The verdict in three sentences
For a commodity trading house in Tokyo, the website sells no product: it proves to trade finance banks, counterparties, NGOs and recruits that the house is governed, compliant and present where it says it is. A mid-sized Tokyo production agency typically charges JPY 3 to 8 million, or about USD 20,000 to 53,000, for a Japanese and English corporate site, while Kolonell's fixed grid runs from USD 2,900 (Starter) to USD 8,900 (Premium, the multilingual tier). The real cost sits in the extras: translation, photography, compliance review and integrations, which should be priced from day one.
What does a corporate site cost in Tokyo in 2026?
The local figures below are a 2026 ballpark from typical Japanese production agency quotes and public rate pages, converted approximately at JPY 150 per USD. Kolonell prices are fixed, in USD.
| Option | Build cost | Typical timeline | Watch points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo freelancer | JPY 800,000 to 2,000,000 (about USD 5,300 to 13,300) | 2 to 3 months | Little copywriting, English often translated without native review |
| Mid-sized production agency | JPY 3,000,000 to 8,000,000 (about USD 20,000 to 53,000) | 3 to 5 months | Solid approval process, English copy sometimes subcontracted |
| Large agency or ad group subsidiary | JPY 10,000,000 to 30,000,000 (about USD 67,000 to 200,000) | 5 to 9 months | Brand, integrated report, heavy project governance |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Essential site, a sober corporate presence |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Full site: governance, compliance, offices, careers |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in the Tokyo time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. The Japanese version is a professional translation, counted as a third-party cost. Details are on the international offer.
What a trading house site has to prove
Product marketing matters little. The credibility and compliance pages are what a credit analyst, a counterparty compliance officer or an NGO tracking a supply chain will read.
| Page | Main reader | What it must show |
|---|---|---|
| Governance and leadership | Banks, counterparties | Structure, board, shareholding as published |
| Compliance and sanctions | Compliance teams, banks | KYC policy, adherence to sanctions and export control regimes, whistleblowing channel |
| Responsible sourcing | NGOs, industrial clients | Published policies, ESG reports actually available for download |
| Activities by commodity | Counterparties | Business lines in general terms, no invented volumes |
| Offices and locations | Everyone | Real addresses, Tokyo and other hubs |
| Careers | Japanese and international candidates | Roles, graduate programme, working language |
| Privacy | Everyone | Policy aligned with the APPI, supervised by the PPC |
Never display volumes, market shares or counterparty names without formal approval: the sector is discreet, and an inaccurate claim creates more risk than it earns. Sanctions and anti-money laundering policies must reflect what the company actually applies, reviewed by your legal team. This is not legal advice.
Hidden costs and 3-year total cost
The build price is only part of the spend. Here is a 3-year comparison for a site in Japanese and English, between the Premium tier and a mid-sized Tokyo agency. Items outside the Kolonell grid are market assumptions.
| Item | Kolonell Premium | Mid-sized Tokyo agency |
|---|---|---|
| Build | USD 8,900 | USD 33,000 (about JPY 5,000,000, mid-range) |
| Japanese translation of 20 pages | USD 3,000 (market assumption) | Often included in the quote |
| Office and team photography | USD 2,000 (market assumption) | USD 2,000 (market assumption) |
| Compliance review by legal team | In-house | In-house |
| Maintenance years 1 to 3 | On quote after the 3 included months; market assumption USD 300 a month over 33 months, or USD 9,900 | Market assumption USD 500 a month over 36 months, or USD 18,000 |
| Indicative 3-year total | USD 23,800 | USD 53,000 |
Kolonell arithmetic: 8,900 + 3,000 + 2,000 + 9,900 = USD 23,800. Agency arithmetic: 33,000 + 2,000 + 18,000 = USD 53,000. Integrations (supplier portal, investor area, recruiting tool) are on quote in both cases.
When a local agency is the better choice
If your leadership requires in-person approval meetings in Japanese at every stage, or if the site must sit alongside an integrated report produced by the same agency, a Tokyo provider is a better fit. The same applies if Japanese is the reference version and English is only a summary.
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Questions to ask
- Who writes the English, and are they a native speaker?
- Is the Japanese translation reviewed by someone who knows commodity trading?
- How are compliance policies updated after launch?
- What is on quote, and when will you know?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Kaiun Resources, a 40-person metals trading house in Marunouchi, receives a local quote of JPY 6,000,000 (about USD 40,000). It chooses the Premium tier at USD 8,900, adds a Japanese translation at USD 3,000 (market assumption) and a photo shoot at USD 2,000 (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 3,000 + 2,000 = USD 13,900, which is USD 26,100 less than the local quote, with native English copy for foreign banks.
FAQ
How much does a Japanese and English corporate site cost in Tokyo?
A mid-sized production agency usually asks JPY 3 to 8 million, about USD 20,000 to 53,000, as a 2026 ballpark. At Kolonell, the multilingual Premium tier is USD 8,900, with Japanese translation on top.
Is the Japanese version included?
The included native copywriting covers English or French. Japanese goes through professional translation, around USD 3,000 for 20 pages as a market assumption.
Should we publish our trading volumes?
It is not necessary and often unwise without approval. The 7 key pages (governance, compliance, sourcing, activities, offices, careers, privacy) are enough to reassure.
How long until launch?
At Kolonell, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium once content is ready. Internal approvals in Japanese often add 2 to 4 weeks.
Is a supplier or investor portal possible?
Yes, on quote, because these areas need authentication and integrations. The public site can still be delivered on the standard timeline.
Let's scope your project. A corporate site on the multilingual Premium tier, languages set in the quote, with governance and compliance pages, goes live in 4 to 6 weeks after content sign-off. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
