Yomiuri Shimbun Online
The online edition of Japan's highest-circulation national daily, covering news, politics and sport.
Yomiuri Shimbun Online at a glance
Yomiuri Shimbun Online is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #61 in the country. It was founded in 1874 by Not publicly disclosed and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Yomiuri Shimbun Online is owned by Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 260 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through subscriptions, digital advertising, print sales. Its closest rivals include asahi.com, mainichi.jp, nikkei.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 244 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 252 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 260 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 276 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
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
- ≈ 78 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| yomiuri shimbun online | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | 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
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in Japan
Company information
- Website
- yomiuri.co.jp
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Not publicly disclosed
- Founded
- 1874
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 4,000+
- Ownership
- Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Japanese, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Yomiuri Shimbun Online operates a news and media publisher focused on Japan. The online edition of Japan's highest-circulation national daily, covering news, politics and sport. Revenue comes mainly from subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Subscriptions
- Digital advertising
- Print sales
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- Japan
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Japan)
- #61 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in Japan
- Global rank
- 350
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| asahi.com | ≈ 156 million / month | #62 class competitor | — |
| mainichi.jp | ≈ 117 million / month | #63 class competitor | — |
| nikkei.com | ≈ 78 million / month | #64 class competitor | — |
What is Yomiuri Shimbun Online?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online (yomiuri.co.jp) is a news and media publisher serving users in Japan. The online edition of Japan's highest-circulation national daily, covering news, politics and sport. It ranks #61 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns Yomiuri Shimbun Online?
The site is operated by Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, founded by Not publicly disclosed. The company was established in 1874 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 4,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Yomiuri Shimbun Online at roughly 260 million visits per month, about 8.7 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How Yomiuri Shimbun Online makes money
Revenue comes primarily from subscriptions, alongside digital advertising, print sales.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include asahi.com, mainichi.jp, nikkei.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
- 1874
Yomiuri Shimbun Online is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #61 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
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Yomiuri Shimbun Online?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online is operated by Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Yomiuri Shimbun Online headquartered?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Yomiuri Shimbun Online founded?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online was founded in 1874 by Not publicly disclosed.
How many employees does Yomiuri Shimbun Online have?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online employs approximately 4,000+ people.
What is Yomiuri Shimbun Online's revenue?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online's revenue: ≈ $3 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are Yomiuri Shimbun Online's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include asahi.com, mainichi.jp, nikkei.com.
How does Yomiuri Shimbun Online make money?
Mainly subscriptions, digital advertising, print sales.
Is Yomiuri Shimbun Online publicly traded?
No — Yomiuri Shimbun Online is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings.
How many visitors does Yomiuri Shimbun Online get?
Third-party estimates place Yomiuri Shimbun Online at roughly 260 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is Yomiuri Shimbun Online safe?
Yomiuri Shimbun Online is an established news & media site founded in 1874 and ranked #61 in Japan; use the official domain yomiuri.co.jp and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsyomiuri.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