10 dating apps to swipe right or left depending on what you're looking for in your next relationship here in Japan.
- Are you into Asian women? Most beautiful Asian girls post their profiles at AsianDate dating app. This is one of the most trusted.
- There are numerous free American dating apps made only for the American singles for operating it directly from the phones or tablets. It helps in connecting with American singles all around the world. But the only thing with these apps is that you have to create.
So you've moved to Japan hopeful that the dating scene here will be ah-mazing and full of new excitement. You think you'll find the perfect Japanese man for you right away and things will lead to a happy ending. Or just have some fun for a while. While that's a great mindset to have, it's time to get real. Most foreign women living in Japan that want a serious relationship need to put in more legwork than they might otherwise overseas. Shyness combined with language and cultural barriers plus the not-so-little matter of a global pandemic make dating an even more stressful situation than it typically is.
But luckily, we live in an era where you can find anything online—even relationships. A quick search online will show you dozens of different deai-kei (出会い系 online dating) apps, but how do you know what will help you find who or what you're looking for?
Having been there, done that, I decided to do a quick poll of my foreign friends to find out what apps or sites worked best for them and what didn't. 15 international women living in Japan gave the original rankings out of five stars when this article was first published in 2017, and five of that same group helped to update this ranking for the dating scene in 2020. It's up to you whether to swipe right or left!
1. Tinder
The app belongs to the popular Japanese dating apps because so many foreign men dream of meeting Japanese brides without taking the first steps. OkCupid Japan is one of the most popular Japanese American dating apps where you can find your wife. EME Hive is exclusively dedicated to Asian dating. Our user profile options are catered to the Asian-American community and provide in-depth detail about other users. At EME Hive, we believe you deserve the best of everything, including a well-matched partner. For instance, if you are in LA or Honolulu, and want to date a local Japanese American singles, eharmony may be a starting point. Asian Dating Popularity: Type: Asian Dating with Some Japanese Members Platform: Website, Android App Asian Dating is a popular Asian dating site with over 2 million worldwide members, including some Japanese singles.
One that doesn't need an introduction. While most people are 'just looking' on Tinder, if you're actively trying, you can not only meet people to date, but new friends, drinking buddies, networkers and activity mates. I found a whole group of men and women to check out summer festivals with, so I can speak from experience when I say that Tinder isn't just for hanky panky.
In 2020, Tinder began offering its global passport, normally a paid service, for free to all users. It enabled them to better connect and communicate, which for several of the ladies was a huge bonus.
- Language: English, Japanese
- Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription
- Original Ranking: 4 stars
- 2020 Ranking: 5 stars
2. Bumble
Bumble markets itself as the app where the woman makes the first move, and if she doesn't message, then the match disappears after 24 hours. This app also relies on the user having a Facebook profile first in order to log in, which has made it a bit slow to catch on in Japan, but it is gaining in popularity because of its 'women get to choose' option.
One of the women I surveyed (and who found her current Japanese boyfriend through this app) summarized it as follows: 'There are a lot of guys on there, and most of them aren't on other apps as well. You don't find as many fake profiles on Bumble as you do with other sites, and you get to control the whole ‘am I going to bother talking to him' part, which is really nice.'
In 2020, the app is not just for dating, but also for business opportunities, and making friends too. Within the app, you can switch from one feature to another, which makes it very versatile for the global community, and also a great way to keep in touch and build your social circle from a safe distance.
- Language: English, Japanese
- Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription
- Original Ranking: 4½ stars
- 2020 Ranking: 5 stars
3. OkCupid Japan
Billed as 'the best dating site on Earth,' OkCupid's Japanese version is much more detail focused than Bumble or Tinder, with the average time to fill out your profile coming in at around 45 minutes. You can of course opt to leave most of your profile empty, but based on the experiences shared with me, it isn't recommended, because you're most likely to remain unnoticed. According to one woman who has used it, 'OkCupid has a lot of serial daters on it, so if you use other dating apps/sites, you may be discouraged by the dating pool overall.'
In the 2020 dating scene, it's still a staple, but the imbalance in users and the volume of fake profiles is staggering. It's also said to be a hassle to sign up for too, so unless you're really determined to use it, you'd probably have less trouble with a different app.
