Prioritize location relative to your customer base and carrier hubs; warehouse capabilities (cold chain, value-add packing, kitting); integration with your OMS/WMS; SLA for pick/pack and shipping; scalability and peak staffing; transparency via real-time reporting and EDI/API connectivity.

Saitama typically offers lower land and lease rates and slightly lower labor costs than central Tokyo, which reduces storage and handling expenses. Transportation costs can be optimized through consolidated inbound routing and proximity to expressways; last-mile to central Tokyo can be offset by faster throughput and larger, more efficient facilities.

Look for validated refrigeration systems, zoned temperature control, uninterrupted power and generator backup, certified monitoring and traceability, trained cold-chain staff, and quick access to expressways and airports to minimize transit time for perishable goods.

Evaluate multi-node placement within Saitama for geographic spread, inventory segmentation by SKU velocity, cross-dock capability for rapid flow-through, carrier interchange points, SLA-backed cutoffs for same-day fulfillment, and systems that enable dynamic inventory allocation and visibility.