New website for a family office in Tokyo: real cost vs local agencies (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a family office in Tokyo, a new website costs roughly USD 13,000 to 40,000 at a Tokyo agency (about JPY 2 to 6 million, converted approximately), against a fixed USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium, the multilingual tier) at Kolonell. The site does not need to sell anything; it needs to prove governance, discretion and a credible team to prospective families and to deal partners who check you before a meeting. The real cost sits in what surrounds the build: Japanese translation, compliance review of every statement, and any secure client portal, which is scoped on quote.

What does a Tokyo family office site actually need to prove?

Many single family offices keep no public site at all, or a single page with a contact address, and that is a legitimate choice. A multi family office, or a single family office that co-invests with funds and founders, is in a different position: banks, lawyers, fund managers and the next generation of client families will look you up. They want to see who you are, how you are governed and how you protect confidentiality, without being sold to.

Pages that usually earn their place:

• Philosophy and approach: how the office thinks about capital across generations, in plain language.
• Services: consolidated reporting, governance support, succession planning coordination, co-investment, philanthropy, described factually.
• Governance and team: board or investment committee structure, senior team bios with verifiable backgrounds.
• Confidentiality and data: how information is held and who sees it.
• For partners: what kind of deals or co-investments you look at, and how to approach you.
• Contact: a discreet form, a postal address in Marunouchi, Toranomon or wherever you sit, and clear legal information.
• Client portal entry, if one exists, scoped separately.

What it costs: Tokyo agencies vs the Kolonell grid

Local ranges come from typical agency quotes and public rate pages in Tokyo, converted at an approximate rate. Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) once content is ready, and 3 months of support. Japanese copy is a translation or native writing cost scoped in the quote. Gated areas, client portals, document rooms and integrations with reporting platforms are on quote. Details are on the international offer page.

Hidden costs and the three-year view

A simple three-year total for a mid-range scenario, without portal: Tokyo agency, 25,000 build + 2,000 photos + 2,500 review + 36 × 400 maintenance (market assumption) = USD 43,900. Kolonell, 4,900 build + 2,200 translation + 2,000 photos + 2,500 review = USD 11,600, plus maintenance after the 3 included months, on quote. Compare the maintenance quote you receive against the difference before deciding.

Compliance, privacy and when a local agency is the better choice

In Japan, firms that provide investment advice or discretionary management generally fall under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and the Financial Services Agency, and family offices are treated differently depending on whom they serve. What you can say on a public page about performance, strategy or services may be restricted, so have every statement reviewed. Personal data falls under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), overseen by the Personal Information Protection Commission: keep forms minimal and publish a clear privacy policy. This is not legal advice: confirm your position with your Japanese counsel before going live.

A Tokyo agency is likely the better choice if you want the site written natively in keigo by the same team that runs your Japanese press relations, if you need regular in-person meetings in Tokyo, or if the site is part of a larger brand program with print and events. Kolonell fits when you want a discreet, well-written English site, with Japanese added through Premium or translation, at a fixed price and on a short timeline.

Questions to ask any provider: who owns the domain and code? Where is the site hosted and where does form data go? Who reviews compliance-sensitive wording? What happens if the portal is added later?

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Kioicho Heritage Partners, a multi family office serving 14 families, mostly Japanese with a few based in Singapore and London. The partners need English for deal partners and Japanese for client families. A Tokyo production company quotes JPY 4.5 million (about USD 30,000) for a bilingual site over 4 months. Kolonell Premium is USD 8,900 over 4 to 6 weeks, plus about USD 2,500 for native Japanese adaptation and USD 2,000 for review by counsel, both third-party costs: 8,900 + 2,500 + 2,000 = USD 13,400, roughly USD 16,600 less than the local quote. The office keeps the client portal for a second phase, scoped on quote. The figures are illustrative.

FAQ

Does a single family office need a website?

Not always. Many keep a minimal page or none at all; a site becomes useful once you co-invest, recruit or serve several families. A Starter site at USD 2,900 covers a short, discreet presence.

Can the site be in Japanese and English?

Yes. Premium is the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote. Japanese copy is scoped as native writing or translation, typically USD 1,500 to 3,000 for 10 to 15 pages, market assumption.

How long does it take?

Three to four weeks for Starter and Growth, four to six weeks for Premium, once content is ready. Tokyo agencies commonly plan 3 to 5 months for similar scope, 2026 ballpark.

Can you build a secure client portal?

Yes, on quote, as a separate scope. Portals involve authentication, document storage and data protection choices that need their own specification and review.

Can we mention performance or strategy on the site?

Be cautious. Depending on your regulatory status, statements about returns or strategy may be restricted; most family offices describe approach and governance rather than results, and have counsel review every line.

Let's scope your project. A Growth or Premium site that proves governance and discretion to families and partners, English and Japanese as set in the quote, live in 3 to 6 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.