The 8 Best Law Firms in Tokyo (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 8 picks

The best English-speaking law firms in Tokyo in 2026 for individuals and small businesses include Masayuki Honda International Law Office and Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office for international family and inheritance cases, Sakura International Law Office for divorce and employment, and Verybest Law Offices for a large full-service option. Shinjuku International Law Firm and Nakamura International Criminal Defense handle criminal cases for foreigners.

How we chose

Every firm here is currently operating, has its own website with a Tokyo office address, states its areas of practice, and shows evidence on that site that it serves English-speaking or foreign clients. We included large and small firms and some that mainly serve companies but state services for individuals. Nothing is ranked by outcome, fee, win rate or any legal measure of "best," nobody paid to be included, and there are no affiliate links. Descriptions are the firms' own claims, and nothing here is legal advice. Several firms advertise results or case counts; we do not repeat them.

Check credentials before you hire. Attorneys belong to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), whose English page on legal counseling for foreigners lists the Tokyo counseling centers; the JFBA says it does not provide legal advice or referrals for specific disputes. In Tokyo, the Tokyo Bar Association, the Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association and the Daini Tokyo Bar Association jointly run the Shinjuku and Kamata Legal Counseling Centers for foreigners, described on the Tokyo Bar Association's English page. For parents in international child-removal cases, the JFBA runs a Lawyer Referral Service for Hague Convention Cases. The Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu) page for foreign nationals offers free multilingual legal information.

Japan has two kinds of lawyer that matter to a foreign client. A bengoshi is a Japanese-qualified attorney who belongs to a bar association and can advise on Japanese law and appear in Japanese courts. A gaikokuho jimu bengoshi (registered foreign lawyer) is a foreign-qualified lawyer approved by the Minister of Justice who may practice the law of the places where he or she is licensed; the Foreign Lawyers Act (official English translation) bars a registered foreign lawyer from legal services beyond that scope. For a divorce, dismissal, inheritance or arrest in Japan, you will generally need a bengoshi, even when the lawyer also holds a foreign qualification.

Firms below are grouped by what they say they do most. Larger firms usually quote fees after an initial discussion, and smaller offices often work in one language pair, so ask who will actually handle your case and in which language.

1. Masayuki Honda International Law Office, LPC — Ebisu

An Ebisu firm for international divorce, Hague cases, inheritance and criminal defense.

Specialty International divorce, Hague Convention cases, inheritance, criminal defenseBest for Individuals and small and medium-sized companies, in English

Masayuki Honda International Law Office describes itself as a law firm for international cases: international divorce, Hague Convention cases, inheritance, litigation and criminal defense, serving individual clients and small and medium-sized companies. Its English site says English reception is available and that overseas clients can consult by telephone or Skype.

The site's news page, updated in 2026, reports on the firm's work, including comments by Masayuki Honda on post-divorce joint parental authority and a Hague Convention mediation agreement at the Tokyo Family Court. It also warns on its homepage about scam emails that use the firm's name.

Good to know: Check your spam folder for its replies; the site says its emails are sometimes filtered, and asks you to whitelist @honda-law.net.

Ebisu Plax Bldg. 6F, 1-25-1 Ebisu-Minami, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0022

Google Maps Website

2. Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office — Ikebukuro

A multilingual firm for international family, inheritance, employment and startup matters.

Specialty International divorce and custody, inheritance, foreigner employment, company startupsBest for Individuals and companies; English, Japanese and Vietnamese

Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office says it was established in January 2021 by attorneys and paralegals who specialized in foreign and international matters, and that its staff communicate in Japanese, English and Vietnamese. Its practices page lists international divorce and child issues including Hague Convention cases, inheritance and wills with international elements, employment issues for foreign workers, company startups and branch establishment, and immigration.

The firm sits in a shared office in the Hareza Tower in Ikebukuro. Its fees page says the initial consultation fee is explained at the time of inquiry, a consultation is capped at 60 minutes, and it accepts PayPal.

Good to know: Call or use the contact form; the site lists weekday hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

20F Hareza Tower, 1-18-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 170-0013

Google Maps Website

3. Sakura International Law Office — Nihonbashi Kabutocho

A small Nihonbashi office for divorce, inheritance and labor disputes in English.

Specialty International divorce and custody, cross-border inheritance, labor disputesBest for Individuals and small and medium businesses, in English and Japanese

Sakura International Law Office says it opened in June 2021 and serves individuals and small and medium businesses regardless of nationality or language. It focuses on divorce and child custody, inheritance and wills, and labor disputes such as wrongful termination and workplace harassment, and says its attorneys have experience in international divorce, cross-border inheritance and labor issues at foreign-affiliated companies.

Its English pages list divorce, corporate advisory, inheritance, labor, residence status and general civil cases, and say clients abroad can consult by online meeting. The site says attorney Yumi Itakura has practiced since 2005 and works in Japanese and English.

Good to know: The site lists weekday hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; use the contact form to book.

Room A, 7F, Kabuto-Cho MOC Building, 15-12 Nihonbashi Kabutocho, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0026

Google Maps Website

4. Verybest Law Offices — Roppongi

A large nationwide firm with English support for individuals and businesses.

Specialty Divorce, criminal cases, labor issues, inheritance, immigration, company setupBest for Individuals and companies, in English, Chinese and Japanese

Verybest Law Offices describes itself as a full-service firm with roughly 430 lawyers and 76 offices across Japan, with English, Chinese and Japanese support. Its English site has separate sections for individuals and for businesses. For individuals it lists divorces, traffic accidents, inheritance, criminal cases, labor issues and visa matters; for businesses it lists company and subsidiary establishment, litigation, tax, employment and real estate.

The site says the first 30-minute consultation is free, with fees possible depending on the case, and gives a toll-free number in Japan and an international number. Its Tokyo head office is in Roppongi.

Good to know: The English line, +81-3-6834-7857, is listed weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Japan time.

MFPR Roppongi Azabudai Bldg. 11F, 1-8-7 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032

Google Maps Website

5. Shinjuku International Law Firm — Yotsuya

A criminal-defense and civil-litigation practice led by a Japan- and New York-admitted lawyer.

Specialty Criminal defense and civil litigationBest for Foreigners facing criminal charges or disputes, in English

Shinjuku International Law Firm says it opened in 2021 near Shinjuku Gyoen. Its founder, Rie Nishida, says she became a Japanese bengoshi in 2012 and is a member of the Tokyo Bar Association and the New York bar, and that she acts as lead counsel on every case rather than handing work to associates.

The firm's English site lists criminal defense and civil litigation. It states a free first phone consultation and a fee of 22,000 yen (about 150 USD, as the site puts it) for a first visit to a police station or detention center, and publishes fee ranges and case summaries.

Good to know: The site asks urgent inquiries to call or text through WhatsApp using the QR code on its homepage.

Keiwa Bldg. 8F, 4-28-15 Yotsuya, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

Google Maps Website

6. Nakamura International Criminal Defense LPC — Kanda-Misakicho

A criminal-defense firm that says it explains cases in English to non-Japanese clients.

Specialty Criminal defenseBest for Non-Japanese suspects and defendants and their families overseas

Nakamura International Criminal Defense says criminal defense has been the core of its practice since it was founded in 2009 by a lawyer who had served as a public prosecutor, and that its clients include many non-Japanese nationals. Its English site says it can explain a case directly in English, visit clients in detention and, with consent, keep family overseas informed.

The site also explains how pre-indictment detention and interrogation differ from many other countries, and says it can help afterward with passport and immigration questions. It also lists an office in Nagoya.

Good to know: Its Q&A and fees pages are on the English site; read them before calling so you know what to ask.

Nippo Suidobashi Bldg. 3F, 2-17-2 Kanda-Misakicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0061

Google Maps Website

7. Tokyo Sanno Law Office — Roppongi

An English-language practice covering divorce, wills, real estate and corporate work.

Specialty International divorce, wills and inheritance, real estate, corporate mattersBest for Individuals and companies, in English

Tokyo Sanno Law Office's English site says the firm has been solving international legal issues since 1980 and has used its current name since 2011. For individuals it lists traffic accidents, divorce, child support, visitation and custody, adoption, wills, international inheritance, real estate and immigration; for companies, corporate, finance, contracts, intellectual property and shipping.

