooring. Cost categories: machinery, transport, installation. Consumption-tax credits are excluded. Subsidy rate and timeline: rate 1/2, maximum 2,000,000 JPY (rounded down to 1,000 JPY). Applications accepted until 21 Dec 2026 on a first-come basis until budget is exhausted. Project must be completed by the earlier of 21 Dec 2026 or 15 Feb 2027; achievement report due within 20 days of completion. Required forms: grant application, business plan, budget, pledge, quotations, tax-arrears certificate, corporate registry (within 6 months), wage ledger, work rules. Apply online or by post; pre-consultation by email to rousei@pref.tochigi.lg.jp.