List of radio stations in Japan

The list of radio stations in Japan lists all the national/regional radio stations in Japan.

Because of governmental regulation, Japan has a relatively small number of radio stations. Japan also has a comparatively smaller number of radio listeners nationwide than most other developed countries as well as countries in the geographic region. This is because of several factors, including the cultural difference in perception of radio, the fact that cars in Japan come with dashboard televisions fitted as standard,[1] as well as general disinterest in the medium among working younger audiences compared with other mediums, especially television. Generally, each prefecture has three NHK stations (two by 2025[2]), one commercial AM station (some are also on FM), and one commercial FM station. Heavily populated areas, such as Kantō region or Kansai region, have more stations.

There are also an increasing number of AM stations that start broadcasting on FM (on 90-95 MHz) as a supplement. The stations that air on the band are called Wide FM (ワイドFM) or FM complementary relay station (FM補完中継局).

The listed stations with ★ signs also broadcast television. Many stations have multiple frequencies (repeaters).

Certain AM-only radio stations (or AM stations with limited FM simulcast coverage) will be broadcasting solely in FM by 2028.[3] The switch will not affect Hokkaido and Akita Prefectures and will continue AM-FM radio simulcasts. NHK is excluded from the switchover, as they have separate plans to consolidate its radio services.[2][4]

Since 2024, commercial radio broadcasters have begun temporarily shutting down AM radio broadcasts, as a trial-run to FM-only broadcasts in 2028.[5] Initially, at least 34 radio stations (which would start from February or July 2024 and end in 2025) will participate in this move, with additional broadcasters joining in the coming months.[6]

Networks

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All networks are broadcast in Japanese, except MegaNet and AFN.

Public (NHK) Commercial Military
AM Radio FM Radio AM Radio FM Radio American Forces Network[a]
NHK Radio 1 NHK-FM Japan Radio Network (JRN) Japan FM Network (JFN) MegaNet[b]
NHK Radio 2 National Radio Network (NRN) Japan FM League (JFL)

Former

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Educational

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Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Hokkaido Sapporo[i] ★ NHK Sapporo (1: 567 kHz, 2: 747 kHz, FM: 85.2 MHz) Hokkaido Broadcasting (HBC) (JOHR; 1287 kHz, 91.5 MHz) STV Radio (JOWF; 1440 kHz, 90.4 MHz) FM Hokkaido[note 1]

(JOFU-FM; 80.4 MHz)

FM North Wave

(JOPV-FM; 82.5 MHz)

13
Muroran[ii] ★ NHK Muroran (1: 945 kHz, 2: 1125 kHz, FM: 88.0 MHz) ★ HBC Muroran (JOQF; 864 kHz) 2
Hakodate[iii] ★ NHK Hakodate (1: 675 kHz, 2: 1467 kHz, FM: 87.0 MHz) ★ HBC Hakodate (JOHO; 900 kHz) STV Radio Hakodate (JOWN; 639 kHz) FM North Wave

(JOPV-FM; 82.5 MHz)

1
Asahikawa[iv] ★ NHK Asahikawa (1: 621 kHz, 2: 1602 kHz, FM: 85.8 MHz) ★ HBC Asahikawa (JOHE; 864 kHz) STV Radio Asahikawa (JOWL; 1197 kHz) 5
Obihiro[v] ★ NHK Obihiro (1: 603 kHz, 2: 1125 kHz, FM: 87.5 MHz) ★ HBC Obihiro (JOHW; 1269 kHz) STV Radio Obihiro (JOWM; 1071 kHz) 2
Kushiro[vi] ★ NHK Kushiro (1: 585 kHz, 2: 1152 kHz, FM: 88.5 MHz) ★ HBC Kushiro (JOQL;1404 kHz) STV Radio Kushiro (JOWS; 882 kHz) 3
Kitami - Abashiri[vii] ★ NHK Kitami (1: 1188 kHz, 2: 702 kHz, FM: 86.0 MHz) ★ HBC Abashiri (JOQM; 1449 kHz) STV Radio Abashiri (JOVX; 909 kHz) 2
Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Aomori ★ NHK Aomori (1: 963 kHz, 2: 1521 kHz, FM: 86.0 MHz) Aomori Broadcasting (RAB) (JOGR; 1233 kHz, 91.7 MHz) AFN Misawa (AFN; 1575 kHz) FM Aomori

(JOWU-FM; 80.4 MHz)

