Dropshipping in Japan: Journey To become an Entrepreneur [2022]

Dropshipping in Japan is one of the most exciting and unique experiences I have ever had. So if you decide to start your own dropshipping business in Japan, read this article.

We want to provide you with an abbreviated knowledge of everything you need to make a successful drop shipping business journey.

Let’s start with an explanation of the basic concept of dropshipping.

Dropshipping: What it is and How it Works?

E-commerce entrepreneurs who dropship their products do not carry any inventory.

When a dropshipping business client places an order, the business owner contacts the supplier, who ships the items directly to the client’s doorsteps.

This type of business requires very little upfront investment, making it an attractive option for many entrepreneurs.

There are several advantages to dropshipping, such as:

• Low Start-Up Costs: Since you don’t need to carry any inventory, the start-up costs for a dropshipping business are meager.
• Straightforward to Set Up: A dropshipping business can be up and running in a matter of days.
• Location Independent: Dropshipping businesses can be operated from anywhere in the world.
• Flexible Hours: Since you are your boss, you can set your own hours.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at how to start a dropshipping business in Japan.

How to Start a Dropshipping Business in Japan

Choose an attractive niche.

The first step in starting a drop shipping business is to choose a niche. A niche is a specific market that you will target with your store. When choosing a niche, it’s essential to consider the following factors:

• Demand: Is there a demand for the products you want to sell? You can use Google Trends to research this.
• Competition: You need to measure the competition in your chosen niche.
• Supply: Ensure that you find a reliable supplier for the products you want to sell.

Top 10 Profitable Niches for Dropshipping in 2022

Set Up Your Store

Once you’ve chosen a niche, it’s time to set up your online business. It involves creating a website and adding product pages. You can use Shopify to create your store, as it offers a range of templates and tools to help you create a professional-looking store.

When setting up your store, be sure to include the following:

• A Homepage: Your homepage should introduce your store and explain what you sell.
• Product Pages: Each product you sell should have its page, including a product description, images, and the price.
• A Shopping Cart: Your shopping cart should allow customers to easily add and remove products.

Shopify Dropshipping Business Guide: The Ultimate Solution 2022

Find a trustworthy supplier.

Most crucial steps of dropshipping is to find a supplier. A supplier is a company that manufactures and sells products to retailers. When looking for a reliable supplier, it’s crucial to consider the following factors:

• Price: How affordable is the supplier’s products?
• Location: Is the supplier located in Japan? If not, can they ship products to Japan?
• Quality: How good are the supplier’s products?
• Reputation: What is the supplier’s reputation like?

10 Indicators to Spot the Best Dropshipping Suppliers

4. Add and import your products

Now you need to add products to your store. You can import products from a supplier or add them manually. If you’re importing products, use a reliable tool like Oberlo.

Oberlo allows you to add and import products from Aliexpress suppliers into your Shopify store easily. It also keeps track of inventory levels, so you’ll never accidentally sell a product out of stock.

Set Up a Payment Method

To accept payments, you will need to set up a payment method. There are many different payment methods you can use, including:

• Shopify payments: This is the easiest way to accept payments, as it’s the only in-house payment option of Shopify.
• PayPal: It is the most common online payment option. It allows customers to pay in various currencies, including the Japanese yen.
• Credit Cards: Credit cards are another common payment method. It allows customers to pay with a credit or debit card.
• Bank transfer: Bank transfer is a popular payment method in Japan. Customers can transfer funds directly from their accounts.

Market Your Store

The final step is to market your store. You can use several different marketing channels, including:

• SEO: Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your store for Google search. This involves adding keywords to your product pages and blog posts.
• Social Media Marketing: Leveraging social media to reach customers in an effective strategy. Be sure to create profiles on popular social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and properly do your Social Media Marketing.
• Content Marketing: This type of marketing entails creating and sharing content, such as blog posts, infographics, and videos.
• Paid Advertising: This is a form of direct marketing that involves paying for ads. These can be placed on Google, social media, or other websites. Read Google Ads for Dropshipping: In 2022, what must you know?
• Email Marketing: Email marketing is also a great way to connect with your customers and build relationships. Be sure to collect email addresses from your customers and send them periodic newsletters.

Start Dropshipping!

Now you’re ready to start dropshipping store! For more details, read How to Start a Dropshipping Business: 2022’s Step by Step Guide.

Remember to always focus on providing great customer service and offering quality products. If you do this, you’ll be sure to succeed in this lucrative business model. Read our article How to be Successful on Shopify: 14 Secret Tips For 2022

5 Best Japanese Dropshippers to start dropshipping

Lotte:

It is a Japanese chocolate company famous for its safe and high-quality products.

Lotte’s commitment to providing excellent services when it comes to dropshipping. Their top priorities are food safety and quality raw materials with advanced manufacturing technology.

Regardless of whether your target market is Chinese or American, there are strategies you can employ, all while maintaining multilingual pages so as not to leave any potential client out!

Shopkyo:

Need some new ideas for your Shopify store? Shopkyo have the best selection of Japan-made goods, and it’s all available through this reliable drop shipping service!

Shopkyo is a Japanese eCommerce platform with a wide range of products, tech gadgets, fashion items, beauty products, home goods etc.

You can dropship from Shopkyo if you’re targeting consumers in Japan. It will lower your shipping cost and time.

From Japan (Auction and Shopping Proxy Service)

“From Japan” is a Japanese proxy service, and they offer two services: auction service and shopping service.

The auction service is suitable for those who want to buy rare or vintage items from Yahoo! Auctions Japan, while the shopping service is for buying items from online stores in Japan.

They have different range of products available on their website from japan suppliers, and they offer a free trial so you can try their service before you commit to it.

ZOZOTOWN

 

ZOZOTOWN is one of the largest fashion shopping sites in Japan. It carries products from over 8399 brands.

Brands on ZOZOTOWN include Acne Studios, Adidas, A Bathing Ape (BAPE), Nike, Dior, and many more.

You can use ZOZOTOWN’s drop shipping service to sell products to customers in Japan.

Yahoo! Japan

 

They were originally known as Yippe! Japan, “Yahoo Japan” became one of Japan’s most popular online retailers once it became a web search tool and entry advertiser.

Yahoo! Japan Auctions is the largest online auction site in Japan. It has a wide variety of products available, from clothes to electronics.

You can use Yahoo! Japan Auctions’ drop shipping service to sell products to customers in Japan.

Is it worth using Japanese dropshipping suppliers?

Japanese suppliers are definitely worth using for dropshipping. Their products are high quality, and they often offer very competitive prices.

Additionally, many Japanese suppliers offer FREE shipping to anywhere globally – which is a HUGE perk for international dropshippers.

And lastly, most Japanese suppliers have excellent customer service and are very reliable. So if you’re looking for a good dropshipping supplier from Japan, definitely check out some of them.

You can also use Chinese suppliers from Aliexpress to dropship aliexpress products in Japan.

How high is Japan’s disposable income?

Japan has a thriving economy, and its residents are some of the wealthiest people on earth. In fact, according to recent statistics, Japan’s Annual Household Income per Capita reached a new high of 20,128.854 USD in December 2021.

This high-level economic stability means that opportunities for dropshipping business owners like you will never be better.

How many potential customers are there in Japan?

Over 125 million people live in Japan. With a vast population, it’s no wonder that Japan is one of the most popular countries for dropshippers to target.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Japanese eCommerce users to adopt new digital trends. Online sales had grown by 10% at the end of 2021 in Japan, posted by Global Data. It’s an impressive feat for such a traditionally slow adopter!

That means Japanese life is changing towards online shopping. So, the buying and selling products through online ratio are increasing among Japanese people.

What are some popular items to dropshipping in Japan?

There are many popular items to dropshipping in Japan, but some of the most popular include:

• Tech gadgets,
• Fashion items,
• Beauty products,
• And home goods.

Japanese customers are known for their love of high-quality products, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re dropshipping items that meet this criterion. If you want to stand out, then don’t follow other drop shipping stores; find a unique selling proposition (USP) for your online store.

What language do I need to speak to communicate with Japanese suppliers?

Japan has a mini-language crisis on its hands. Japanese is the main international tongue.

In 2014 research showed that only 2 out 100 Japanese citizens could communicate effectively using only basic words & phrases from English teachers’ curriculums – which means there are lots left for improvement.

So, Japan has a small English-speaking population, making it difficult to run an English-based e-commerce store in this country.

The most fantastic way to maximize your chances of selling in Japan is to build a multilingual drop shipping store.

FAQ About Dropshipping in Japan

Q: Does dropshipping work in Japan?

Answer: Yes, dropshipping works in Japan. You can find suppliers on platforms like AliExpress and Oberlo. Creating a Japanese-language website and market to Japanese consumers will be better. You will need to use a reliable shipping method to send products from suppliers to customers.

Q: What are the most popular payment gateways in Japan?

Answer: There are many popular payment gateways in Japan, but some of the most common include Veri Trans, Paypal, PaymentWall, Checkout, Asiabill, Stripe, GMO PG, Webmoney, etc.

These providers offer a variety of features and options that make them ideal for businesses of all sizes. In addition, they are all compatible with major Japanese credit cards and bank accounts.

Q: Which country is best for dropshipping?

Answer: Dropshipping businesses can succeed in many different countries, but each has its own unique set of challenges and potential opportunities.

To make the most informed decision possible, you’ll need to carefully consider all factors affecting your business in each country you’re considering.

Essential factors include shipping times and costs, customs regulations, taxation laws, and consumer behavior. With all of this in mind, it’s ultimately up to you to decide which country is the best fit for your dropshipping business.

However, some popular countries for dropshipping include the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, etc.

Q: How do I find Japanese suppliers?

Answer: There are several ways to find Japanese suppliers. One way is to use an online directory or search engine, such as Google or Yahoo.

Another way is to visit the websites of Japanese companies that export products and search for a “supplier search” or “trade partner” section on their website.

Finally, look at some third-party directories and websites specializing in listing Japanese suppliers.

Examples of these directories are Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Exportpages, and ThomasNet.

Q: Why do most dropshippers fail?

Answer: Most dropshippers fail because they don’t do their research and they disregard marketing their products correctly.

It’s possible to earn money with dropshipping, but you’ll find yourself struggling if you don’t put in the work. You need to build profitable products, create effective marketing campaigns, and build relationships with your customers. If you can’t do these things, then your business will fail. Read about Dropshipping: the 30 Most Common Reasons for Failure in 2022

Final thoughts on starting a dropshipping business in Japan

So, there you have it. Start your dropshipping business in Japan, and we hope this article provides some valuable insights.

Don’t be afraid to start from the beginning – with hard work and perseverance, you can run a successful dropshipping business. When necessary, you can ask for assistance.

>> Start your dropshipping business with Shopify here!