How to Buy from DLsite: A Complete Guide for Overseas Buyers

DLsite is one of Japan’s largest digital marketplaces for doujinshi, manga, games, and audio works. While the platform was originally designed for Japanese users, it now offers a fully localized English interface and accepts payments from overseas buyers. This guide walks you through every step — from creating an account to completing your first purchase.

Step 1: Create a Free DLsite Account

Before you can buy anything on DLsite, you need a free viviON ID account. This is the unified login system used across all DLsite services (formerly called “DLsite Account,” renamed to viviON ID in April 2025).

How to Register

1. Go to the DLsite English site and click “Registration” in the top-right corner.
2. You’ll be redirected to the viviON ID registration page.
3. You can register with an email address, or sign up instantly using a third-party service like Google, Facebook, X (Twitter), Reddit, or Amazon.
4. If using email, enter your address and create a password, then verify through the confirmation email.

Tip: Using Google or Reddit login is the fastest option. No email verification needed — you’ll be logged in immediately.

Step 2: Browse and Find Works

DLsite offers a massive catalog organized by category. Here’s how to navigate it:

• Categories: Use the top navigation bar to browse Doujin, Adult Comics, H Games, Voice Dramas/ASMR, Manga, and more.
• Search: Use the search bar to find specific titles, circles (creators), or keywords.
• Filters: Filter by genre, rating, price range, file format, and supported languages.
• English Works: Click the “English Works” tab in the navigation to see only works with English translations.
• Rankings: Check the “Ranking” tab to see the most popular and best-selling works.

Each product page shows you the price (in USD or JPY), sample images, genre tags, ratings, sales count, and user reviews — everything you need to make an informed decision.

Step 3: How to Pay — Payment Methods for Overseas Buyers

This is the most important section. DLsite’s payment landscape has changed significantly since 2024, and not all options work equally well for international buyers.

Credit/Debit Cards (Visa & Mastercard)

Visa and Mastercard payments were suspended in April 2024 and partially reactivated in February 2025. However, the restoration comes with important caveats:

• Card payments now go through DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion), which means your purchase is converted to your local currency at the point of sale. This can result in slightly higher costs due to conversion fees.
• Visa/MC payments are only available for works that are not region-locked. Certain content categories (such as works tagged with specific themes) cannot be purchased with Visa or Mastercard, even if you can view them.
• Some users report that certain non-Japanese cards are still declined. Your mileage may vary.

JCB cards have remained available throughout the entire suspension period and continue to be the most reliable credit card option. In January 2026, viviON launched its own viviON JCB Card (a virtual credit card available via mobile app) with a 4% point-back promotional rate on DLsite purchases (valid until July 31, 2026; base rate is 1%).

viviON Points (Recommended for Overseas Buyers)

The most reliable payment method for international buyers is viviON Points (formerly called “DLsite Points,” renamed in September 2025). Here’s how it works:

1. Buy viviON Points using a supported payment method (see below).
2. Use points to purchase works directly on DLsite. 1 point = 1 JPY.
3. Points can be used on any product across all DLsite sections. Note: Points expire after 1 year of inactivity (no point purchases or usage), so make sure to use or top up at least once a year.

You can purchase viviON Points through:

• For Books — A dedicated point reseller that accepts credit cards (recommended — more on this below).
• DLpay Crypto — The official cryptocurrency payment partner for DLsite. Supports various EVM-compatible tokens (Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies).
• BitCash — A Japanese prepaid digital cash system (purchased at convenience stores or online). Primarily useful if you are in Japan.
• Convenience store payment (Japan only).

Note: PayPal was previously available as a payment method but was suspended in October 2023. As of February 2026, there is no reliable PayPal-based method for purchasing DLsite/viviON Points.

For Books — The Best Option for Card Users (Recommended)

For Books is an official viviON-affiliated service that sells viviON Points. The advantage? For Books accepts credit cards directly — Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express — and the points you buy are automatically added to your DLsite account.

How to use For Books:

1. Visit forbooks.jp and log in with the same viviON ID you use for DLsite.
2. Select the point amount you want to purchase (minimum 500 JPY).
3. Pay with your credit card.
4. You’ll receive a serial code via email. Note: delivery may take up to several hours, so plan ahead.
5. Go to DLsite and redeem the serial code to add points to your account.
6. Use your points to buy works.