4
Akita ★ NHK Akita (1: 1503 kHz, 2: 774 kHz, FM: 86.7 MHz) Akita Broadcasting (ABS) (JOTR; 936 kHz, 90.1 MHz) FM Akita (JOPU-FM; 82.8 MHz) 4
Yamagata ★ NHK Yamagata (1: 540 kHz, 2: 1521 kHz, FM: 82.1 MHz) Yamagata Broadcasting (YBC) (JOEF; 918 kHz) FM Yamagata (JOEV-FM; 80.4 MHz) 3
Iwate ★ NHK Morioka (1: 531 kHz, 2: 1386 kHz, FM: 83.1 MHz) IBC Iwate Broadcasting (JODF; 684 kHz, 90.6 MHz) FM Iwate (JOQU-FM; 76.1 MHz) 5
Miyagi ★ NHK Sendai (1: 891 kHz, 2: 1089 kHz, FM: 82.5 MHz) Tohoku Broadcasting (TBC) (JOIR; 1260 kHz, 93.5 MHz) FM Sendai (JOJU-FM; 77.1 MHz) 7
Fukushima ★ NHK Fukushima (1: 1323 kHz, 2: 1602 kHz, FM: 85.3 MHz) Radio Fukushima (JOWR;1458 kHz, 90.8 MHz) FM Fukushima (JOTV-FM; 81.8 MHz) 6
Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Tokyo ★ NHK Broadcasting Center (1: 594 kHz, 2: 693 kHz) ★ NHK Broadcasting Center (82.5 MHz) TBS Radio (JOKR; 954 kHz, 90.5 MHz) Nippon Cultural Broadcasting (JOQR; 1134 kHz, 91.6 MHz)
Nippon Broadcasting System (JOLF; 1242 kHz, 93.0 MHz)
AFN Tokyo (AFN; 810 kHz) Tokyo FM Broadcasting (JOAU-FM; 80.0 MHz) J-WAVE (JOAV-FM; 81.3 MHz) InterFM897 (JODW-FM; 89.7 MHz) 11
Saitama ★ NHK Saitama (85.1 MHz) FM Nack5 (JODV-FM; 79.5 MHz) 4
Kanagawa ★ NHK Yokohama (81.9 MHz) Radio Nippon (JORF; 1422 kHz) FM Yokohama (JOTU-FM; 84.7 MHz) 13
Chiba ★ NHK Chiba (80.7 MHz) bayFM Company (JOGV-FM; 78.0 MHz) 4
Gunma ★ NHK Maebashi (81.6 MHz) FM Gunma (JORU-FM; 86.3 MHz) 7
Ibaraki ★ NHK Mito (83.2 MHz) Ibaraki Broadcasting System (JOYF; 1197 kHz, 94.6 MHz) 4
Tochigi ★ NHK Utsunomiya (80.3 MHz) Tochigi Broadcasting (JOXF; 1530 kHz, 94.1 MHz) FM Tochigi (JOSV-FM; 76.4 MHz) 4
Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Hokuriku Region
Niigata ★ NHK Niigata (1: 837 kHz, 2: 1593 kHz, FM: 82.3 MHz) Broadcasting System of Niigata (BSN) (JODR; 1116 kHz, 92.7 MHz) FM Niigata

(JOXU-FM; 77.5 MHz)

