AV Koumei 
How to Buy JAV from Overseas — Complete Guide (2026)
Since R18.com shut down in January 2023, buying JAV legally from outside Japan has become much more difficult. This guide covers every option available in 2026.
Quick Summary
| Platform | Access | Payment | VPN | English | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLsite | ✅ Open | Visa/MC (restored Feb 2025), Crypto | Not needed | ✅ Yes | ⭐ Best for overseas |
| FANZA | ❌ Geo-blocked | DMM Points via Amazon Pay | Required | ❌ No | Largest library, harder to access |
| DUGA | ❌ Geo-blocked | Japan cards only | Required (often blocked) | ❌ No | Not recommended for overseas |
| MGS | ❌ Geo-blocked | N/A | Required | ❌ No | Prestige exclusive content |
| Sokmil | ❓ Unknown | Limited | Unknown | ❌ No | Insufficient info |
Option 1: DLsite (Recommended)
- Visit dlsite.com/en for the English interface
- Create an account, then search by JAV code (e.g., "SONE-123")
- Payment: Visa/Mastercard (restored February 2025, billed in USD)
- Also accepts: DLpay Crypto (Bitcoin, etc.)
- No VPN needed
- Largest doujin selection + some AV titles
Option 2: FANZA (Advanced)
FANZA has the largest JAV library (320,000+ titles) but is geo-blocked since 2024.
Payment workaround (reported by some users — not officially supported):
- Set up a VPN with a Japanese IP (e.g., NordVPN, Surfshark)
- Create an Amazon.co.jp account (accepts foreign credit cards)
- Buy DMM Points on Amazon.co.jp
- Use DMM Points to purchase on FANZA
Note: FANZA does not officially support overseas access. Use this method at your own discretion.
Why Did R18.com Close?
R18.com was DMM's English-language adult site, operating from 2013 to 2023. In 2020, Visa and Mastercard introduced stricter policies on adult content platforms following the Pornhub controversy. DMM lost payment processing for overseas users, making R18.com financially unviable.
- October 2022: New purchases disabled
- January 2023: Site access disabled
- May 2023: Site fully closed
Purchased content became inaccessible — a cautionary tale about DRM-locked digital purchases.
What is a JAV Code?
Every Japanese AV title has a unique code like "SONE-123" or "ABW-456". This is the universal identifier used across all platforms. The prefix identifies the label/maker, and the number identifies the specific title.
Search by JAV code on AV Koumei to compare prices across FANZA, DUGA, Sokmil, and MGS simultaneously.
Use AV Koumei to Compare Prices
AV Koumei is the only site that compares prices across FANZA, DUGA, Sokmil, and MGS. Every title page shows live price data from all four platforms.