Its divorce page says international divorce is its expertise and offers in-person and video consultations. Its real estate page lists residential purchases and sales, mortgages and foreclosures, construction contracts and commercial leasing, which is rare among the firms in this guide.

Good to know: The site lists a phone number, 03-3589-3585, and an email address, and says it takes bank transfer, cash or PayPal.

ARK Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower 25F, 1-9-10 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032

Google Maps Website

8. Kojima Law Offices — Akasaka

A mid-size international firm for foreign-owned companies, employment and estate planning.

Specialty Company setup in Japan, employment, international inheritance and estate planningBest for Foreign companies and high-net-worth non-Japanese individuals

Kojima Law Offices describes itself as a full-service firm with an international legal team, licensed in Japan and in other jurisdictions, and a member of international law-firm networks. Its English site lists company establishment in Japan, employment and labor law with an emphasis on helping foreign clients, M&A and corporate matters, and international inheritance, personal tax and estate planning.

The estate-planning page says the firm advises high-net-worth, non-Japanese individuals and employs three full-time US-licensed attorneys. It moved to Akasaka in March 2026, so check the new address if you use an older listing.

Good to know: Say whether you are an individual or a company when you contact it; the site separates estate planning from business services.

Akasaka Tameike Tower 7F, 2-17-7 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign lawyer advise me on Japanese law?

Only a Japanese-qualified attorney (bengoshi) can advise on Japanese law and represent you in Japanese courts. A registered foreign lawyer (gaikokuho jimu bengoshi) is approved by the Minister of Justice and registered with the JFBA to practice the law of the jurisdiction where he or she is licensed, and the Foreign Lawyers Act bars services beyond that scope. Some bengoshi also hold foreign qualifications; Shinjuku International Law Firm, for example, says its founder is admitted in both Japan and New York.

Is there free legal help for foreigners in Tokyo?

The Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu) says its multilingual information service for foreign nationals is free and lists a phone number, 0570-078377, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is information on the Japanese legal system and where to turn, not representation. The Tokyo bar associations' counseling centers in Shinjuku and Kamata charge 5,500 yen per 30 minutes, according to the JFBA, which adds that free counseling may be available to people with no or low income.

How do I find a lawyer for an international divorce or custody case?

Start with a firm that lists international family law, such as Masayuki Honda International Law Office, Tokyo Kokusai Partners, Sakura International or Tokyo Sanno Law Office in this guide. If a child has been taken across a border and the Hague Convention may apply, the JFBA runs a lawyer referral service, free of charge, for parents who apply through Japan's Central Authority; legal fees are charged separately. No lawyer can promise a custody outcome.

What should I do if I or a family member is arrested in Japan?

Say "toban bengoshi" (duty attorney) at the police station. The JFBA says a lawyer will come and that the first duty-attorney visit is free. Firms in this guide that handle criminal cases for foreigners include Shinjuku International Law Firm, Nakamura International Criminal Defense and Masayuki Honda International Law Office; each states English service on its own site.

How much does a lawyer in Tokyo cost?

It varies widely and most firms quote after hearing the facts. Published examples: the Tokyo bar counseling centers charge 5,500 yen per 30 minutes; Verybest says its first 30-minute consultation is free but fees may apply to some cases; Shinjuku International Law Firm lists a free first phone call and 22,000 yen for a first visit to a police station or detention center; Tokyo Kokusai Partners says the initial consultation fee is explained when you inquire. Ask for fees in writing.

Can I consult a Tokyo firm from abroad?

Several state that they can. Masayuki Honda International Law Office says it offers consultations to overseas clients by telephone and Skype, Sakura International says it takes requests from clients overseas by online meeting, and Tokyo Sanno Law Office offers video consultations. Time zones, retainer payment and the need to attend Japanese court dates in person are worth raising early.

1. Masayuki Honda International Law Office, LPC — Ebisu

2. Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office — Ikebukuro

3. Sakura International Law Office — Nihonbashi Kabutocho

4. Verybest Law Offices — Roppongi

5. Shinjuku International Law Firm — Yotsuya

6. Nakamura International Criminal Defense LPC — Kanda-Misakicho

7. Tokyo Sanno Law Office — Roppongi

8. Kojima Law Offices — Akasaka

Frequently asked questions

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