How to Advertise on Yahoo! JAPAN Without a Japanese Business or Bank Account

Yahoo! JAPAN remains one of the top ad platforms in Japan, especially for native-language search and display campaigns. If you're a business outside of Japan looking to expand into this market, the good news is—you don’t need a Japanese company registration or bank account to get started.

This guide walks you through the requirements to open a Yahoo! JAPAN Ads account as an overseas advertiser, what to expect during the review process, and how to handle payments without setting up a business entity in Japan.

Why Advertise on Yahoo! JAPAN?

Before diving into requirements, it’s worth noting why Yahoo! JAPAN is still a major ad channel:

• It’s one of Japan’s most visited portals.

• Yahoo! JAPAN Search is powered by Google but has its own ad auction.

• Display inventory spans shopping, news, email, and weather apps.

If your target market includes Japanese consumers or businesses, Yahoo! JAPAN Ads is often essential for market penetration.

Can Foreign Businesses Advertise on Yahoo! JAPAN?

Yes. Yahoo! JAPAN accepts advertisers from overseas as long as certain conditions are met. You do not need:

• A Japanese legal entity (e.g., K.K. or G.K.)

• A Japanese bank account

You will need to follow a slightly different process than local businesses. Let’s break it down.

Requirements to Open a Yahoo! JAPAN Ads Account Without a Japanese Entity

1. Yahoo! JAPAN ID and Business Registration

You’ll need to create a Yahoo! JAPAN ID—a user login that manages the ad account. While Japanese residents typically register with a mobile number, foreign advertisers can sign up with an email address.

During account creation:

• Use 000-0000 for the postal code if you're registering from outside Japan.

• Submit your company’s certificate of incorporation, or if you're a sole trader, provide a valid passport and proof of address.

2. Japanese-Language Website Requirement

Your landing page must:

• Be fully localized (not machine translated)

• Clearly show your business address and contact information in Japanese

• Match the name used in your Yahoo! JAPAN Ads account

If the website isn’t in Japanese or appears low quality, the account will likely be rejected during the review.

3. Payment Methods for International Advertisers

You have two options:

A. Credit Card

• Must support 3-D Secure 2.0

• Payments are made in Japanese yen

• You can top up your balance up to three times a day

B. SWIFT Bank Transfer

• Send money directly to Yahoo! JAPAN’s Mizuho Bank account via SWIFT (MHCBJPJT)

• Minimum first deposit: ¥3,000

• After sending funds, you’ll need to email the transfer details so Yahoo! JAPAN can credit your balance

✅ No Japanese bank account is required in either case.

4. Contact and Identity Verification

Yahoo! JAPAN may:

• Call your listed number (international is fine)

• Request scanned ID or business documents

• Ask for a utility bill or bank statement for proof of address

Make sure your contact details are real and responsive during Japan Standard Time (JST) business hours.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Yahoo! JAPAN Ads Account Without a Japanese Business

Compliance Notes for Overseas Advertisers

• Your ad account name must match the brand or domain used in your landing page.

• You must follow Yahoo! JAPAN’s Editorial Guidelines and Review Policies.

• Auto-tagging is disabled for accounts with a non-Japan country code.

Conclusion

You don’t need a Japanese business license or bank account to advertise on Yahoo! JAPAN. What you do need is:

• A Japanese-language website

• Proper identity and business documentation

• A way to pay in yen

With those in place, you can get started on Yahoo! JAPAN Ads and begin testing Japanese campaigns for search or display. It’s one of the easiest platforms in Japan for foreign advertisers to onboard—if you know the steps.

Need help localizing your landing page or managing Yahoo! JAPAN campaigns? Let’s talk.

Are you ready to start with Yahoo Japan ?