🇯🇵 Japan · Government procurement
How to find and bid on government tenders in Japan.
Japan's government procurement market is one of the largest in the world, with notices spread across individual ministry portals and aggregated for international suppliers through JETRO Tender Search (jetro.go.jp). This guide explains how to navigate the system, who is eligible to bid, and how to track opportunities without monitoring dozens of portals manually.
Four steps to your first Japan government contract.
1
Use JETRO Tender Search as your entry point
JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) aggregates English-language procurement notices aimed at foreign suppliers at jetro.go.jp. Start here to identify target agencies and sectors before navigating individual ministry portals.
2
Register with the procuring ministry or agency
Japanese procurement is decentralized — each ministry and major agency maintains its own supplier qualification (資格審査, shikaku shinsa). Qualify with the specific entities you intend to sell to; central government qualification is separate from local government.
3
Submit a bid through the ministry's e-procurement system
Most central government tenders use the government's electronic procurement system (e-GP). Bid submissions, bond requirements, and deadlines vary by procuring entity; read each tender document in full before preparing your response.
4
Monitor award announcements
Successful contract awards are published on the respective ministry's website and on JETRO for selected notices. Award data reveals competitive pricing and the most active buyers in your sector.
🇯🇵 Live data
Search Japan government tenders
Japan's central government procurement is governed by the Act on Contracts for which the State is a Party and related budget law. Ministries operate their own procurement portals, with JETRO Tender Search serving as the primary English-language aggregation point for foreign-accessible notices. The Government's Electronic Procurement System (e-GP) handles online submissions for many central government tenders.
Japan is a signatory to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), meaning tenders above GPA thresholds must be open to suppliers from other GPA signatories. Foreign companies can bid directly or through a local representative; smaller below-threshold contracts may be restricted to domestically qualified suppliers. English-language documentation is available for some GPA-covered tenders, but Japanese proficiency or a local partner significantly increases competitiveness.
With notices scattered across dozens of ministry and agency portals, staying current manually is time-consuming. Sell to State indexes Japanese government procurement data — including JETRO-published notices — and lets you run plain-English searches, save searches by keyword or buyer, and get a daily email alert on your tender searches instead of a daily portal check.
Frequently asked questions
What is JETRO Tender Search?
JETRO Tender Search (jetro.go.jp) is a Japanese government-affiliated service that aggregates English-language procurement notices from Japanese ministries and agencies, specifically to help foreign suppliers access Japan's government market.
Can foreign suppliers bid on Japan government tenders?
Yes. Japan is a WTO GPA signatory, so tenders above GPA thresholds are open to suppliers from other signatory countries. Below-threshold contracts may favor domestically qualified suppliers. A local representative or Japanese legal entity strengthens competitiveness.
Is JETRO Tender Search free to use?
Yes, browsing and searching procurement notices on JETRO Tender Search is free. Individual ministry portals also publish notices at no cost.
How can Sell to State help me track Japan government tenders?
Sell to State indexes Japanese government procurement notices, with plain-English search and saved tender searches with a daily email alert. Turn on the alert for the saved tender search: once a day, we email you the number of new open and awarded tenders that match it.
What Japan procurement data does Sell to State cover?
Sell to State covers government tender notices and award data from Japan's procurement ecosystem, including JETRO-aggregated opportunities, giving you a searchable, English-friendly view of the market.
Glossary
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