.tokyo is the domain for anything connected with Japan's capital, and any person or organisation, wherever they are, may register one. There's no Japanese address or company to provide, so a UK business can hold one in its own name.
As a UK company and Nominet accredited registrar, PD Hosting handles .tokyo for British customers from London. Your name is registered as soon as checkout completes and shows up in your client area, with DNS management ready to use.
Per year. Compare every extension on our domain pricing page.
What is a .tokyo domain?
- Type
- A geographic generic top-level domain (gTLD). It isn't Japan's country code, which is .jp. Source
- Registry
- GMO Registry, Inc., under an ICANN agreement signed in November 2013. The extension was delegated in January 2014. Source
- Who may register
- Any natural person or entity, anywhere. The registry says broad worldwide use is its aim. Source
- Reserved names
- Names of Tokyo's wards, cities, towns and villages, tourism and transport terms and other public-interest names were held back; the list is revised at the request of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Source
- Name length
- Three to 63 characters; underscores aren't allowed. Source
- Registration period
- One to ten years at a time. Source
- Owner checks
- Within 15 days of a registration or change of owner, we ask the owner to confirm their email address. An unconfirmed name is suspended until it's confirmed, as ICANN requires. Source
Facts checked against the registry on 9 November 2026.
Who a .tokyo domain suits
A .tokyo suits UK businesses with a stake in the city: a British fashion label opening a pop-up in Shibuya, a travel company selling Japan itineraries, a games studio marketing to Japanese players, or a consultancy with a Tokyo desk. Universities running exchange programmes there can use one too.
It also suits individuals, such as a British teacher, translator or photographer living in Tokyo who wants an address that says so without setting up a Japanese company.
- A Tokyo office or showroom website
- Japan travel guides and tour bookings
- Pop-up shops and product launches in the city
- Personal sites for people living or working in Tokyo
Benefits of a .tokyo domain
Understood at a glance
Tokyo is among the most widely recognised city names anywhere, so the ending needs no explanation to English-speaking or Japanese visitors.
No local entity required
Anyone can hold a .tokyo in their own name, so a UK company doesn't need a Japanese subsidiary or agent to get a Tokyo address.
Descriptive names are still free
Plain words that have long gone in .com are often available with .tokyo, which helps when you want a short, readable address.
The names Tokyo held back
When .tokyo launched, the registry reserved a set of names in the public interest rather than releasing them first come, first served. They include the names of Tokyo's wards, cities, towns and villages, strings linked to tourism and transport in the city, and other names that matter to the public. Some may be released later to promote the prefecture, its economy, industry and culture, and the reserved list is revised at the request of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
So if a district name comes back as unavailable, it is probably on that list rather than owned by someone else. Premium names are a separate group: the registry may also set aside attractive names to sell at a higher price or by auction.
For UK buyers this means building the name around your own brand or product rather than a place, and remembering that a .tokyo needs at least three characters. Names in Japanese script are possible under the registry's IDN rules, but test them with your email and hosting before you print them anywhere.
.tokyo pros and cons
Works well if
- You have staff, customers, a shop or an event in Tokyo
- You sell travel, food, culture or products tied to the city
- You want a memorable Latin-script name for a Japanese campaign
Look elsewhere if
- Your market is the wider Asia-Pacific region: .asia covers it more broadly
- You need search engines to target Japan: Google treats .tokyo as generic, so that signal must come from your content and hreflang
- Your first choice is a district name: many are reserved
.tokyo compared with similar extensions
| Extension | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| .tokyo | Businesses and people connected with Tokyo | Open worldwide; minimum three characters. |
| .asia | Firms serving the Asia-Pacific region | A regional ending that Google handles as generic. |
| .com | Global brands | Universally familiar, though short names are scarce. |
| .travel | Tour operators and travel agents | Points to the travel trade rather than a single city. |
Register your .tokyo domain
- Search for the name you want below.
- Add it to your basket and choose how many years to register it for.
- Check out. Your domain is registered straight away and appears in your client area, ready to point at your website and email.
Every domain includes DNS management, DNS backup and restore, and free mail forwarding.
.tokyo questions
Is .tokyo open to businesses outside Japan?
Yes. The registry's policy says any natural person or entity may register a .tokyo, so you don't need a Japanese address, company or agent. We only need your normal owner details.
Is a .tokyo the same as a .jp domain?
No. .jp is Japan's country code, with its own registry and rules. .tokyo is a generic top-level domain that names a city, so Google treats it like .com rather than as a sign that your site is aimed at Japan.
Why is a Tokyo place name unavailable?
At launch the registry reserved the names of Tokyo's wards, cities, towns and villages, along with tourism, transport and public-interest terms. Some may be released later; until then they can't be registered.
How short can a .tokyo name be?
Three characters is the minimum and 63 the maximum. Letters, digits and hyphens are allowed, but a hyphen can't open or close the name.
Does a .tokyo cost more to renew than to register?
Yes. Renewal is £38.95 a year, which is higher than the introductory price in the box above. You can register for anything from one to ten years.
Sources: .tokyo domain name registration policies · IANA .tokyo record · ICANN .tokyo registry agreement · Google: managing multi-regional sites
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