Niigata Kenmin FM (JOWV-FM; 79.0 MHz) 10
Toyama ★ NHK Toyama (1: 648 kHz, 2: 1035 kHz, FM: 81.5 MHz) Kitanihon Broadcasting (KNB) (JOLR; 738 kHz, 90.2 MHz) FM Toyama (JOOU-FM; 82.7 MHz) 5
Ishikawa ★ NHK Kanazawa (1: 1224 kHz, 2: 1386 kHz, FM: 82.2 MHz) Hokuriku Broadcasting (MRO) (JOMR; 1107 kHz, 94.0 MHz) FM Ishikawa (JOHV-FM; 80.5 MHz) 5
Fukui ★ NHK Fukui (1: 927 kHz, 2: 1521 kHz, FM: 83.4 MHz) Fukui Broadcasting (FBC) (JOPR; 864 kHz, 94.6 MHz) FM Fukui (JOLU-FM; 76.1 MHz) 3
Shin'etsu Region
Nagano ★ NHK Nagano (1: 819 kHz, 2: 1467 kHz, FM: 84.0 MHz) Shin'etsu Broadcasting (SBC) (JOSR; 1098 kHz, 92.2 MHz) FM Nagano (JOZU-FM; 79.7 MHz) 6
Yamanashi ★ NHK Kofu (1: 927 kHz, 2: 1602 kHz, FM: 85.6 MHz) Yamanashi Broadcasting (YBS) (JOJF; 765 kHz, 90.9 MHz) FM Fuji (JOCV-FM; 83.0 MHz) 2
Shizuoka ★ NHK Shizuoka (1: 882 kHz, 2: 639 kHz, FM: 88.8 MHz) Shizuoka Broadcasting (SBS) (JOVR; 1404 kHz, 93.9 MHz) FM Shizuoka (JOKU-FM; 79.2 MHz) 9
Tōkai Region
Aichi ★ NHK Nagoya (1: 729 kHz, 2: 909 kHz) ★ NHK Nagoya (82.5 MHz) CBC Radio (JOAR; 1053 kHz, 93.7 MHz) Tokai Radio (JOSF; 1332 kHz, 92.9 MHz) FM Aichi (JOCU-FM; 80.7 MHz) Zip-FM (JOQV-FM; 77.8 MHz) RadioNEO (JOCW-FM; 79.5 MHz) 8
Gifu ★ NHK Gifu (83.6 MHz) Gifu Broadcasting (GBS) (JOZF; 1431 kHz) Radio80 (JOXV-FM; 80.0 MHz) 4
Mie[c] ★ NHK Tsu (83.6 MHz) Radio80 (JOXV-FM; 78.9 MHz) 3
Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Osaka ★ NHK Osaka (666 kHz) ★ NHK Osaka (828 kHz) ★ NHK Osaka (88.1 MHz) ABC Radio (JONR; 1008 kHz, 93.3 MHz)
MBS Radio (JOOR; 1179 kHz, 90.6 MHz)
Osaka Broadcasting Corporation (JOUF; 1314 kHz, 91.9 MHz) FM Osaka (JOBU-FM; 85.1 MHz) FM802 (JOAV-FM; 80.2 MHz) FM Cocolo (JOAW-FM; 76.5 MHz) 9
Hyogo ★ NHK Kobe (86.5 MHz) Radio Kansai (JOCR; 558 kHz) FM Hyogo (JOIV-FM; 89.9 MHz) 11
Nara ★ NHK Nara (87.4 MHz) 2
Kyoto ★ NHK Kyoto (621 kHz) ★ NHK Kyoto (82.8 MHz) Kyoto Broadcasting (JOBR; 1143 kHz) FM Kyoto (JOKV-FM; 89.4 MHz) 6
Shiga ★ NHK Otsu (945 kHz) ★ NHK Otsu (84.0 MHz) KBS Shiga (JOBW; 1215 kHz) FM Shiga (JOUV-FM; 77.0 MHz) 3
Wakayama ★ NHK Osaka (666 kHz) ★ NHK Wakayama (84.7 MHz) Wakayama Broadcasting (JOVF; 1431 kHz, 94.2 MHz) 4
Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Chugoku Region
Shimane ★ NHK Matsue (1: 1296 kHz, 2: 1593 kHz, FM: 84.5 MHz) Broadcasting System of San-in (BSS) (JOHF; 900 kHz, 92.2 MHz) FM San-in

(JOVU-FM; 77.4 MHz)

