How to Create an Amazon Japan Account
Create an Amazon Japan account in 5 minutes — works with your existing email. Step-by-step with screenshots, address tips, and payment options for overseas buyers.
A Zojirushi thermos costs ¥2,480 on Amazon Japan and $32 on Amazon US. An Anessa sunscreen is ¥2,400 vs $38. Creating an Amazon.co.jp account takes about 5 minutes, works with your existing email address, and unlocks prices that are 30–60% lower than international Amazon sites for Japanese products.
Your regular Amazon US/UK/EU account does NOT work on Amazon Japan. You need a separate amazon.co.jp account. The good news: you can use the same email address.
Step 1: Switch Amazon Japan to English
Go to amazon.co.jp. The site loads in Japanese by default. Look for the globe icon (🌐) at the top of the page and select "English." The entire interface — search, checkout, account settings — switches to English. This setting persists across sessions.
If you cannot find the language switcher, scroll to the very bottom of the page. There is a language selector in the footer next to the country flag.
Step 2: Create Your Account
Click "Account & Lists" in the top-right corner, then "Start here" below the sign-in button.
You need three things:
- Your name (Roman characters are fine — no need for Japanese)
- Email address (the same one you use on Amazon US/UK works)
- A password (can be different from your other Amazon accounts)
Amazon sends a verification code to your email. Enter it and your account is active.
Step 3: Add a Delivery Address
This is where most people get stuck. Amazon Japan accepts two types of addresses:
If you are in Japan (hotel/Airbnb): Copy the hotel address in Japanese from Google Maps. Open Google Maps, search for your hotel, click the address, and copy the Japanese text. Paste it into the address field. See our hotel delivery guide for the exact format.
If you are overseas: Many items on Amazon Japan ship internationally. During checkout, enter your home address in your country. Amazon shows which items in your cart can ship to your location and calculates international shipping automatically.
Pro tip: add your phone number with country code (e.g., +1-555-123-4567 for US). Delivery drivers may call if they cannot find your location.
Step 4: Add Payment
Amazon Japan accepts:
- International credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB)
- Amazon gift cards (buy at any Japanese convenience store — 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart)
- PayPay and other Japanese payment methods
Most international Visa and Mastercard work without issues. Some banks may flag the first purchase from Japan as suspicious — if your card is declined, call your bank to authorize transactions from Japan.
Gift cards are useful if your card does not work or you want to control spending. Buy them at convenience stores in denominations from ¥1,000 to ¥50,000.
Step 5: Place Your First Order
Search for any product in English or Japanese. Japanese product names work better for finding exact items. For example, searching "象印 SM-SF48" finds the Zojirushi thermos faster than searching "Zojirushi thermos."
At checkout, look for the delivery estimate. Items marked "Prime" deliver in 1–2 days within Japan. Items marked "Ships from and sold by Amazon.co.jp" are generally safe for international shipping.
What Can You Buy on Amazon Japan?
Popular categories for overseas buyers:
- Japanese skincare and beauty — 30–60% cheaper than international prices
- Japanese thermos bottles — Japan-exclusive colors and models
- Japanese stationery — Pilot, Zebra, Uni pens at local prices
- Japanese snacks — Kit Kat flavors, matcha sweets
- Electronics — voltage-compatible items often cheaper at source
Does Amazon Japan Ship Internationally?
Yes, but not everything. About 30–40% of items on Amazon Japan can ship directly overseas. During checkout, Amazon automatically flags items that cannot ship to your country.
For items that do not ship internationally, use a forwarding service like ZenMarket or Buyee. They provide a Japanese warehouse address — Amazon delivers to the warehouse, and the service forwards the package to your country.
FAQ
Can I use my existing Amazon account on Amazon Japan? No. Amazon.co.jp requires a separate account. You can use the same email address, but you need to register again.
Is Amazon Japan in English? Yes. Switch to English using the globe icon (🌐) at the top of the page. Product listings remain in Japanese, but all navigation, checkout, and account pages switch to English.
Do I need a Japanese phone number? No. Your international phone number works. Add the country code (e.g., +1 for US, +44 for UK).
Is it cheaper to buy on Amazon Japan? For Japanese products, yes — typically 30–60% cheaper than the same items on Amazon US/UK. International shipping adds ¥800–¥2,000 per order, but the savings usually outweigh the cost.