- Language: English, Japanese, and others
- Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription
- Original Ranking: 3 stars
- 2020 Ranking: 2 stars
4. JapanCupid
Not to be confused with OkCupid, JapanCupid is a part of the Cupid Media Group, a niche-based dating site group, that connects users with people from around the world rather than just in their immediate area. While this makes it somewhat less appealing to users in Japan, JapanCupid is popular with those who will not be staying in Japan for the long term, and with those who are looking for someone to marry—though apparently there are far more Japanese women on this site than there are Japanese men.
Unfortunately in 2020, not much seems to have changed, and when a different friend logged in, she was inundated with a number of obviously fake profiles and soon deleted her account. 'Claiming a 20-year-old Korean pop star is really you, but you're a 36-year-old Japanese man? No thanks.'
- Language: English, Japanese, and others
- Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription/fees
- Original Ranking: 3 stars
- 2020 Ranking: 1 star
5. MatchAlarm
MatchAlarm was a Japanese language only dating app that recommended a new person to you every morning at 8 a.m. based on your social information gleaned from your Facebook profile and behavior. You had 16 hours to respond to an alarm, after which it would disappear, and would require three coins (a part of the in-app payment system) in order to tap the 'Might Like You' button. But unfortunately, MatchAlarm is no more, and therefore no longer part of the ranking.
6. Omiai
The largest online dating site and app service in Japan that relies on your Facebook profile (or Apple ID, or phone number now) to search for your ideal match. This is another konkatsu service, so unless you're looking for a serious relationship, Omiai might not be the site for you. There are 24 points that you can filter your results by, including nationality and income level, which some users pointed out makes this site seem more for sugar daddy searching than anything else, but overall, no one had any serious complaints about this site.
For daters in 2020 with the Japanese language skills to keep up, Omiai has somewhat rebranded itself in more of a Tinder/Instagram friendly fashion, and strictly placed focus on it being a relationship/marriage-centric app. If you're seriously looking to meet a marriage partner, this is probably your best option when it comes to dating apps.
- Language: Japanese
- Fees: Free for women, ¥1,950 per month (for the 12-month plan) for men
- Original Ranking: 4 stars
- 2020 Ranking: 4 stars
7. Tapple
Tapple is a dating app where, instead of filling out a profile and searching for people, you fill out the qualifiers of what sort of man you're interested in, and then join different groups based on your hobbies. Then, you're shown a selection of men who share that interest and meet your criteria, and you can either like, skip, or super like their profile.
While I had some positive experiences meeting and talking to people on this app, when the time came to actually meet in person, the people that I spoke to were very hesitant to meet offline. One guy actually said he preferred to talk and date online exclusively. Other foreign female users I spoke with had similar results, so this might not be a good choice if you are seriously looking to meet someone.
Thanks to numerous updates to a more streamlined, Tinder-like service, plus TV and online commercials in 2020, Tapple has become a very competitive app, preferred by those in their 20s who are looking for a relationship that could lead to something more. Plus, the numbers of people who want to take things slowly and start online here make it ideal for those wanting companionship but not willing to head out on the town just yet.
- Language: Japanese
- Fees: Free for women, monthly subscription fee for men (varies by number of months desired)
- Original Ranking: 2½ stars
- 2020 Ranking: 4 stars
8. YYC
YYC has been around for twenty years now according to its website and still lists itself as Japan's largest dating service. When you join, you are given an automatic 300 points to use in order to meet and match with others based on your own search parameters. The vast majority of this service's users are young professionals. YYC is a dating site designed for people who want to combine the blogging space of LiveJournal with the influencer lifestyle of Instagram, so if you aren't the type to frequently update and message, you might find this site to be more of a hassle than anything else. 'Casual users tend to just disappear after their free points run out, so it's not a place for you if you aren't ready to commit to the effort,' said one user.
None of the ladies I spoke with still used YYC, so I gave it an honest try, and I have to say, it wasn't all that bad, but I did find it somewhat repetitive. If your Japanese isn't up to par, it can be a struggle to navigate as well.
- Language: Japanese
- Fees: Free for women, monthly subscription fee/points system for men
- Original Ranking: 3½ stars
- 2020 Ranking: 3 stars
9. Pairs
Pairs is another online dating site and one that has had numerous TV and train commercials since going online. This site and its related app also uses your Facebook profile but allows you to hide your full name, enabling its users to go by initials instead. Their target audience tends to be younger Japanese men, 'so there are plenty of guys to choose from, but those that are interested in pursuing a serious relationship with a non-native Japanese speaker are few and far between, at least in my experience,' according to a user.
