Impress Watch
A group of Japanese tech news sites covering PCs, internet, digital cameras and gadgets.
Impress Watch at a glance
Impress Watch is a technology website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #117 in the country. It was founded in 1996 by Not publicly disclosed and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Impress Watch is owned by Impress Corporation. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 50 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, magazine sales. Its closest rivals include itmedia.co.jp, gigazine.net, kakaku.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 47 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 48.5 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 50 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 53 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct56%
- Organic search27%
- Referral9%
- Social5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men57%
- Women43%
- Age 25-3432%
- Age 35-4424%
- Age 18-2421%
The audience is concentrated in Japan, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Japan86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 15 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Japan
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| impress watch | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| app download | Top 10 | High | — |
| pricing | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Japan web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 68% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading technology apps in Japan
Company information
- Website
- watch.impress.co.jp
- Sector
- Technology
- Owner
- Impress Corporation
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- Not publicly disclosed
- Founded
- 1996
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 300+
- Ownership
- Impress Corporation controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $60 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $60 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Impress Watch operates a technology platform focused on Japan. A group of Japanese tech news sites covering PCs, internet, digital cameras and gadgets. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
- Magazine sales
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- Japan
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Japan)
- #117 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading technology site in Japan
- Global rank
- 2500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| itmedia.co.jp | ≈ 30 million / month | #118 class competitor | — |
| gigazine.net | ≈ 22.5 million / month | #119 class competitor | — |
| kakaku.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #120 class competitor | — |
What is Impress Watch?
Impress Watch (watch.impress.co.jp) is a technology platform serving users in Japan. A group of Japanese tech news sites covering PCs, internet, digital cameras and gadgets. It ranks #117 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the technology category.
Who owns Impress Watch?
The site is operated by Impress Corporation, founded by Not publicly disclosed. The company was established in 1996 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 300+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Impress Watch at roughly 50 million visits per month, about 1.7 million per day. Around 68% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.6 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How Impress Watch makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside magazine sales.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include itmedia.co.jp, gigazine.net, kakaku.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1996
Impress Watch is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its technology offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #117 among the most visited websites in Japan.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Fast, reliable core product used daily
- Deep local language and market support
- Strong developer and integration ecosystem
- Free tier with broad reach
Cons
- Data collection and privacy questions from advertising
- Feature set can be complex for new users
- Limited direct customer support
- Dependence on advertising revenue
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Impress Watch?
Impress Watch is operated by Impress Corporation. Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Impress Watch headquartered?
Impress Watch is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Impress Watch founded?
Impress Watch was founded in 1996 by Not publicly disclosed.
How many employees does Impress Watch have?
Impress Watch employs approximately 300+ people.
What is Impress Watch's revenue?
Impress Watch's revenue: ≈ $60 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Impress Watch's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include itmedia.co.jp, gigazine.net, kakaku.com.
How does Impress Watch make money?
Mainly digital advertising, magazine sales.
Is Impress Watch publicly traded?
Impress Watch's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does Impress Watch get?
Third-party estimates place Impress Watch at roughly 50 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 68% mobile traffic.
Is Impress Watch safe?
Impress Watch is an established technology site founded in 1996 and ranked #117 in Japan; use the official domain watch.impress.co.jp and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementswatch.impress.co.jp
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageJapan and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos