※ This guide contains my Mercari invite code and referral links. If you sign up with them, we both get ¥500 in Mercari points. It costs you nothing.
🌐 Also in: 🇹🇼 繁體中文🇪🇸 Español
New to Japan? Get ¥500 on Mercari
Enter this invite code when you sign up
- ✓ Only works during sign-up
- ✓ ¥500 points within 14 days
- ✓ Use them within 30 days
Mercari (メルカリ) is Japan’s biggest secondhand marketplace app. For a newcomer it’s the fastest way to furnish an apartment cheaply: rice cookers, microwaves, desks, bikes and winter coats from people who are moving out, delivered to your door with anonymous shipping.
This guide covers exactly what a new arrival needs: whether you can sign up yet, how to switch the app to English, how to use the ¥500 code, and how to avoid the mistakes I see newcomers make every month.
Can you use Mercari yet? 3-point check
- ✓
A Japanese phone number that receives SMS
Needed to register (numbers starting 070, 080 or 090). Tourist SIMs and data-only SIMs won’t work. No number yet? See how to get a SIM in Japan in 2026.
- ✓
A way to pay
Credit card, convenience-store payment (コンビニ払い) or Merpay. Some foreign-issued cards work, some get declined. Convenience-store payment always works.
- !
To sell: residence card + Japanese bank account
Buying needs neither. Selling needs identity verification with your residence card (在留カード) and a selfie. Cashing out needs a Japanese bank account, or you can spend your earnings with Merpay instead.
Not in Japan yet? Mercari won’t let you register without a Japanese number. Jump to buying from overseas.
Mercari now works in English
You no longer need Google Translate for everything. Mercari added an English display mode, and since August 2026 it also auto-translates item titles and descriptions for English users.
- iPhone: My Page → Settings → App settings → Language
- Android: My Page → Settings → App settings → Language
- Web: My Page → Settings → Language
What’s still Japanese: some screens and notifications, customer support, and messages with sellers. Mercari asks users in Japan to message each other in Japanese, so keep a translator handy for those. Translation accuracy isn’t guaranteed, so check sizes and model numbers in the original text.
How to sign up and get the ¥500 (5 minutes)
Download the Japanese Mercari app
Use this link or search “メルカリ” in the App Store or Google Play. Don’t download the US Mercari app. It’s a different service.
Verify your phone number
Mercari sends a code by SMS to your Japanese number.
Enter invite code GUJURR
On the sign-up screen, find the optional invitation code field (招待コード) and enter GUJURR. This is your only chance. The code can’t be added after registration.
Finish your profile
Enter your name as written on your residence card. Mercari asks for katakana, so write your name phonetically (e.g. ピーター).
Wait for your points
The ¥500 in points usually arrives within 14 days. Mercari may ask you to verify your identity first. Points expire about 30 days after you receive them, so plan a first purchase.
What newcomers should buy first (and what to search)
Search in Japanese to see far more listings. Copy these terms straight into the search bar:
| You need | Search | Newcomer tip |
|---|---|---|
| Rice cooker | 炊飯器 | 3合 (3 cups) is plenty for one person. |
| Microwave | 電子レンジ | Check 50Hz/60Hz: East Japan (Tokyo) is 50Hz, West is 60Hz. Newer models work on both (ヘルツフリー). |
| Futon set | 布団セット | Many people prefer to buy bedding new. Covers (カバー) are easy to find unused. |
| Desk & chair | デスク / チェア | Large items use Mercari’s big-item delivery (たのメル便). Check shipping is included (送料込み). |
| Bicycle | 自転車 | Ask the seller for the bike registration transfer paper (防犯登録). Police do check. |
| Winter coat | ダウンジャケット | Filter by 未使用に近い (like new) for great condition at a fraction of retail. |
Moving apartments? Read the full Mercari moving guide.
Selling on Mercari: fees you’ll actually pay
| Selling fee | 10% of the sale price |
|---|---|
| Cash-out to your bank | ¥200 per transfer (free if you spend it with Merpay) |
| Sales balance (売上金) | Expires after 180 days if not used or withdrawn |
| Listing fee | Free |
Mercari shipping (anonymous, at convenience stores):
| Method | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| ゆうパケットポストmini | ¥160 | Small flat items |
| ネコポス | ¥210 | T-shirts, cards, accessories |
| ゆうパケット | ¥230 | Books, small items |
| 宅急便コンパクト | ¥450 + ¥70 box | Shoes, small gadgets |
| 宅急便 60 / 80 size | ¥750 / ¥850 | Bigger boxes |
Price 5–10% below similar items marked SOLD (売り切れ). Full breakdown: Mercari seller fees 2026. Leaving Japan? Sell everything before you go.
🛡️ Avoid the 4 classic newcomer mistakes
- Never pay outside the app. If a seller asks for a bank transfer or LINE contact, report them. Mercari only protects in-app payments.
- Don’t rate the seller before the item arrives. Completing the rating (受取評価) releases your money to the seller.
- Read the description in Japanese for 「ジャンク」. Junk means broken or untested, and no returns.
- Check photos for missing parts (付属品なし = accessories not included).
Also worth installing: Yahoo! Flea Market
🟣 Yahoo!フリマ
Only 5% selling fee, so it’s better for selling bigger items. New users get ¥1,000 in PayPay points with code WWYMXZ.
Get Yahoo!フリマ →📊 Which app should you use?
Fees, buyer traffic and payouts compared side by side.
Mercari vs Rakuma vs Yahoo!フリマ →Not in Japan? How to buy from Mercari Japan
You can’t register for Mercari Japan without a Japanese phone number. Mercari launched its official Mercari Global App for overseas buyers in Taiwan and Hong Kong in September 2025, with more countries planned. Check whether it covers your country first.
If it doesn’t, or you want a person to check the item, Tokyo Buy For You is our own proxy service. We buy from Mercari or any Japanese site and ship worldwide. Compare every option in how to buy from Mercari Japan overseas.
Just arrived? Your next 3 money-savers
💴 Tokyo’s ¥11,000 points
Registered residents of Tokyo, including foreigners, can claim them.
How to claim →📋 Your first 30 days in Japan
City hall, bank, SIM and making friends, in order.
Moving-to-Japan plan →Mercari Japan FAQ
What is the Mercari Japan invite code?
Use GUJURR. Enter it in the invitation code field (招待コード) during sign-up to receive ¥500 in Mercari points, usually within 14 days.
Can I enter the code after I’ve already registered?
No. Mercari only accepts invite codes during the first registration. If you already have an account, the code won’t work.
When do the ¥500 points expire?
Invite points expire about 30 days after they are granted, so use them on your first purchase soon after they arrive.
Is Mercari Japan available in English?
Yes, partly. You can switch the app to English in Settings, and item titles and descriptions can be auto-translated. Some screens, support and messages with sellers are still in Japanese.
Can foreigners use Mercari Japan?
Yes, if you live in Japan and have a Japanese phone number that receives SMS. To sell, you also need identity verification with your residence card. To withdraw money, you need a Japanese bank account.
How much does Mercari charge sellers?
10% of the sale price, plus shipping. Withdrawing to your bank costs ¥200 per transfer.
Can I buy from Mercari Japan from outside Japan?
Not with a regular account. Use the official Mercari Global App if your country is supported, or a proxy service such as Tokyo Buy For You.
Last step
Don’t sign up without the code
Can’t sign up yet? Save this page and come back once you have your Japanese SIM.
✦ TIFE'S OWN SERVICE · TOKYO BUY FOR YOU
Friends or family outside Japan want something from Mercari?
Mercari and Yahoo!フリマ only ship inside Japan. Send us the listing link: we buy it, check it in Tokyo and ship it worldwide with tracking (EMS, DHL or FedEx).
US$15 per item from Mercari / Yahoo!フリマ · US$10 per item from Amazon Japan & Rakuten · full quote before you pay
See how Tokyo Buy For You works →
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