Comprehensive Guide of .jp domain | how to buy, register for non-Japanese

ccTLD (Country Code Top Level Domain) is a domain assigned to each country or region, and basically uses the two-letter country code specified by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). The “.jp” domain is ccTDL in Japan.

Google search engines use ccTLDs to identify the country to which their websites and blogs belong, and ccTLDs (country-code top-level domains) sometimes affect SEO.

In this article, we will give a brief explanation of the “.jp”, how to purchase it, and how to register for non-Japanese individuals or companies.

The benefits of “.jp” domain

Unlike gTLDs, ccTLDs (Country Code Top Level Domains) sometimes affect SEO, and it is not ideal for SEO if the domain of the business and the domain do not match.

If you are thinking of operating a website targeted on Japan, avoid using domains other than “.jp”. Conversely, if you are marketing in a country other than Japan, acquire a domain tailored to that country Is desirable.

However, search engines do not simply look at the two characters of ccTLD, but comprehensively judge the content of the content such as the language in the site and the tags, so it is also not only ccTLDs.

Related Article: Japan SEO Practices | 9 Differences and Country-specific Tips

According to the official announcement in 2018, the cumulative number of registered JP domain names exceeded 1.5 million, and the number of registered Domain.

Almost 97% of listed Japanese companies registered “co.jp”, which has the largest number of registrations at 405,143 among the types of organizations in the second level part (the part on the left side of “.jp”) and among the attribute types, showing that Japanese companies, the image of “co.jp” has taken root and is a domain of trust and security.

Who can buy and register “.jp” domain

Anyone, regardless of organization or individual, can register as long as they have an address in Japan, and anyone with a permanent contact in Japan can register.

The requirement is that you have to have an address in Japan. Any number of corporations and individuals can be acquired. There is no limit on the number of domain names that can be registered.

“.jp” domain and WHOIS

In principle, the registrant information of the domain holder is disclosed to WHOIS in the JP domain.

If there is a reason or intention not to disclose whois registrant information in the general-purpose domain and the prefectural domain, the registrant information can be kept private, but the domain services that can be performed are limited. 

In order to keep the registrant information in the WHOIS information of the JP domain private, it is necessary to use the limited corresponding domain registration service.

Here are four domain registration services that can keep whois registrant information private.

• X domain
• Star domain
• Value domain
• Gombei domain

Where to buy “.jp” domain

The “.jp” domain is managed by the Japanese registry, so all communications are in Japanese, thus there are limited services that can be purchased are Japanese registration services.

The following are the main services for purchasing the “.jp” domain.

Onamae.com

Onamae.com is the largest domain registration service in Japan with 15 million registered records. You can choose from more than 540 types of domains according to your purpose. There are also management tools, so you can easily set up optional services for security measures.

https://www.onamae.com/

Mumu domain

It is a simple and easy-to-manage service for beginners. A discount service for the domain is provided every month, so if the timing is right, you can get it cheaply. The same operating company’s rental server is also inexpensive, so you can easily use it as a set.

https://muumuu-domain.com/

Star Domain

As the tagline of “Challenge the lowest in Japan”, this service allows you to acquire domains at a low cost. One server can be used free of charge for each domain acquired. It is recommended for those who want to launch a homepage with as low cost as possible.

https://www.star-domain.jp/

VALUE-DOMAIN

It is a service has filled with many useful functions, such as email agency and SSL certificate. You can choose multiple courses by combining the rental server and domain of the same operating company, so you can use it according to your own use.

https://www.value-domain.com/

Gonbei Domain

This service can acquire about 1,000 types of domains, including special domains from all over the world. It is recommended for those who want to use an unusual domain because overseas domains can be obtained on the Japanese site.

https://www.gonbei.jp/

Where to backorder expired “.jp” domain

Backordering of used domains is one way to get expired domains. If you want a good domain, many are already registered and cannot be obtained. However, each domain has an expiration date, so other people have a chance to get the desired domain.

Below is a service that allows you to backorder an expired “.jp” domain.

• https://www.onamae.com/campaign/backorder/
• https://www.value-domain.com/auction/jp/index.php

Types of attribute type

There are differences in the domains that can be acquired depending on the type of company. If you are a company, please consider purchasing a new domain below.

“.co.jp”: Companies and companies registered in Japan can be registered

You can only register the .co.jp domain with a registered company or limited company in Japan, and you can only get one per company. Since Japanese companies are highly trusted worldwide, the .co.jp domain can be said to have the highest reliability in the world.

However, the acquisition is difficult and the cost is much higher than others. Companies may hesitate to obtain one, but if you want to create a new corporate site in the future, you should get .co.jp. Strong in SEO and high in credit, so there is no loss in choosing.

“.cc.jp”: Higher education institution schools can be registered

It comes from the abbreviation of academics. This is a domain where you can register schools such as universities, colleges, colleges of technology, school corporations, vocational schools, etc. under the School Education Act and other laws. Schools for children under the age of 18, such as nursery schools, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, etc. are classified as .ed.jp.

“.go.jp”: Government agencies can register

It comes from the abbreviation of government. Government agencies in Japan, laboratories under the jurisdiction of each ministry, and special corporations (excluding special companies) can be registered. It is almost impossible for any individual or private company to obtain this domain even in used or backorders.

FAQ

Can non-Japanese buy and register .jp domain?

Registrant requirements do not include nationality. Foreign nationals can also register if they are “individuals with addresses in Japan.”

Can non-Japanese compnay buy and register .jp domain?

If the overseas corporation does not have a place in Japan to receive the notification, the JP domain cannot be registered.

Attribute-type domains and regional-type domains must meet certain conditions, such as registration in Japan.

Do we need Japanese information input for purchase?

The registration information includes items to have to be entered in Japanese. Alphanumeric characters are intended to be displayed in English on WHOIS.

For the registration information of the JP domain name, the items to be entered in Japanese are basically formal.

How to pay to buy jp domain?

Payment from overseas is basically limited to the credit card payment with the name of the person. However, overseas issued credit cards are often not accepted. Bank transfers from overseas financial institutions cannot be accepted.

Any English site or support that can buy jp domain?

The “.jp” domain is managed by the Japanese registry, so the service is basically operated in Japanese, and support in English is not yet available.

EDAMAME Digital Marketing Japan purchase “.jp” in English as one of our services of content creation. Please feel free to contact us.

How much for jp domain?

Depending on the domain name, new ones can be purchased from $ 30 per domain.

How many jp domains one individual can buy?

You can register any number of general-purpose domain names. As a general rule, only one domain name can be registered for one attribute type/region type domain name.

Where can I get more information about?

Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. is a company that registers and manages domain names ending in “.jp” as a domain name registry for the country-specific code top-level domain “.jp”. Since April 1, 2002, all registration and management of JP domain names have been performed by Japan Registry Services.

Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd – English