【PR】Why Overseas Residents Consider METS Virtual Office — Pricing, Requirements & Key Notes (2026 Edition)

【PR】This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you sign up through the links in this article. (Article created: July 30, 2026)

When overseas residents need a Japanese address

Whether you've relocated abroad, are on an overseas assignment, or run a freelance business from another country, there are plenty of situations where you still need an address in Japan.

• Company registration / sole proprietorship registration: Setting up a company in Japan, or filing a notification of business commencement as a sole proprietor, requires a Japanese address
• Bank accounts and licenses: Maintaining or opening a Japanese bank account, or applying for certain business licenses, can also require a Japanese address
• Receiving mail and important documents: Notices from government offices, contracts, credit cards, and tax-related documents are important pieces of mail that can be difficult to receive directly while living overseas

Renting and maintaining an actual office in Japan while living abroad, however, isn't realistic in terms of cost or management. This is where a virtual office — a service that lets you use an address without renting physical space — comes in. In this article, we introduce METS Virtual Office, based in Tokyo.

Note: When an overseas resident signs a contract with METS Virtual Office, a representative who resides in Japan must be appointed. This requires the representative's identity verification documents and a power of attorney, so please check the official website in advance.

What is METS Virtual Office?

METS Virtual Office operates multiple locations within Tokyo. Its standout feature is that it operates out of its own company-owned buildings in Tokyo. Many virtual office providers operate out of leased buildings, which carries the risk that the service could suddenly end or relocate due to lease termination or redevelopment. Because METS Virtual Office owns its buildings, it offers more stable, long-term operation with reduced risk of sudden closure.

This stability shows in its track record: according to the official website, based on the company's own data from 2018 to 2022, the member retention rate is approximately 98%, suggesting that most members who sign up continue using the address over the long term. For overseas residents, the risk of suddenly losing access to an address is a major concern — this track record should offer some reassurance.

Its locations are as follows:

• Shinjuku Gyoen
• Shinjuku Sanchome
• Nihonbashi Kabutocho
• Akabane

All are well-connected areas within Tokyo, meaning the address looks credible on business cards, contracts, and websites when used for company registration or sole proprietorship registration.

Why overseas residents choose METS Virtual Office

Overseas residents choose METS Virtual Office for several reasons:

High stability from owning its own buildings

When renting an address in Japan while living abroad, you naturally want to avoid a situation where the service ends mid-contract, forcing you to scramble to update your address. Handling an address change from Japan often requires dealing with weekday business hours, which can be difficult across time zones. Because METS Virtual Office operates its own buildings, it's more likely you can keep using the same address long-term, reducing this kind of hassle.

Track record of corporate bank account openings and business license approvals

METS Virtual Office reports a strong track record of helping members open corporate bank accounts and obtain various business licenses. Some virtual office addresses can work against you during a bank's screening process, so having access to an address with a proven track record is a real advantage for anyone running a business in Japan from overseas.

Free reception of registered mail

Managing mail that arrives in Japan is a bigger challenge than it might seem when you're living abroad — especially for items sent as registered mail, which often come with restrictions on how and where they can be received. METS Virtual Office accepts and manages mail, but certain categories — such as mail requiring in-person identity verification, special delivery (tokubetsu sotatsu), and court documents — cannot be accepted. Please check the official website for details.

Private rental offices also available

When you make a temporary trip back to Japan, you may need a place to work. METS Virtual Office also offers private rental offices, so the address isn't just for mail — it can double as an actual workspace or meeting space, which is reassuring for anyone splitting their life between Japan and abroad.

Points to consider when choosing a virtual office as an overseas resident

METS Virtual Office is just one of many virtual office providers. When comparing options as an overseas resident, it's worth evaluating a few key factors.

Location

The address you use for company registration or on your business cards directly affects how you're perceived by business partners and financial institutions. Whether the address is in a well-connected, central area of Tokyo is one of the most important factors to compare.

Operational stability

Whether a provider owns its buildings or leases them can affect how reliably the service continues over time. For overseas residents who want to keep using the same address long-term, the stability of the operator is a factor worth weighing carefully.

Scope of mail handling

Depending on the plan, some providers only handle ordinary mail, while others also accept registered mail and similar items. It's worth checking what kinds of mail you expect to receive and confirming the provider's scope of support in advance.

Plan flexibility

The right plan differs depending on whether you just need an address or also plan to register a company. It's also worth checking whether you can change plans later as your needs evolve.

Track record with overseas residents

Signing a contract while living overseas often requires additional steps, such as appointing a representative in Japan. Checking whether a provider has experience and support systems in place for overseas residents can offer added peace of mind.

Plans and pricing

METS Virtual Office offers several plans depending on your needs.

Light Plan (from ¥270/month)

The simplest plan, for anyone who just wants an address. It does not include mail forwarding, and cannot be used for receiving mail on your behalf or for company registration — if you need those features, please consider one of the other plans.

Online Shop Plan

Designed for people running online shops who need an address to disclose under Japan's Specified Commercial Transactions Act, without exposing their home address.

Business Plan

Designed for sole proprietors and freelancers — useful as the address for a business commencement notification, or as the business address on business cards, invoices, and contracts.

Business Plus Plan

Supports company registration, for anyone who wants to establish a company in Japan while living abroad.

Company Formation Support Plans (3 types)

These plans include support for the company formation process itself, such as drafting articles of incorporation and filing registration paperwork — helpful for overseas residents unfamiliar with the process.

Please check the official pricing page for exact pricing and the latest campaign details for each plan.

How to sign up

Sign-up for METS Virtual Office is designed to be completed entirely online. The general flow is:

1. Visit the official website and choose the plan that fits your needs
2. Fill out the application form
3. Upload the required documents (identity verification, etc.)
4. Complete the screening process to finalize the contract

For overseas residents, a natural concern is whether document exchange and identity verification can be done smoothly — METS Virtual Office supports online applications, making it easier to complete the process from abroad. Please check the official website for the latest details on required documents and screening timelines.

To sign up, you will generally need the following documents (a typical example based on the official site's FAQ, etc.):

1. Identity verification document for the contracting party / representative
2. Identity verification document for the representative residing in Japan
3. Power of attorney
4. For company contracts: a certified copy of full corporate registry information (rireki jikou zenbu shoumeisho) issued within the past 3 months

The specific documents required vary by contract type and plan, so please check the official website for the latest information.

Note: When an overseas resident signs a contract with METS Virtual Office, a representative who resides in Japan must be appointed. This requires the representative's identity verification documents and a power of attorney, so please check the official website in advance.

Benefits of keeping a Japanese address while living abroad

Keeping a Japanese address while living overseas offers more than just a place to receive mail.

Improved business credibility

Being able to list a real Tokyo address on business cards, contracts, and your website can improve credibility with business partners and financial institutions — especially valuable when dealing with someone for the first time.

Maintaining a Japanese bank account

Long-term residence abroad can complicate the address registered with your Japanese bank account. However, whether you can open or maintain an account depends entirely on each financial institution's own rules and screening process — using a METS Virtual Office address alone does not guarantee that a bank account can be opened or maintained.

Continued access to address-dependent services

Credit card issuance and renewal, various shopping services, and administrative procedures often assume a Japanese address. That said, whether these services can be continued also depends on each provider's own terms and screening process — simply having an address does not uniformly guarantee continued access to these services.

Who is this a good fit for?

METS Virtual Office is especially well-suited to overseas residents who fall into one of these groups:

Freelancers and sole proprietors based abroad

Many people want to keep doing business with clients in Japan but don't want to disclose their home address, or worry that an overseas address looks less credible on invoices and contracts. Using a Japanese address for business purposes can make dealings with Japanese clients go more smoothly.

Anyone who wants to start a company in Japan after moving abroad

Even after relocating your life overseas, you may still want to run a Japan-focused business as a registered company. A process designed to be handled online — without needing to fly back to Japan — fits this need well.

Expats on long-term overseas assignments

For those on multi-year overseas postings who still want to maintain contracts and accounts in Japan, having a stable address to rely on offers real peace of mind.

Digital nomads based abroad

For digital nomads who move between countries rather than settling in one place long-term, keeping a single Japanese address makes administrative procedures and use of financial services easier to manage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I sign up while living overseas?

A: Yes — the application process is designed to be completed online, making it accessible for overseas residents. That said, specific requirements for documents and identity verification may change, so please check the official website before applying. Overseas residents must also appoint a representative residing in Japan, who will need to provide identity verification documents and a power of attorney. Required documents typically include an identity verification document for the contracting party, as well as identity verification documents and a power of attorney for the representative residing in Japan. For company contracts, a certified copy of full corporate registry information issued within the past 3 months is also required. Please check the official website for details.

Q: Can mail be forwarded?

A: Registered mail (including simple registered mail) is accepted. Please check the official website for the exact forwarding conditions and what's included in each plan.

Q: Can it be used for company registration?

A: Yes, the Business Plus Plan supports company registration. If you want to establish a company in Japan while living abroad, this plan is worth considering.

Notes and Disclaimer

The information in this article is current as of the time of writing (July 30, 2026). Whether a business license can be obtained, and the specific requirements involved, vary by industry and by the government authority you apply to — please always confirm with the relevant authority before proceeding. This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Please confirm the latest contract terms, pricing, and service details on the official website, and make your own decision before applying.

Summary

Situations requiring a Japanese address while living abroad — company registration, sole proprietorship registration, maintaining a bank account, receiving mail — are more common than you might think. METS Virtual Office operates out of its own buildings in Tokyo, and according to the official website's own data from 2018 to 2022, its member retention rate is approximately 98%. With four locations to choose from — Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku Sanchome, Nihonbashi Kabutocho, and Akabane — and a strong track record supporting corporate bank account openings and business licenses, it's a solid option to consider.

From the simple Light Plan for those who just need an address, to full company formation support, there's a plan to match your needs. If you want to keep a Japanese address while living abroad and make your business and administrative procedures easier, METS Virtual Office is worth checking out.

*This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you sign up through the links in this article.*