The Japanese web is a unique ecosystem, often described as "Galápagos" for its distinct evolution. Connecting 125 million highly literate and wealthy consumers, it requires a deep understanding of trust signals, mobile-first design, and local platforms like Yahoo! Japan and LINE. Our database categorizes high-value domains across 20 essential verticals driving the Japanese economy.
Download Full DatabaseDeep dive into the sectors that define the Japanese digital landscape.
Rakuten is the Amazon of Japan. This vertical covers the massive "EC Mall" ecosystem, as well as standalone brand sites. Japanese consumers demand high detail in product descriptions. Points systems (Poi-katsu) are a major driver of traffic and loyalty here.
Japan's soft power superpower. This vertical includes official publisher sites (Shueisha), streaming platforms (Niconico), and massive fan communities. It drives global trends but remains deeply rooted in domestic platforms and exclusive content.
From Sony to Nintendo, Japan is a tech giant. This vertical covers consumer electronics manufacturers, camera brands (Canon), and robotics firms. Technical reviews and "Kakaku" (price comparison) sites are highly influential.
Toyota is the world's largest carmaker. This vertical covers the "Big Three" (Toyota, Honda, Nissan), the "Kei car" market, and motorcycle brands. It is a hub for engineering excellence and supply chain logistics.
Japan's megabanks (MUFG, SMBC) dominate. However, the cashless trend is driving growth in fintech (PayPay, LINE Pay). This vertical is conservative but shifting rapidly towards digital transformation (DX).
Newspapers like Yomiuri have the world's largest circulation. Yahoo! Japan is still the primary news portal for millions. This vertical covers traditional media, TV networks (NHK), and digital-first outlets.
Domestic tourism is massive (Onsen, Ryokan). JTB is a travel giant. This vertical includes railway sites (JR), airline portals, and booking agents. Seasonality (Cherry Blossom, Golden Week) drives traffic spikes.
Suumo and Homes are household names. The Japanese housing market is high-turnover. This category covers rental portals, mansion (condo) developers, and house-building companies (House Makers).
Tabelog is the Yelp of Japan. Japanese consumers are foodies ("Gurume"). This vertical covers restaurant reviews, recipe sites (Cookpad), and delivery services. Food safety and origin branding are key.
J-Beauty is a global standard (Shiseido, Kao). This vertical covers brand sites, review portals like @cosme, and dermatology clinics. Skincare routines and detailed ingredient analysis drive content.
The "Shukatsu" (job hunting) system is unique. Recruit Holdings dominates. This vertical covers entry-level portals for fresh grads and "Tenshoku" sites for mid-career changes. Lifetime employment is fading, boosting this sector.
"Juku" (cram schools) are a major industry. This vertical covers universities (Todai), test prep services, and English conversation schools (Eikaiwa). Education is a high-priority household expense.
Softbank, Docomo, and KDDI (au) form the oligopoly. This vertical covers mobile plans, fiber internet (Hikari), and 5G infrastructure. Comparison sites for "Kakuyasu SIM" (cheap SIMs) are popular.
The Konbini is the center of Japanese life. 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart have massive digital footprints, offering banking, tickets, and food. Their apps are essential for daily living.
Beyond video games, Pachinko is a huge industry. This vertical covers console gaming, mobile "gacha" games, and amusement facility portals. It is a high-revenue entertainment sector.
"Monozukuri" (craftsmanship) is the national ethos. This B2B vertical covers robotics (Fanuc), materials science (Toray), and heavy industry. These sites are key for global industrial sourcing.
With an aging society, healthcare is paramount. This vertical covers hospitals, pharmaceutical firms (Takeda), and nursing care (Kaigo) services. It is a massive, government-supported market.
The "Zene-con" (General Contractors) like Obayashi and Shimizu build Japan's infrastructure. This vertical covers urban redevelopment, disaster prevention tech, and home building.
Life insurance is a major financial product. This vertical covers "Seiho" (Life) and "Sonpo" (Non-life) insurers. It is a competitive sector for lead generation and financial planning.
Japan has 47 prefectures. Local government sites are vital for residents. The Digital Agency is pushing for modernization. These .go.jp sites are the ultimate authority for civic information.
Get instant access to thousands of verified domains across these 20 verticals.
Get the Data
Websitecategorizationapi.com offers automated classifications of websites, with both homepage and full path real-time URL classifications. Our solution is available both in dashboard and as API. It is used for brand protection, marketing leads, online filtering, use in clients own applications and for other use cases. We also offer offline categorization database of 30 million categorized domains, covering 99.9%+ of active internet.
Email contact: [email protected]
