The trading platform is the main tool for traders to access financial markets, analyze prices, and make trading decisions. Depending on the asset classes traded, different platforms can be used. However, when it comes to Forex trading in Japan, several platforms have amassed popularity among retail traders and investors. Sometimes traders might mistake trading platforms for brokers, but there is a key difference. Brokers offer platforms to allow traders to access markets, while platforms are typically software designed for financial trading. Let’s define the best trading platforms in Japan and how you can select the most suitable one.
Top Trading Platforms in Japan listed and reviewed
The most popular trading platforms in Japan include the likes of MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, NinjaTrader, and more. Most of these platforms are free to download and available for installation here. Traders can download and familiarize themselves with MT4, MT5, and cTrader which are the most popular go-to platforms for Japanese traders.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
MetaTrader 4 or MT4 in short, is a popular trading platform for Forex and CFDs that was developed by MetaQuotes Corporation. The company is based in Cyprus and launched MT4 in 2005. The platform became enormously popular among retail investors and traders because of its user-friendly interface and advanced capabilities. MT4 allows traders to analyze markets using a plethora of tools such as technical indicators, drawing tools, charting tools, chart types, and more. MT4 allows custom indicators and Expert Advisors (EAs), which are automated trading systems. The programming language used for development is MQL5 which was developed by the same company and IDE is integrated into MT4, allowing for instant launching (F4 button). MT4 is ideal for Forex and CFDs trading and is fully suitable for these markets with its features. Traders can open charts of any asset full-screen and apply numerous indicators. The platform also offers superior customization and traders can change almost anything from visual to functional features.
Popularity in Japan
MT4 has been a favorite trading platform among Japanese retail traders long before international FX traders. The country is very well-developed and is one of the major financial centers in Asia. The Tokyo Forex session is active with high liquidity and traders can use MT4 at its fullest to capitalize on currency movements. USDJPY is among the major currencies and is actively traded around the globe. MT4 is also adopted by a majority of Forex brokers in Japan, contributing to the platform’s popularity.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
MetaTrader 5 or MT5 was designed as a successor to the MT4 platform. Despite offering numerous advantages over MT4, the platform is still less popular than MT4. The community is larger for MT4, providing its users with vast amounts of free indicators and EAs. MT5 has a growing community and offers all the same features as MT4 with added functionality like social trading and copy trading.
Popularity in Japan
MT5 is gaining momentum among Japanese traders who desire access to a broader range of instruments. It is compatible with most Japanese brokers, which makes it very attractive for local retail traders and investors.
cTrader
cTrader is yet another popular trading platform. It has a modern design and supports multi-asset trading, including Forex and CFDs. Despite having a much smaller community than MT4 and MT5, cTrader still managed to become popular among Japanese investors. It also offers custom indicators and automated trading robots (cBots). cTrader offers interactive charts with plenty of built-in indicators, just like MT4 and MT5.
Popularity in Japan
cTrader is chosen by traders who seek transparent pricing. A growing number of Japanese brokers are offering cTrader to their traders, which contributes to its rising popularity.
TradingView
TradingView is another popular platform in Japan. Multi-asset traders, who need to analyze numerous markets for trading setups, widely use TradingView as a go-to platform. It offers advanced charting capabilities and boasts a large base of liquidity providers, covering 99% of all trading instruments in the world. The platform also has a large user base and all of its indicators and scripts can be used on any device, including mobile phones, making it a robust platform for technical analysis.
Popularity in Japan
TradingView is popular in Japan for its advanced charting capabilities and community engagement. Traders can share their ideas and trading indicators directly on the TradingView platform.
NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader is an advanced trading platform, specializing in futures, Forex, and equities. It is especially popular among Japanese futures traders, for its advanced tool set. NinjaTrader offers highly customizable and supports custom scripts through C#. It is also available for mobile devices.
Popularity in Japan
NinjaTrader is popular among Japanese traders. It offers an unparalleled experience for futures trading and supports superior customization, which is important to adjust the platform to the individual needs of Japanese futures traders.