Note: For Books limits purchases to one transaction per day (up to 3 codes per transaction), so plan ahead if you need a large amount of points.

Step 4: Making Your Purchase

Once you’ve found a work you want to buy and have funds ready (credit card or points), here’s how to complete the purchase:

1. On the product page, click “Add to Cart” or “Sign Up & Buy Now” for instant purchase.
2. If you clicked “Add to Cart”, go to your cart and click “Proceed to Checkout”.
3. Select your payment method (Points, Credit Card, etc.).
4. Confirm the purchase.
5. Your work is immediately available in your “My Library” for download or streaming.

Step 5: Downloading and Viewing Your Purchases

After purchasing, you can access your works in two ways:

• Download: Go to My Library → Purchase History and click the download button next to your purchased work. Most works are available as ZIP files containing JPEG/PNG images or PDF files.
• DLsite Play (Online Viewer): Many works support DLsite Play, a built-in browser-based viewer that lets you read manga or view works directly without downloading. Look for the “Play” button on the product page or in your library.

Supported file formats vary by work but commonly include:

• JPEG/PNG (manga, doujinshi, CG collections)
• PDF (manga, doujinshi)
• MP3/WAV/FLAC (audio works, ASMR)
• EXE/ZIP (games — Windows only for most)
• MP4 (video works)

Do I Need a VPN?

It depends on what you want to buy and where you live. DLsite’s English site is accessible from most countries without a VPN. You can browse, search, and purchase the majority of works without any issues. However, Germany is completely blocked (redirected away from the site), and users there will need a VPN for any access.

However, since early 2025, DLsite has implemented region-locking on certain content categories. Works tagged with specific themes (such as certain character-type tags) are blocked from view for non-Japanese IP addresses. If you try to access these works from outside Japan, you’ll see a message: “You cannot buy this product from the country/region you live in.”

When you might need a VPN:

• To access region-locked works that are blocked in your country.
• If your ISP or government blocks adult content websites.
• If you’re experiencing connection issues to DLsite’s servers.

Important: Even with a VPN set to a Japanese server, region-locked works may still not be purchasable with Visa or Mastercard. Using viviON Points (purchased via For Books) is the most reliable way to buy any work on DLsite.

Coupons and Discounts

DLsite is generous with promotions. Here’s how to save money:

• New User Coupon: When you create a new account, you get a 30% OFF coupon. Important: This coupon expires in 1 day and can only be used once, so make sure you know what you want to buy before registering.
• Seasonal Sales: DLsite runs major sales events throughout the year (Spring Sale, Summer Sale, Year-End Sale) with discounts up to 90% off.
• viviON JCB Card: If you have the new viviON JCB Card, you earn a 4% point-back on DLsite purchases during the promotional period (until July 31, 2026). The base rate after the promo is 1%.
• Circle Sales: Individual creators (circles) often run their own sales and discounts.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Credit card declined?

Try using viviON Points via For Books instead. Card declines are common for overseas buyers due to fraud prevention measures and the ongoing payment processing changes. Points purchased through For Books are the most reliable workaround.

Can’t find English works?

Click the “English Works” tab in the top navigation, or use the “Supported languages: English” filter when searching. Note that many Japanese-only works are still enjoyable for their visual content, especially CG collections and manga.

“You cannot buy this product from your country”?

This means the work is region-locked. Since 2025, DLsite has geo-restricted certain content categories for users outside Japan. You can try using a VPN set to Japan, but note that you’ll likely need to pay with viviON Points rather than Visa/Mastercard.

Download link expired?

Don’t worry — once you purchase a work, it stays in your library permanently. Just go to My Library and re-download it anytime.

Age verification prompt?

DLsite shows an age verification dialog when you first visit the adult sections. Simply click “Yes, I can legally Enter” to proceed. This is stored in a cookie and won’t appear again unless you clear your browser data.

Summary: Quick-Start Checklist

1. Create a free viviON ID account (use Google login for speed).
2. Browse the English site at dlsite.com/ecchi-eng.
3. Find a work you like and check the price.
4. Choose a payment method: For Books (recommended), credit card, or viviON Points.
5. Purchase and download or stream your work instantly.
6. Don’t forget to use your new user 30% OFF coupon (expires in 1 day)!

That’s it! DLsite is remarkably easy to use once you know the payment options. The English interface is well-translated, and with thousands of works available, there’s something for every taste. Happy browsing!