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So you have a Vita and love Japanese games. We've already shown you how to make a Japanese PSN account and how to reset your Vita region to access the Japanese PSN on a non-Japanese Vita, but why go through all the hassle? Well, maybe you'd rather download the games you want to play instantly rather than wait for a physical copy to arrive; maybe you've bought some Japanese games already and want their DLC; or maybe you are just curious and want to try some demos.


No matter the reason, here's a helping hand from Kotaku East for downloading games, demos, and DLC from the Japanese PSN on the Vita.


[*Note: This guide is written assuming you have already made a Japanese PlayStation Network account (as detailed here) and have already reset your Vita to the Japanese region (as detailed here).]

Part 1 — Downloading Demos

Step 1: Even if your system language is set to English, the PSN Store will still be in Japanese. To download demos, first touch the store icon on your home screen.


Step 2: Then hit "Start."


Step 3: Sign in to your Japanese PSN account if prompted and hit "OK."


Step 4: Touch the top folder, PS Vita コンテンツ (content).


Step 5: To find a demo to download, click the third option on the list, 体験版 (demos).


Step 6: Scroll through the list of demos and touch the one you want to download.


Step 7: Touch the big orange button marked ダウンロード (download) to begin your download. [*Note: Just touch "OK" if you get a pop-up telling you your active downloads can be seen by tapping the top right corner of the Vita's home screen.]

Part 2 — Buying Vita Games


Step 1: As mentioned above, the PSN Store will still be in Japanese regardless of your system's language. To buy games, first touch the store icon on your home screen.


Step 2: Then hit "Start."


Step 3: Sign in to your Japanese PSN account if prompted and hit "OK."


Step 4: Touch the top folder, PS Vita コンテンツ (content).


Step 5: Touch the top folder, ゲーム (games).


Step 6: The following folders contain all the Japanese Vita games available for download. However, the games are listed in Japanese alphabetical order.


Step 7: If you can't read Japanese, you'll have to do some leg work. Look through them one by one until you find the game you want. Then touch that game.


Step 8: On the game information page, click the big orange button that says 今すぐ購入 (purchase now).


Step 9: Touch the ￥0 button in the top right corner of the screen to start the process to add funds to your Japanese PSN account.

[*Note: The easiest way to add money to your account is to buy a Japanese PlayStation Network card. You can get these from sites like PlayAsia. Most will email you the code directly so you won't even need to wait for the card to arrive.]


Step 10: Enter your Japanese PSN account password.


Step 11: Select the bottom option to add funds to your wallet using a Japanese PSN card. (The top option is to add funds using a Japanese credit card.) [*Note: You can't add funds with a non-Japanese credit card.]


Step 12: Enter the code of your PSN card four digits at a time. Hit the green "enter button" when you are done (the bottom right button). When it asks for conformation on the next screen, hit the bottom right button again. Congratulations, you now have money in your Japanese PSN account.


Step 13: Return to the buy screen from before, and click the bright orange button in the bottom left with 購入する (purchase) on it to complete your purchase of your game. Now all you need to do is wait for it to download. Enjoy!

Part 3 — Downloading DLC


Step 1: First touch the store icon on your home screen.


Step 2: Then hit "Start."


Step 3: Sign in to your Japanese PSN account if prompted and hit "OK."


Step 4: Touch the top folder, PS Vita コンテンツ (content).


Step 5: Tap the second folder down: 追加アイテム (supplementary items).


Step 6: This is a list of all the games with DLC. Scroll through until you find the game that you are looking for and then touch it.


Step 7: Now you are looking at all the DLC for the game you chose. Tap the DLC you wish to buy.


Step 8: On the DLC information page, click the big orange button that says 今すぐ購入 (purchase now).


Step 9: Click the bright orange button in the bottom left with 購入する (purchase) on it to complete your purchase of your DLC. Now all you need to do is wait for it to download. Enjoy!

[*Note: If you don't have any money in your Japanese PlayStation Network wallet, follow the steps in Part 2: Step 9-12 to add some.]

And that's all there is to it! Enjoy your games, demos, and DLC from the Vita version of the Japanese PlayStation Store.