Dating Apps in Japan: What to Expect

Japan Nakama
5 min readApr 17, 2021

Across the globe, dating app users have shot up like crazy since COVID-19 knocked on our doors. The use of dating apps in Japan was already rising as 2019 showed a 125% increase, regarding the top 10 Japanese dating apps.

Humans are social creatures, so naturally, we need to stay connected while living with social restrictions. Dating apps make an easy connection, so getting comfortable with online dating in Japan provides foreigners a risk-free way to meet that special someone.

Photo Credit: Tecnoblog

Japanese dating apps like Pairs, Tokyo Calendar, and Tapple are top-rated, but local apps are difficult for foreigners dating in Japan. We spoke to Omar Minami, a former representative of Tinder Japan. He shared his views on what to expect as a foreigner when using Japanese dating apps before you get swiping!

“For newly arrived foreigners, there are, of course, the language barriers, so I would only recommend Tinder and Bumble in Japan. Both platforms are foreign-friendly as many of the locals who use these apps want to meet foreigners.”

The dating culture in Japan is a lot different from dating in the west. In western countries, dating apps are for hookups and dates. Swiping right in Japan serves several reasons like locals wanting to practice their English skills, seeking friendship, or passing a few minutes of the day.

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Japan Nakama

Japan Nakama are a London based online publication that investigates and explores all aspects of Japanese Culture.