Abstract
This paper describes the locational factors of management consulting firms in Minato ward, Tokyo, by analyzing the reasons for choosing that location and office buildings to establish consulting firms. Management consulting firms are concentrated in Tokyo's central business district, especially in Minato ward, where there are many clients.
In addition to the presence of clients, there appear to be two sets of factors at work: factors leading to the choice of central Tokyo; and factors influencing the choice of office building. The former set of factors includes the ease of travel because of good transportation networks, proximity to clients, centrality of Tokyo, abundant real estate, and the availability of qualified workers. The latter makes consulting firms locate close to related businesses. When establishing a new consulting firm after working for a company in specialized services such as finance, the new office tends to be located close to the founder's previous workplace. When a company splits up to establish a branch office specializing in management consulting, the new office tends to be located close to its parent company. In both cases, newly established consulting offices are located in the central part of Tokyo including Minato ward, where related businesses are present.
On the other hand, the location of firms within Minato ward shows a dispersive pattern. This is caused by a different set of locational factors to select office buildings. In general, surveyed firms moved to new offices with larger floor space and appropriate office rent as they grew. However, they did not select office buildings outside the ward, and most moves were confined to within Minato ward.
