About National Strategic Special Zones

Last updated on October 13, 2021.

The National Strategic Special Zone is a breakthrough for implementing bold regulatory and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the international competitiveness of industry and forming a base for international economic activities in order to revitalize the Japanese economy. Is to promote the project together with the national, local and private sectors.
In September 2013, Yokohama City submitted a proposal for the National Strategic Special Zone (a joint proposal by Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City, and Kawasaki City and a Yokohama City original proposal). After that, the government established laws and formulated basic policies for the designation of a National Strategic Special Zone, and on May 1, 2014, Kanagawa Prefecture, including Yokohama City, was designated as a National Strategic Special Zone as part of the Tokyo metropolitan area by a Cabinet Order. Was.
With the designation of a special zone as a great opportunity for the further leap of Yokohama, Yokohama City will make full use of deregulation and institutional reforms in the special zone, and work with national and private businesses to promote the economic growth of Yokohama to Japan.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government National Strategic Special Zone Area Plan (to the Cabinet Office website) (outside site)

About National Strategic Special Zones

Please refer to this page for matters related to laws and regulations related to the National Strategic Special Zone, Cabinet decisions, and the status of national studies.

Overview of the National Strategic Special Zone System (to the Cabinet Office website) (outside site)

Meetings, etc. (to the Cabinet Office website)

Tokyo Metropolitan Area National Strategic Special Zone Meeting (to the Cabinet Office website) (outside site)

News from Yokohama City

Press release

For those who are considering using the National Strategic Special Zone System

Yokohama City accepts consultations from businesses and others who are considering implementing projects utilizing the National Strategic Special Zone. Please contact the department in charge by phone. [Department in charge: Economic Affairs Bureau New Industrial Creation Division, Yokohama City TEL045-671-3487]
Outline of National Strategic Special Zones (Yokohama City Leaflet) (PDF: 1,980KB)

Regulatory Reform Menu Utilizing Yokohama City

Certified business
	Regulatory Reform Matters and Outline	Date of certification
Nursery school establishment in Tanmachi, Kanagawa-ku Park (PDF: 352KB)	〇 Ban on the establishment of daycare centers in city park ・In order to respond to increasing demand for welfare services such as childcare centers, city park managers are permitted to use private facilities if certain criteria are met.	April 13, 2016
Housing maintenance in the Tsuruya district of Yokohama Station Kita West Exit (PDF: 613KB)	１） Special provisions of the City Planning Act pertaining to the decision or change of city planning (maintenance projects such as national strategic city planning buildings) ・In order to promote the location of facilities necessary to form an international city that can compete with the world, including the living environment, one-stop permission such as decision or change of city planning is provided. ２） Special provisions of the Building Standards Law pertaining to housing floor area ratio (National Strategic Housing Development Project) ・In order to promote the development of housing close to offices of global companies, etc., the floor area ratio specified in urban planning has been relaxed within the maximum floor area ratio of houses specified in the area plan.	1, 2) September 9, 2016
Clinical trials using a bed dedicated to clinical trials in Yokohama City University Hospital (PDF: 617KB)	１） Special provisions of the Medical Law pertaining to bed regulation ・Prefectural governments, if a medical institution that conducts a business that provides the world's highest level of advanced medical care applies for permission to open or increase the number of hospitals, add the number of beds required for the business to the existing standard number of beds. Can be allowed. ２） Special provisions of the Medical Law Enforcement Regulations pertaining to beds dedicated to clinical trials (Special Zone for Structural Reform) ・Relax the criteria for room area and corridor width for beds for clinical trials and other clinical trials that are conducted with healthy persons (non-patients) as subjects and whose length of hospital stay is approximately 10 days or less.	１） December 19, 2014 ２） October 4, 2016
Non-insurance combined medical treatment in Yokohama City University Hospital (PDF: 308KB)	〇 Expansion of non-insurance combined medical treatment ・If there is a request for non-insurance use of drugs, etc. approved in countries with high medical standards at international medical centers of the same level as the Core Hospital for Clinical Research, etc., which are not approved in Japan or that have already been approved overseas, are evaluated promptly.	October 20, 2015
Establishment of Yokohama City Innovation Human Resources Exchange Promotion Center (PDF: 1,451KB)	〇 Flexibility of moving human resources across public and private sectors ・In order to make it easier for startups to work for those who work in national, local governments, and large companies, the Human Resources Mobilization Center (tentative name) will be established to provide assistance that contributes to improving the liquidity of the labor market and securing excellent human resources in startup companies.	February 14, 2019
Establishment of I ・ TOP Yokohama Demonstration One-Stop Center (PDF: 812KB)	〇 Establishment of a one-stop center for near-future technology demonstration to promote autonomous driving of automobiles and demonstration experiments of small drones ・Provide information, consultation, advice, and other assistance on procedures based on the provisions of related laws and regulations for those that conduct demonstration experiments of "future technology" such as autonomous driving and drones (small drones).	December 18, 2019

Proposal business
	Regulatory Reform Matters and Outline	Date of realization
Hotel Ship (PDF: 132KB)	〇 Handling of windowless guest rooms in accommodation facilities utilizing ships with passenger rooms ・Only during the event period, under certain conditions, it will be possible to accommodate ships with guest rooms without windows.	May 16, 2018 ※National Measures ※The hotelship scheduled to be held during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be canceled due to postponement.
Efficiency of fuel loading procedures on ocean-going vessels (PDF: 345KB)	〇 Realization of patrol supply (milk run) of foreign currency vessel supplies (fuel) to ocean-going vessels ・Regarding the loading of fuel on ocean-going vessels, it is possible to open multiple ports within a certain period of time (up to 6 months) from a fuel supply ship to a specific ocean-going vessel (one ship) within the same opening of the port. ・The presentation of documents to the customs of arrival shall be omitted.	March 30, 2019 ※National Measures

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