AsiansInvest

Countries / East Asia

Japan skyline
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East Asia

Investing in Japan

Decades of near-zero interest rates left most household savings sitting in bank deposits rather than markets. That is changing: the government has actively pushed households toward equities through tax-advantaged accounts as the Bank of Japan normalizes policy.

Capital
Tokyo
Currency
Japanese yen
Main exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX)
Regulator
Financial Services Agency (FSA)

How people invest in Japan

The NISA tax-free investment account (expanded in 2024) is now the default on-ramp for new retail investors, typically into low-cost index funds and blue-chip dividend payers. Japanese Government Bonds, real estate, and — for the wealthy — stakes in family-controlled keiretsu-descended firms round out the picture.

NISA index fundsJapanese Government BondsBlue-chip dividend equitiesReal estate

Entrepreneurial families to know

Business families based in Japan who are also active capital allocators — see the full family capital directory.

Trading

Mitsui family

Mitsui Takatoshi, son of a sake brewer, founded Echigoya, a dry-goods store, in 1673 in both Edo (To…

Other East Asia markets

ChinaSouth KoreaTaiwanHong KongMongoliaNorth Korea

Ready to put capital to work?

Browse platforms, banks, and funds active in East Asia, or read our start-investing guide.

See platforms & funds

Frequently asked questions

What currency does Japan use?
Japan uses the Japanese yen.
What is the main stock exchange in Japan?
Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX), overseen by the Financial Services Agency (FSA).
What do people in Japan typically invest in?
The NISA tax-free investment account (expanded in 2024) is now the default on-ramp for new retail investors, typically into low-cost index funds and blue-chip dividend payers. Japanese Government Bonds, real estate, and — for the wealthy — stakes in family-controlled keiretsu-descended firms round out the picture.