Japancupid Review

What is JapanCupid?

Launched in 2008, The JapanCupid dating app is a popular meeting place for Japanese singles. The site hosts over 700,000 users around the globe, with ages averaging 23-40 years old. 90,000 of these users are based in the United States. Although the site markets itself as being strictly for Japanese singles, this dating site is open to people of all cultures and heritages who are interested in finding a Japanese partner.

Although a majority of the users on this platform use it in hopes of finding a love match, the site also connects those looking for platonic relationships, particularly those who wish to be penpals. Of course, if you have no interest in finding a new pen pal, you can simply avoid searching through those seeking platonic relationships by using the site’s search engine.

JapanCupid Sign-Up

As every JapanCupid review shares, sign-up takes only a couple of minutes. All new users must share their name, gender, location, age, and valid email address. You will then be prompted to make a unique password. Once the password is registered, the email address must be validated via a link that JapanCupid sends to your inbox. The validation link will direct you directly to your homepage.

Once on your homepage, you’ll have the chance to further fill out your profile and add photos of yourself. Aside from adding at least one photo, filling out your profile is not mandatory on JapanCupid, which is something that drives me up the wall. In my experience, if the site does not push you to fill out profile information, you’re likely to dive into a sea of blank profiles.

You’re here to find someone you may want to start a long-term relationship with eventually, and uploading an old, grainy photo of yourself and leaving the rest of your profile blank will not get you any closer to finding a match. As always, I urge every new dating site member to put your best face forward and devote a few minutes to your profile.

If filling out your profile is just too demanding of you, you’re in luck! The site allows for sign-up via Facebook. If you choose to register this way, all of your personal info and profile photos will be pulled from your Facebook profile.

JapanCupid Website Usability

What you read in that other review JapanCupid is true; the site is straightforward with no frills, just the way I like it. With a clean and easy-to-navigate layout, the fonts are easy on the eyes, as are the site's theme colors of gray-blue and magenta.

From your home page, you'll have quick access to your inbox and tableau of all your most recent activity. In the center of the homepage, you’ll find a grid of photos from possible matches in your area. These “possible matches” are said to be generated using the information new members give about their ideal match upon sign-up. This confuses me, as no questionnaire is given during the registration process.

JapanCupid Profile Quality

JapanCupid legit has some great profiles to browse through, which is somewhat surprising, as adding additional information on yourself is optional at sign-up.

Most profiles I checked out had a decent amount of information, including habits, what they want from their lives, and future relationships. You’ll also be able to find bits about their Chinese horoscope signs, length of hair, and more. On the downside, many profiles lack a photo gallery - many profiles never bother to upload more than one photo.

JapanCupid Features

As most of the other JapanCupid reviews online will tell you, this site does not have many features to offer. Aside from a search engine with a ton of unique filters, the site allows you to write personal notes on profiles. These notes are private and only available for you to view.

This is a cool feature as you can browse and make notes on what you like about someone's profile and commit to contacting the ones that you deem the most interesting at a later moment. The Japanese Cupid app also has an integrated translator, which allows you to communicate with others without having to copy and paste between your chat box and an online translator.

For those who like the idea of having this site available on the go, there is a JapanCupid app. The app reflects the browser version, with navigation made even easier. The app is free to download on the Google Play Store. The app is only available for Android at the moment, but iOS users can, of course, easily use the browser version of the site from their smartphones.

JapanCupid Prices & Payment methods

While putting together this Japanese Cupid review, I quickly realized that the only actual activity that allows you to interact with other members on this site is messaging. This feature, of course, is not free. In order to send or even read messages, you have to have a paid membership. Site members have two paid memberships to choose from: Gold or Platinum.

With a gold membership, users can contact others who also have a gold or platinum membership. This means you can only send messages to other members if they have a paid membership. With a Platinum membership, you have the ability to exchange messages with anyone you please.

Gold Memberships are available in 3 different subscriptions:

• 1 month for $29.98
• 3 months for $59.99
• 12 months for $119.98

The prices are only slightly higher for Platinum subscriptions:

• 1 month for $34.99
• 3 months for $69.98
• 12 months for $149.99

Although I found more than one JapanCupid com review that says payments are accepted only by major credit cards, the site also allows members to pay for their memberships by bank transfer, Paypal, or Paysafecard.

JapanCupid Security

Although I tried to get information on the site’s security measures on the site itself, I found very little information on this subject. Nor have I seen a JapanCupid review that can confirm that the site follows any precise security measures. What I can share on the site’s security, however, is that the site is SSL encrypted and regularly shares tips on how to avoid scams via your inbox. The site also has Live Customer Support chats that users can use to alert the admin team on any suspicious or inappropriate behavior and ask any questions that may come up. I gave the chat support box a go, and though I eventually received a response, it came 20 minutes after logging off via my personal email.

Is JapanCupid Legit?

So now that we’ve collected all of the essential details, it’s time to answer the big question; Is JapanCupid legit?

I spent a few days on this site and received a ton of messages. The problem is, I was certain most of them were bots. I received 7 new messages alone less than 5 minutes after registering - this is never a good sign! I found a few profiles that caught my eye, and I was able to get a couple of decent conversations going, and if I wanted to land IRL dates from this site, it was definitely doable.

With that said, you’ll have moments trying to decipher what profiles are real and which ones are likely bots. This is an inconvenience I wouldn’t expect from a dating site at this price point, which I find the price point pretty high. I honestly find it outrageous that a paid membership is needed to receive messages from other members, but if you can get past these bits, there seem to be quality connections to make.

If you have the money to spend and don’t mind a bit of detective work, give this site a go!