How to Switch to the Japanese App Store and Download Japanese Apps

The easy way to get Japanese content on your Apple device

Are you dying to check out the Japanese version of Project Sekai or get Japanese apps that are totally unavailable in your region? If don’t want to make a permanent change to your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) settings, you can easily switch back and forth in the App Store by creating a secondary Japanese Apple Account. Sign into the App Store with your new account to explore the Japanese App Store and download apps. You can also change your main Apple Account’s location to Japan.

The Best Way to Download Japanese Apps on iOS

The easiest method for downloading Japanese apps on your iPhone or iPad is to create a new Japanese Apple Account, then log in with that account in the App Store. This method doesn’t require you to log out of your primary Apple Account on your device.

Section 1 of 4:

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  1. 1
    Visit https://account.apple.com/ . While you can create a new Apple Account from the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, doing it from a web browser will save you from having to log out of your regular account. Once you set up your new account, you can simply switch to it in the App Store if you want to download Japanese apps.
  2. 2
    Click Create Your Apple Account . This link is located at the top right side of the page.
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  3. 3
    Fill in your account information. On the “Create Your Apple Account” page, enter your name and select Japan from the Country/Region dropdown. You’ll also need to supply your birthday, email address, password, and phone number.
    • While the region for the phone number field will be set to Japan by default, you don’t need to enter a Japanese phone number. Use the dropdown to select the correct region and enter a number you have access to so you can receive a verification text or email.
  4. 4
    Select your verification and communication preferences. Choose whether you want to get an account verification via text or phone call, and select whether you want to get marketing texts and emails from Apple.
  5. 5
    Enter the security code and click Continue . At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a box with a series of numbers and letters. Enter the code in the text field, then click Continue .
  6. 6
    Verify your account. You may be prompted to enter codes sent to both your email address and your phone number. And that’s it—you now have a Japanese Apple Account!
    • While you are free to enter additional information, such as a payment method, on the Apple Account website, you don’t have to do anything else yet.
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Section 2 of 4:

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  1. 1
    Tap your Apple Account icon in the App Store. Tap your profile picture at the top right corner of the app store. This opens the Account menu.
    • If you don’t have a profile picture set, you’ll just see a blue circle with a head and shoulders inside.
  2. 2
    Scroll down and tap Sign Out . This will sign you out of your Apple Account in the App Store without signing you out on your iPhone or iPad. You can switch back to your regular Apple Account at any time.
  3. 3
    Scroll back up and tap Sign In With Apple Account . It’s at the very top of the Account menu.
  4. 4
    Select Not [your name]? if prompted. You may see a message asking you if you want to continue with the Apple Account you’re signed into on your iPhone or iPad. To sign in with the new account you created instead, tap Not [your name]? .
  5. 5
    Enter the email or phone number and password for your new account. When you’re done, tap Continue .
    • Enter the security code sent to your phone number if prompted.
    • You’re now signed in with your Japanese Apple Account!
  6. 6
    Browse the Japanese App Store. Once you’re logged in with your new Apple Account, you’ll automatically be sent to the Japanese App Store. Locate the app you want to download and tap Get .
    • Depending on your App Store settings, you may be prompted to re-enter your Apple Account password to verify the installation.
  7. 7
    Review your account. The first time you download an app, a message will pop up saying “This Apple Account has not yet been used in the iTunes Store. Tap Review , then finish setting up your new Apple Account:
    • Make sure your region is set to Japan, then toggle on the switch next to Agree to Terms and Conditions . Tap Next .
    • Select None as your payment method. You can also enter a payment method if you like, but it must be valid in Japan and match your (Japanese) billing address.
    • Enter your billing name and address. Make sure to enter a phonetic spelling for your last and first names.
      • Some users have had success filling in a fake billing address (i.e., with nonsense letters for the street address and city) as long as the Prefecture and Zip (postal) code match. This shouldn’t be a problem as long as you stick to free apps and don’t try to purchase anything in the App Store.
    • Enter your phone number. It doesn’t have to be a Japanese number.
    • Tap Next , then tap Continue to complete the verification process.
  8. 8
    Return to the App Store and download an app. You may need to go back to the app you were attempting to download before you reviewed your account. Tap Get > Install and follow the prompts to verify the download. Once the app is downloaded, tap Open in the App Store or open it from your Home Screen or App Library.
  9. 9
    Switch back to your main App Store account. Ready to go back to your regular App Store experience? Just tap your profile picture at the top right side of the App Store, scroll down and tap Sign Out , and scroll back up and tap Sign In With Apple Account . Select Continue to sign back into the main account you’re using on your iPhone or iPad. You’ll be back in your own region’s App Store!
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Section 3 of 4:

