If you are looking for a new PlayStation 5 and want to save money, the cheaper Japanese version of the console can seem very tempting. Packages on the market there cost around ¥55,000 to ¥65,000, or roughly $340 to $400, and usually come with one or two DualSense controllers. However, before importing, you should know that the difference is not only in price.
The cheaper PlayStation 5 intended for the Japanese market is practically regionally limited. Only the Japanese PlayStation Store can be used on it, regardless of where the console is physically located. This means that a Japanese PlayStation account configuration is also required, with the region set to Japan.
Since it is a digital-only console, games can only be purchased through the Japanese PlayStation Store. This applies to both PS5 games and compatible PS4 titles available through the store. If you already have games purchased through an American, European or any other PlayStation account, you will not be able to use them normally on this console.
The Japanese PlayStation 5 is cheaper, but remains locked to the Japanese account and the local PlayStation Store
Physical PlayStation games are traditionally not region-locked, but that doesn’t help much here, as this is a digital version of the console. In addition, Sony is increasingly pushing the market towards digital distribution, so the store limit is increasingly important.
There are also additional restrictions on online features. Data from PlayStation accounts from other regions cannot be transferred to the Japanese PlayStation 5. Also, the backup and restore functions do not work with accounts from other regions. Because of this, a user outside of Japan would probably have a very impractical experience, even if it would save money in the beginning.
Hardware-wise, the Japanese PS5 is basically the same as the other PlayStation 5 Digital Edition models. The console’s performance, features and capabilities remain the same. The difference is in software limitations, account region and language.
The biggest day-to-day barrier for many users will be language. With this cheaper Japanese version, the console’s system language remains Japanese and cannot be changed like on the US or European PS5 model. This means that the console’s menus and interface are always in Japanese.
The good news is that the language of the game itself depends on the options supported by the specific title. If the Japanese version of the game has English or another language, you will be able to use it in the game. However, console setup, content purchases, and PlayStation Store navigation remain tied to the Japanese language and Japanese region. That’s why the Japanese PlayStation 5 can be interesting only to users who consciously accept these limitations, understand the Japanese ecosystem and do not have an existing game library on another account. For most buyers outside of Japan, the lower price is probably not enough to compensate for the region, language and digital store issues.