| App Name (JP) | Category | Why You Need It | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Communication | While available globally, the Japanese version gets exclusive stickers and integration with local services (Taxi, News). | | Mercari (メルカリ) | Marketplace | The king of flea market apps in Japan. Requires a Japanese address to buy, but fun to browse. | | NHK Plus | Streaming | Watch live Japanese TV news and dramas (requires VPN for viewing, not just download). | | Yahoo! Japan | Portal | Yahoo is huge in Japan. This app aggregates news, auctions, and weather better than Google. | | Niconico | Video | The Japanese YouTube. Requires a login, but the APK is only available in JP store. |
Identical to the standard Play Store but populated with Japanese text, banners, and curated "Top Charts" specific to the Japan region.
| App Name (JP) | Category | Why You Need It | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Communication | While available globally, the Japanese version gets exclusive stickers and integration with local services (Taxi, News). | | Mercari (メルカリ) | Marketplace | The king of flea market apps in Japan. Requires a Japanese address to buy, but fun to browse. | | NHK Plus | Streaming | Watch live Japanese TV news and dramas (requires VPN for viewing, not just download). | | Yahoo! Japan | Portal | Yahoo is huge in Japan. This app aggregates news, auctions, and weather better than Google. | | Niconico | Video | The Japanese YouTube. Requires a login, but the APK is only available in JP store. |
Identical to the standard Play Store but populated with Japanese text, banners, and curated "Top Charts" specific to the Japan region.
