Ibaraki's southern corridors reach central Tokyo in roughly 1–2 hours by truck from key warehouse clusters; northern and inland zones provide efficient access to Tohoku. Coastal ports (Kashima, Hitachinaka) cut ocean transit for exports, while Narita airfreight is a 1–1.5 hour drive, improving multi‑modal transit options.

Prioritize WMS integration (EDI/API), temperature-controlled space, racked and bulk storage, cross-dock and kitting services, and proof-of-delivery/returns handling. Assess automation readiness (AS/RS), labor availability, and carrier portal connectivity to reduce handling time and shipping errors.

Ibaraki generally offers lower land and warehouse rental rates and modestly lower labor costs versus Tokyo, enabling larger footprints and lower per‑unit storage. Model trade-offs for increased road miles: place higher-volume SKUs closer to expressway nodes to balance transport and storage savings.

Evaluate seismic and coastal flood zoning, proximity to ports (which can face congestion), power redundancy and fuel supply, insurance and disaster recovery plans, and supplier/contract stability. Confirm OSH/food-safety certifications if handling regulated goods and verify backup carrier options for peak season resilience.