Alexa+ in Japan: What It Does, How to Start & the Japanese-Only Catch

📢 October 29, 2026: Alexa+ early access is now live in Japan!

What is Alexa+? When can you get it in Japan, and how do you start? Here’s everything you need to know, straight from Amazon Japan’s official pages.

💡 Quick answer
・Alexa+ is the new, generative AI version of Alexa with much more natural conversation
・Early access started in Japan on October 29, 2026. Invites go out in waves to people with a compatible Echo
・No Prime membership needed during early access
・In Japan it’s Japanese only
・Don’t like it? You can switch back anytime

1. What is Alexa+?

Alexa+ is Amazon’s new AI-powered Alexa. No more memorizing exact commands. Just talk to it like you would a friend, and you don’t need to repeat the wake word every time.

Real conversations: it keeps track even when you change topics
Remembers what you like: restaurants you want to try, your family’s food preferences, and more
Smarter routines: your existing routines still work, and you can add multiple triggers, like “when my alarm goes off or motion is detected”
Profiles for the whole family: multiple profiles on one account, including kids
Everywhere: on Echo, Fire TV, the Alexa app, and in your browser at alexa.jp

💡 Not sure where to start? Ask アレクサ、何ができるの？ (Arekusa, nani ga dekiru no?) (“Alexa, what can you do?”). Alexa will walk you through the new features itself.

2. The big catch: Japanese only

For English speakers in Japan, this is the key point. Amazon Japan says Alexa+ is available in Japanese only, and every Echo on your account must be set to Japanese.

If you’ve switched your Echo to English, you’ll need to switch it to Japanese to use Alexa+. Think of it as free daily Japanese practice!

3. When can you get it, and who’s eligible?

Early access started in Japan on October 29, 2026. Not everyone gets it at once. Amazon sends invitations in waves to people who own a compatible device.

Your situation	Can you use it?
You own a compatible Echo or Fire TV	Yes, once your invite arrives
You’re not a Prime member	Yes, during early access
You only have one of the 7 older unsupported Echos	No, it stays regular Alexa
Amazon Business account	No

Not sure about your device? Check here: Alexa+ in Japan: Does Your Echo or Fire TV Work?

4. How to get started (3 steps)

Sign up for notifications on the official Alexa+ page
When your invitation arrives, start the setup (only the Amazon account holder can do this)
Set every Echo on your account to Japanese

I signed up, and an email from Amazon arrived right away:

Heads-up: this is just a sign-up confirmation. The email says early access is rolling out to “some owners of compatible devices” first, and that Amazon will let you know once it’s available. So you’ll get a second message when it’s actually ready.

💡 If you’ve ever switched your Echo to a different Amazon account, switch it back to the device owner’s account before setup.

Once my invite comes, I’ll test Alexa+ on my two Echo Dots and report back!

5. Tabelog, Uber Eats… what works right now?

Amazon’s announcement lists lots of services. But some work now, and some are “coming later”.

Service	What it does	Status
Delish Kitchen	Suggests recipes from what’s in your fridge	Available (per the announcement)
SwitchBot, Panasonic, etc.	Control smart home devices by talking	Available (per the announcement)
Tabelog	Restaurant reservations	Coming later
Uber Eats	Food and grocery delivery	Coming later
Demae-can	Food delivery	Coming later
Ticket Pia	Buying tickets	Coming later

💡 So “book a table on Tabelog” doesn’t work yet. I’ll update this post once it does.

6. Does everything from the old Alexa still work?

During early access, a selection of the most popular Alexa features works by voice. Amazon says it picked them based on what people actually use.

Your existing routines carry over as-is, according to Amazon Japan’s official FAQ.

💡 Got a weird answer? Say アレクサ、フィードバックを送って (Arekusa, fīdobakku o okutte) (“Alexa, send feedback”). During early access, Alexa+ gets better based on what users tell Amazon.

7. How much does it cost?

During early access, anyone with a compatible device can use it, Prime or not
After early access, Prime members get it at no extra cost
Non-Prime users won’t be charged automatically. You go back to regular Alexa and get an invitation to a standalone subscription

Check the official Amazon FAQ for subscription pricing. Amazon hasn’t said when early access ends.

8. How to turn it off

Decided Alexa+ isn’t for you? Just say アレクサ、早期アクセスを終了して (Arekusa, sōki akusesu o shūryō shite) (“Alexa, end early access”). You’re back to the old Alexa, anytime.

💡 Turning it off on one device switches every Echo, Fire TV and the Alexa app on your account back at once.

9. New Echo devices, too

Amazon also launched two new devices alongside Alexa+. Both are described as “designed for Alexa+.”

Device	Good for
Echo Dot (6th gen)	A compact, classic way to start
Echo Time	A clock for your nightstand or desk

💡 Check the Amazon product pages for current prices.

Curious how Alexa+ has gone over in the US, where it launched first? Here’s what users there are saying: Alexa+ Reviews: What US Users Say, and What to Do Before You Start in Japan

10. Summary

Question	Answer
When?	Early access started October 29, 2026 (invites roll out in waves)
Who?	Owners of a compatible Echo or Fire TV
Language?	Japanese only
Cost?	Free during early access. Free for Prime members afterward
How to start?	Sign up on the official page, then set up when invited
How to stop?	“Arekusa, sōki akusesu o shūryō shite”