Fukushima ／ AI Data Center Attraction Initiative

Fukushima AI Data Center
Attraction Initiative

An estimated ~60% effective cost reduction through Japanese government and Fukushima Prefecture subsidies (subject to program requirements and review).
Elisa × The National Policy Research Institute × Fukushima Soso Reconstruction Public-Private Joint Team offer one-stop attraction support for data center operators, cloud / colocation operators, AI companies, hyperscalers, and AI research institutions.

See the Scheme For Prospective Investors

~60%

Effective cost reduction

Up to 3/4

Capex subsidy rate (SME, requirements apply)

Up to 8 yrs

Electricity subsidy up to 50% (requirements apply)

Why Fukushima

Why locate your data center in Fukushima?

Policy, local network, and capital — all in one place.

01 National-level policy support

Generous subsidy schemes from METI and Fukushima Prefecture (Self-Reliance Return Subsidy + F Subsidy). Up to 3/4 capex coverage for SMEs and up to 50% electricity subsidy for up to 8 years, subject to requirements and review.

02 Cost competitiveness vs. overseas DCs

In our estimate with subsidies applied, effective cost comes to roughly 40% of standard. Equipment, facility, and electricity costs are all reduced at once through the combination of programs available in Fukushima.

03 Established infrastructure

Post-earthquake seawalls, prepared industrial land, and strengthened power grid are already in place. Operators can move quickly.

04 Proven precedent

Image-analysis AI company Rutilea has already deployed a comparable DC investment in Fukushima (¥2.2B initial, ¥8.6B raised) with subsidies.

Attraction Scheme

One-stop support from a 3-party consortium

Coordinator (Elisa), policy expertise (NPRI), and local execution (Public-Private Joint Team) work together end-to-end.

Prospective Investors

Build & operate computing infrastructure, AI workloads, cloud services

DC operators (colocation / wholesale) Cloud providers / hyperscalers AI companies AI research institutions HPC / quantum computing

Investment / Operation

Attraction Consortium

elisa

Elisa LLC Secretariat / Lead

Owns the entire attraction pipeline. Subsidy acquisition, application support, local coordination, and post-investment operational support.

The National Policy Research Institute (NPRI) Policy

Policy interpretation and implementation guidance. Liaison support with METI and Fukushima Prefecture. Connects to GX, semiconductors, AI strategy, and DC clustering policy.

Fukushima Soso Reconstruction Promotion Organization Local

Public-Private Joint Team (fsrt.jp). Direct access to municipalities, landholders, and business networks across 12 Fukushima cities, towns, and villages.

Subsidies / Tax / Local Coordination

METI ／ Fukushima Prefecture ／ Local Municipalities Self-Reliance Return Subsidy, F Subsidy, land, employment

Cost Advantage

~60% effective cost reduction

Subsidies compress real cost burden to roughly 40% of the standard structure.

Standard

100%

→

After subsidy

~40%

Equipment (55% of total)−75%
Facility (15% of total)−75%
Electricity (15% of total)−50% × 8 yrs
Labor (15% of total)±0%

Subsidies

Two complementary subsidy programs

Combined to compress capex and operating electricity costs.

Self-Reliance Return Subsidy

Manufacturing / Service Industry Site Support

Eligible: manufacturing, software, IT, data centers, call centers, logistics, etc.
Eligible facilities: factories, R&D facilities, data centers, dormitories, equipment, etc.
Amount: ¥30M – ¥3B (up to ¥5B for highly evaluated projects)
Subsidy rate: up to 2/3 (large) / 3/4 (SME)
Area: 12 cities/towns/villages in Hamadori (former evacuation zones)

F Subsidy

Fukushima Nuclear Plant Vicinity Site Support

Partial subsidy of paid electricity bills
Eligible area: municipalities hosting and adjacent to the nuclear plant (some municipalities are excluded for sites established on or after 2025-04-01; see the official page)
Main requirements: increased contracted power, +3 employees
Term: up to 8 years
Official page →

Want the full briefing?

Detailed subsidy zones, rate tables, case studies, pros & cons, and the full attraction process are available in the Japanese version.

See full details (JP) →

Fukushima AI Data CenterAttraction Initiative