Venturing into Japan’s vibrant eCommerce landscape can revolutionize your business, and learning “How to Sell on Amazon Japan” is your gateway to success. This detailed guide aims to simplify the process, making it approachable for sellers keen on exploring one of the world’s most lucrative markets.
Japan is known for its significant consumer spending and strong trust in the Amazon platform. By effectively navigating Amazon Japan, you can unlock exceptional opportunities for growth. Whether you’re an experienced seller or a newcomer to the online marketplace, our comprehensive insights will provide you with the essential tools and knowledge to excel on Amazon Japan.
1. Why Sell On Amazon Japan?
Japan’s eCommerce market presents a compelling opportunity for sellers, highlighted by several key statistics. As of June 2024, Amazon Japan leads the Japanese eCommerce landscape with over 562 million visits, making it the top online shopping destination in the country. Competing with major players like Rakuten and Yahoo Japan, Amazon Japan has shown impressive growth, with international sales reaching $31.93 billion in Q1 2024, a 10% increase from the previous year. Additionally, Amazon’s international sales soared from $118.01 billion in 2022 to $131.20 billion in 2023.
With Japan’s high internet penetration rate of approximately 116 million users, nearly 49% of whom shop online, the market is ripe for eCommerce growth. Popular payment methods, including credit cards, bank transfers, and mobile wallets, along with the convenience of konbini payments, enhance the shopping experience for Japanese consumers. This market’s growth is fueled by its high internet usage, extensive product selection, and efficient delivery services due to Japan’s compact geography.
Japanese consumers are known for their cautious purchasing behavior, relying heavily on reviews and recommendations. This preference for quality and reliability underscores the potential for sellers who can offer well-reviewed, high-quality products.
By joining Amazon Japan’s vast audience and leveraging its robust platform, sellers can unlock significant growth opportunities and capture a share of one of the most dynamic eCommerce markets in the world.
2. How To Sell On Amazon Japan In 5 Steps?
Step 1: Setting up your seller account and access to Amazon Seller Central Japan
Expanding your business to Japan through Amazon Japan starts with setting up your Amazon Seller account. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to sell products on Amazon Japan, ensuring a seamless registration process:
Verify your identity: Upload required documents, including a government-issued ID, proof of address, and business registration documents.
- Create your account: Visit Amazon Seller Central Japan and click “Register” to begin the process. After that, choose between the Individual Plan (no monthly fee, per-item charges) and the Professional Plan (monthly fee with additional tools).
- Enter business details: Provide your business name, address, and Japanese bank account information. Moreover, you need to submit your tax identification number and ensure compliance with Japanese tax regulations.
- Verify your identity: Upload required documents, including a government-issued ID, proof of address, and business registration documents.
Step 2: Listing products on Amazon Japan
To effectively sell products on Amazon Japan, focus on these key aspects for listing your products:
* Create compelling listings
- Product titles: Use clear, concise titles that include relevant keywords. Make sure they are descriptive and include essential details such as brand, model, and size.
- Product descriptions: Provide detailed descriptions highlighting key features, benefits, and uses. Ensure your content addresses what Japanese consumers value in a product.
* Prioritize localization
- Language and culture: Translate your product titles and descriptions accurately into Japanese. Use culturally appropriate language and formats to resonate with local consumers.
- Local preferences: Adapt your listings to reflect Japanese consumer preferences. This may include adjusting measurements, incorporating local trends, and highlighting aspects that appeal to Japanese buyers.
This approach aligns with how to use Amazon Japan effectively and ensures your listings meet local market expectations.
Step 3: Optimizing your Amazon listings for higher rankings
Once your listings are live, focus on optimizing them for higher visibility, here’s our recommendations not only you can apply when selling on Japanese market but also other countries:
- Find popular search terms that Japanese consumers use and integrate these keywords into your titles, descriptions, and bullet points to boost your listing’s search ranking on Amazon in Japan.
- Use clear, high-resolution images showing multiple angles and lifestyle shots to help Japanese consumers visualize the product.
- Write engaging, detailed descriptions in Japanese, emphasizing key features and benefits that appeal to local preferences.
If you’re not fluent in Japanese, it’s advisable to hire a native speaker to assist with this. A native Japanese professional will have a deep understanding of local language nuances, terminology, and natural writing styles, as well as insight into how Japanese consumers search for products.
Step 4: Choosing your shipping and fullfilment method
You can choose between various shipping methods, including international shipping directly from your location (FBM) or using Japanese logistics partners. Shipping options vary in cost and delivery time, so it’s essential to evaluate which method aligns best with your business needs and budget. Understanding how much it costs to sell on Amazon Japan involves considering these shipping expenses along with other associated costs.
Notably, if you are not familiar with Japanese logistic and international shipping guideline, consider choosing Fullfilment by Amazon (FBM) method. FBA allows Amazon to handle storage, packaging, and shipping of your products, which enhances delivery speed and customer satisfaction.
It also provides access to Amazon Prime and other promotional tools, potentially increasing your product visibility and sales. By leveraging FBA, you can focus on growing your business in Japanese market while Amazon manages the logistics, making it a valuable option for how to sell on Amazon Japan effectively.
Step 5: Planning your marketing and advertising strategy
Once your product listings are live, focus on promoting them effectively on Amazon Japan. Start by using Amazon’s advertising tools, such as Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display ads, to increase visibility and target relevant keywords. Additionally, participate in Amazon Japan’s Lightning Deals or Best Deals to attract more attention and boost sales.
To drive extra traffic, leverage external sources like social media and influencer partnerships. However, make sure your ads resonate with Japanese shoppers by localizing the content. Highlighting aspects such as quality and craftsmanship, which are highly valued in Japan, will help your products stand out and perform better in this competitive market.
>>> Read more: How to Buy from Amazon Japan? A Guide for Non-Japanese Shoppers
3. 4 Advice To Succeed On Amazon Japan
3.1. Choose product niche carefully to fit the Japan market
One of the preparations for selling on Amazon in Japan is that you need to figure out whether your products are actually suitable for the consumer market. It’s necessary to research and analysis the market before any market entry strategy. Some products need to have permission before you are able to list your products on the marketplace. Even they are prohibited in Japan. You need to find out the list of good that is following Japan’s local regulations and laws. when you have extensive knowledge of the market, you will have more advantages than your competitors
Tip: You can search the current best sellers on amazon.co.jp to know what is accepted. Then you will have a general idea about what you are going to buy on Amazon Japan.
3.2. Highly focus on customer engagement and experience
Japanese buyers highly value excellent customer service, so it’s essential to prioritize providing top-notch support. Ensure that all customer interactions are conducted in Japanese. To manage this, consider hiring a Japanese customer service manager or an agency that specializes in this area.
If you’re handling it in-house, focus on delivering clear, concise, and polite communication. Japanese consumers appreciate friendly and professional interactions, so make sure to respond quickly to inquiries and address any issues with courtesy and efficiency.
3.3. Understand Japanese eCommerce laws
Japan has strict product safety laws and regulations that sellers must follow. Along with adhering to international standards like those set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Japan also has its own specific legislation.
When figuring out how to sell on Amazon Japan, you might need a Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) certification for certain products. This certification is typically required for mineral and industrial products but can also apply to sectors like automotive parts and medical equipment.
For agricultural and food products, Japan has detailed regulations. For more information, you can check the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) website.
Additionally, Amazon Japan has its own set of restrictions on certain items. Although not as extensive as in some other countries, there are specific products you can’t sell on Amazon Japan that might be allowed elsewhere. These include certain medications, rice, alcohol, designated beef, and fertilizer.
Understanding these regulations and restrictions is crucial to avoid issues when selling in Japan.
3.4. Learn Japanese to get closer to your potential buyers
To truly connect with Japanese buyers and enhance your success on Amazon Japan, learning Japanese can be incredibly beneficial. It allows you to communicate directly with customers, improving service and building trust. Understanding the language also helps you better localize your product descriptions and marketing materials to resonate with Japanese consumers. Not stopping there, it strengthens relationships with local partners and provides direct access to market insights and trends.
While hiring a native speaker is a good option, learning Japanese yourself can offer a deeper connection to the market and improve your overall effectiveness.
3. Conclusion
In general, the article has provided instructions on how to sell on Amazon Japan. Japan is a great opportunity for anyone who has a business passion. However, you need good preparation for your business both of the products and knowledge about the Japanese market. If you are ready to launch your brand then please contact us. We will be a good instructor for you. We can help you to understand the logistics, costs involved better.
>>> Read more: What is Amazon FBA? The Ultimate Guide
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