'It's updated a bit, but nothing really major has changed about the quality of the users,' says the same person as above in 2020. 'I still use it, and sometimes you find someone nice, but it's more work than some of the other apps out there now.'
- Language: Japanese
- Fees: Free for women, monthly subscription fee for men
- Original Ranking: 3 stars
- 2020 Ranking: 3 stars
10. Zexy Koimusubi
Zexy Koimusubi is a dating app that is part of a popular Japanese wedding services company. The app overall works on the same principles of matching based on shared interests and uses your Facebook profile to compile this data, but otherwise, it seems to have a fairly high success rate. Whether this is due to their association with weddings and marriage already is anyone's guess, but of the people that I know that have used this site, two married someone they met on there, and one is planning her wedding now, so make of that what you will.
'I met my husband on this site, so of course I would recommend it to anyone that is serious about marriage, having kids, and staying in Japan. It does work, if you're brutally honest with yourself about what you're looking for. If you're still trying to figure that out, don't bother with this app.' (Jane, American, 31)
- Language: Japanese
- Fees: initial one time ¥108 fee for women (for ID check purposes), monthly fee for men
- Original Ranking: 4 stars
- 2020 Ranking: 4½ stars
11. Bonus App—Happy Mail
Happy Mail first began in 2001 but wasn't a major player in the dating app scene for a long time. According to their website, thanks to consistent efforts over the last twenty years they have the largest number of members of any dating/matching app in Japan. There are just over 25 million people on Happy Mail, looking for everything from pen pals to serious marriage partners.
Based on testimonials from male friends and a few women, it's quite similar to Pairs but has more of the immediacy of Tinder in terms of matching, so it all comes down to what or how you want to go about dating in 2020 whether this app is what will work for you.
- Language: Japanese
- Fees: Free for women (plus a 120 coin present as some services require points), points/pay as you go fees for men
- Ranking: 4 stars
Before subscribing to a Japanese 'serious' dating app, keep in mind that most of them are likely to require you to submit a photo of an official ID before using their services. This is because they are quite literally trying to find you a suitable husband. If that's your goal, don't mind the screening! Good luck in finding the best for yourself, ladies!
Have you ever used a dating app or site in Japan? Share your experiences in the comments.
Japanese girls are really cutie, unique and irresistible, dating a Japanese girl can be incredibly amazing. If you've ever been to travel to Japan you might have noticed that there's a large number of foreign men walking hand-in-hand with Japanese girls. Actually a lot of Japanese women want to date a foreign guy, they love the feeling of being told how much you love her and many think that it is 'cool' and 'exotic' to fall in love with a foreign guy. So, dating in Japan is usually quite easy for foreign men.
In spite of Japan's adoption of and love for technology, not many Japanese find their love through online dating. Actually only a small proportion of the people are willing to try online dating sites. However, I think the situation will change with the times, more and more Japanese will embrace online dating.
Despite the disconnect of online dating in Japanese culture, Japan does have some online dating sites that really worth-seeing. Just be patient and keep searching, you will find a few gems out there and start a new exotic life.
I have looked into some foreigner-oriented Japanese dating sites and here is my pick of the top 5 Japanese dating sites for foreigners. Check my detailed reviews below find one that suits you best.
1. Japan Cupid
Japancupid.com is the best online dating site to find a Japanese girl. The site has more than 700,000 members, which is a very large number since online dating still haven't gained its popularity in Japan. JapanCupid is the best dating site to use if you want to have a causal sex or a proper girlfriend in Japan.
It's not easy to get dates in Japan without using JapanCupid because not many girls here speak English. You can rely on JapanCupid, which is designed for anyone especially foreigners who want get a date with English-speaking Japanese woman. Of course, some Japanese on the platform can not speak English, but do not worry, its platinum members can use a language translation service, which helps you to communicate with Japanese speaking singles.
It is free to sign up, you can create detailed profile including adding pictures and giving a nice description. You can search and send notification for free. However, full access to all of its functions requires a small monthly fee starting from $29.99/per moth, and $10/per month for one year package, no other cost after becoming a membership. A paid membership can enjoy many benefits including instant and video messaging, use chat rooms, and higher rankings in its search results.
