AI news · Amazon · Alexa+
Alexa+ reaches Japan at ¥3,000 a month, or free with Prime
Amazon’s generative AI assistant opened to early users in Japan, priced at five times the monthly Prime fee for anyone without Prime.
Alexa+, the generative AI version of Amazon’s voice assistant, began reaching users in Japan on 29 October 2026 through an early access programme, Gizmodo Japan reports. It holds conversations in Japanese, tells household members apart and controls smart home devices; Amazon names Ticket Pia, Tabelog, Uber Eats and Demae-can as partners still to come for tickets, restaurant tables and food delivery. It runs on most Echo devices except the oldest models.
Early access is free for eligible customers. Afterwards Prime members get Alexa+ at no extra cost, and everyone else pays ¥3,000 a month, five times Japan’s ¥600 monthly Prime fee, by PPC Land’s calculation. Amazon counts Japan as its 13th Alexa+ country and has said more than ten others will follow in 2027. In the US, where Alexa+ became free with Prime in February 2026, the standalone price is $19.99 a month, which Japanese tech site ITmedia NEWS put at about ¥3,000 in February.
That US price sits level with the chatbot plans in our 29 October price check: Google AI Pro is $19.99 a month and Claude Pro $20.
At ¥3,000 on its own, Alexa+ costs about what the chatbot plans we track cost in dollars, while monthly Prime at ¥600 includes it at no extra charge, so once early access ends, Japanese users can get the assistant through Prime for a fifth of its standalone price.
Sources
- PPC Land: Amazon prices Alexa+ in Japan at ¥3,000 a month, five times the Prime fee. Checked
- Gizmodo Japan: Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa+ arrives in Japan, ¥3,000 a month, free for Prime members. Checked
Alexandre S.
Alexandre S. is a creative ad strategist and copywriter with ten years' experience in digital marketing across multiple channels.