Changing Your App Store Region

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  1. 1
    Tap your Apple Account icon in the App Store. Locate your profile picture (or generic person icon, if you don’t have a profile pic set) at the top right corner of the App Store. Tap on it to open the Account menu.
    • If you sign into the App Store with an alternative Apple Account located in Japan, this process is unnecessary. However, you can try this if you want your primary App Store account to be set to Japan.
  2. 2
    Tap your account name. It’s at the top of the menu.
  3. 3
    Select Country/Region . A new window will pop up.
  4. 4
    Select Japan from the list of countries and regions. You may be prompted to cancel any subscriptions associated with your current account (such as Apple Music) before you can change your country or region. You’ll also have to wait for any pending purchases to go through and cancel any pre-orders. [1] Once you’ve dealt with any of these issues, find Japan in the list and tap it.
  5. 5
    Tap Agree on the Terms and Conditions screen.
  6. 6
    Select None for your payment method. Some users report that there is a glitch where this option is sometimes unavailable. If you don’t see None , you may need to exit the Country/Region menu and tap back through a few times until you get it.
  7. 7
    Enter a name, billing address, and phone number. The name for your Apple Account should already be filled in, but you’ll be prompted to enter a phonetic spelling for your first and last names as well. You’ll also have to enter a Japanese billing address.
    • You can use any real address in Japan, and you may even be able to enter a fake street and city name. However, the prefecture must be valid and the zip (postal) code will need to match.
    • You don’t have to enter a Japanese phone number. The number you use for your regular Apple Account will work.
    • Tap Done to continue.
  8. 8
    Browse the Japanese App Store. When you return to the App Store, it will be set to Japan, and you should be able to download Japanese apps. Find the app you want and tap Get to begin the download process!
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Section 4 of 4:

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  1. You'll usually find it on the home screen. Use this option if you want your primary Apple Account to be set to Japan—for example, if you are actually moving to Japan.
    • Changing your country to Japan requires you to cancel any recurring subscriptions associated with your Apple Account. You can sign up for these services again after changing your country, but only if those services are available in Japan. [2]
    • You should also wait for any pending purchases to finish processing and cancel any pending preorders.
    • Redownload any previous purchases, such as apps, music, videos, or books, that aren’t currently saved on your device in case they aren’t available in Japan.
  2. 2
    Tap your name. It's at the top of the screen.
  3. 3
    Tap Media & Purchases . It’s next to the
    iPhone App Store Icon
    App Store icon.
  4. 4
    Tap View Account on the pop-up window.
  5. Depending on your settings, you may be asked to verify your fingerprint or enter a passcode to continue.
  6. 6
    Tap Country/Region on the Account Settings page. If you have any current subscriptions, you’ll be asked to cancel them before you can continue. If you’ve already done that, you’ll see a list of countries and regions to choose from.
  7. The terms and conditions of the location change will appear.
  8. This indicates that you agree to the terms and conditions stated on this page.
    • You may have to tap Agree again in the confirmation pop-up to confirm your action.
  9. If you don’t actually want to buy any apps or make in-app purchases, you can select None .
  10. You may not need to enter a real address, as long as the prefecture and zip (postal) code are real and match each other. Just keep in mind that you’ll need a real billing address that matches your payment method if you want to buy anything.
    • You’ll also need to enter your first and last name, phonetic spellings for each, and a phone number (it doesn’t have to be Japanese).
  11. This will save your new address and payment method. You will now be able to find and download Japanese apps on the App Store.
  12. Now that your region is set to Japan, you'll be able to download apps that are only available in that country.
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    Will I lose all my purchased apps when I change the country?
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    No, they will stay.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118283
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118283

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To download Japanese apps, you'll need to access the Japanese version of the App Store. To do this, create a new Apple ID using a valid Japanese mailing address, or change the location of your current Apple ID to Japan.

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