After creating a profile on it, then you can browse photos of other members, or search for other members with a range of preferences and settings provided by its search engine.
One of the things I really like is that they will stop scammers and suspend fake profiles. However, you still need to keep an eye on those scammers who slide by the system. The site is available in several languages including Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Korean and other popular languages, so it provides an excellent platform for non-Japanese daters.
Overall, JapanCupid is one of the most popular and trusted Japanese dating sites. The site is free to register and simple to use, It takes only a few minutes to fill out the basic profile and you can start finding real dates immediately. Now its Android dating app is also available, you can download it from Google Play store and keep online anytime on your smart phone.
Pros
- Easy and free to register.
- Advanced search functions to help you find Japanese partners quickly.
- The site supports lots of languages.
- A free member can talk with a paid member freely.
- Live and video chat available.
- Android app is available.
Cons
- Some profiles are inactive
- No iOS dating app
2. Match.com
Japan Match is Japanese version of the reputable serious dating site match.com.
In 2002 the leading dating companies like match.com have entered in Japan, which offers a more legitimate platform for daters. It is a high-quality Japanese dating site to meet a suitable person from Japan or with Japan background.
It is free and easy to register an account. You can search for matches, create a profile and add your photos, receive emails (You can not send message with free account) with a free member account. While a paid member allows you to enjoy full range of features such as instant messaging and live chat.
Match.com in Japan has only Japanese language available, so not a good option for foreigners who don't know Japanese. However, you can choose its English or other language interface, you can still use it to search for single Japanese who can speak English.
Pros
- Various search and discovery opportunities to find your partners.
- A large number of global users around the world.
- Many ways to show interest for free, including winking, yes-rating and liking.
- Various off-line events to meet members.
Cons
- The cost is higher than average.
- Users need to pay to to read/send messages.
3. Ok Cupid
Japan Dating Apps
Okcupid Japan is an interactive and very entertaining dating app. It is available on both Android and iOS phones. Just like POF, Okcupid is go-to for young urban daters.
Free American Dating
Okcupid is one of the biggest dating sites and apps in the world. It has a large member base, about 10 million registered users in total. The disadvantage is that its Japanese member pool is relatively small compared with other sites like JapanCupid. However, you have chances to find overseas Japanese date living in your regions and around the world.
OKCupid is overall a free site, members can browse others' profiles directly, send and receive messages at no cost. Paid memberships can enjoy some advanced features such as invisible browsing, message storage, and more. The cost starts from $9.99 per month, and better price for multiple months plan.
No matter you're looking for a casual affair or something serious, you can find all of the dates on OkCupid. It uses Facebook to verify profile, so you need to have an Facebook account when registering.
Pros
- It is free to browse, search for matches, or send message to other members
- Easy-to-navigate design to make you master the functions quickly
- Advanced search functions allow you to discover matches
- Available on both website and dating app
Cons
- The member base is relatively small compared with other Japanese dating site
- Some fake profiles since it is free to register
4. Omiai
Omiai is a popular and one of the largest Japanese dating site and app, it is catered for serious relationship dating instead of occasional dating. This app is free for the ladies, but men will need to pay for it.
Like other Japanese dating apps, it allows you to register with your Facebook account, making it much safer and easier for you to have an account. If you are a foreigner with decent income, then you will have great chance to find the other half here.
You can search for other members with very detailed preferences such as nationality, education and income. You can log in on computer or via smart phone app with your Facebook account.
Japanese American Dating Apps
Pros
- Members on the site mainly look for a long-term, serious and stable relationship
- You can register the site with Facebook account, less scammers
- Detailed search functions to help you find partners
Japanese Dating App
Cons
- Interface is in Japanese only.
5. Pairs
Pairs is probably the most famous dating app in Japan. This site and app uses your Facebook profile, but you can use another account to sign up, so your friends won't know you are looking for date online. This makes it become very popular in Japan.
Though this app was designed for long-term and serious relationships.While many people here use it for casual dating. Just like famous dating app Tinder, browsing a soulmate is easy here, just tap and swipe on a smartphone screen, you can look for numerous members.
It is free to sign up, but male members must pay a monthly fee if they want to send and receive unlimited messages.