1
Tottori ★ NHK Tottori (1: 1368 kHz, 2: 1125 kHz, FM: 85.8 MHz) 2
Hiroshima ★ NHK Hiroshima (1: 1071 kHz, 2: 702 kHz, FM: 88.3 MHz) RCC Chugoku Broadcasting (JOER; 1350 kHz, 94.6 MHz) FM Hiroshima (JOGU-FM; 78.2 MHz) 6
Yamaguchi ★ NHK Yamaguchi (1: 675 kHz, 2: 1377 kHz, FM: 85.3 MHz) Yamaguchi Broadcasting (KRY) (JOPF; 765 kHz, 92.3 MHz) AFN Iwakuni (AFN; 1575 kHz) FM Yamaguchi (JOUU-FM; 79.2 MHz) 7
Okayama ★ NHK Okayama (1: 603 kHz, 2: 1386 kHz, FM: 88.7 MHz) RSK Sanyo Broadcasting (JOYK; 1494 kHz, 91.4 MHz) FM Okayama (JOVV-FM; 76.8 MHz) 5
Shikoku Region
Kagawa ★ NHK Takamatsu (1: 1368 kHz, 2: 1035 kHz, FM: 86.0 MHz) Nishinippon Broadcasting (RNC) (JOKF; 1449 kHz, 90.3 MHz) FM Kagawa (JOYU-FM; 78.6 MHz) 2
Ehime ★ NHK Matsuyama (1: 963 kHz, 2: 1512 kHz, FM: 87.7 MHz) Nankai Broadcasting (RNB) (JOAF; 1116 kHz, 91.7 MHz) FM Ehime (JOEU-FM; 79.7 MHz) 2
Kochi ★ NHK Kochi (1: 990 kHz, 2: 1152 kHz, FM: 87.5 MHz) Kochi Broadcasting (RKC) (JOZR; 900 kHz, 90.8 MHz) FM Kochi (JOLV-FM; 81.6 MHz) 1
Tokushima ★ NHK Tokushima (945 kHz) ★ NHK Osaka (828 kHz) ★ NHK Tokushima (83.4 MHz) Shikoku Broadcasting (JRT) (JOJR; 1269 kHz, 93.0 MHz) FM Tokushima (JOMV-FM; 80.7 MHz) 1
Prefecture NHK Commercial Broadcasting
AM FM AM FM
Radio 1 Radio 2 JRN only JRN + NRN NRN only Independent JFN JFL MegaNet Independent Number of Community Radio stations[8]
Fukuoka Fukuoka ★ NHK Fukuoka (1: 612 kHz, 2: 1017 kHz, FM: 84.8 MHz) RKB Mainichi Broadcasting (JOFR; 1278 kHz, 92.2 MHz) Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting (KBC) (JOIF; 1413 kHz, 90.2 MHz) FM Fukuoka

(JODU-FM; 80.7 MHz)

Cross FM (JORV-FM; 78.7 MHz) Love FM (JOFW-FM; 76.1 MHz) 2
Kitakyushu ★ NHK Kitakyushu (1: 540 kHz, 2: 1602 kHz, FM: 85.7 MHz) 3
Saga ★ NHK Saga (963 kHz) ★ NHK Kumamoto (873 kHz) ★ NHK Saga (81.6 MHz) NBC Saga (JOUO; 1458 kHz, 93.5 MHz) FM Saga (JONV-FM; 77.9 MHz) Love FM (JOFW-FM; 82.5 MHz) 2
Nagasaki ★ NHK Nagasaki (1: 684 kHz, 2: 1377 kHz, FM: 84.5 MHz) Nagasaki Broadcasting (NBC) (JOUR; 1233 kHz, 92.6 MHz) AFN Sasebo (AFN; 1575 kHz) FM Nagasaki (JOHU-FM; 79.5 MHz) 6
Oita ★ NHK Oita (1: 639 kHz, 2: 1467 kHz, FM: 88.9 MHz) Oita Broadcasting (OBS) (JOGF; 1098 kHz, 93.3 MHz) FM Oita (JOJV-FM; 88.0 MHz) 7
Kumamoto ★ NHK Kumamoto (1: 756 kHz, 2: 873 kHz, FM: 85.4 MHz) Kumamoto Broadcasting (RKK) (JOBF; 1197 kHz, 91.4 MHz) FM Kumamoto (JOSU-FM; 77.4 MHz) 5
Miyazaki ★ NHK Miyazaki (1: 540 kHz, 2: 1467 kHz, FM: 88.1 MHz) Miyazaki Broadcasting (mrt) (JONF; 936 kHz, 84.9 MHz) FM Miyazaki (JOMU-FM; 83.2 MHz) 3
Kagoshima ★ NHK Kagoshima (1: 576 kHz, 2: 1368 kHz, FM: 85.6 MHz) Minaminihon Broadcasting (MBC) (JOCF; 1107 kHz, 92.8 MHz) FM Kagoshima (JOOV-FM; 79.8 MHz) 9
Okinawa ★ NHK Okinawa (1: 549 kHz, 2: 1125 kHz, FM: 88.1 MHz) Ryukyu Broadcasting (RBC) (JORR; 738 kHz, 92.1 MHz) Radio Okinawa (JOXR; 864 kHz, 93.1 MHz) AFN Okinawa (AFN; 648 kHz, 89.1 MHz) FM Okinawa (JOIU-FM; 87.3 MHz) 15

Nationwide stations

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Some stations have multiple channels.

  • Nikkei Radio Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Nikkei, 2 channels)
    • Radio Nikkei 1: 3.925 MHz SW, 6.055 MHz SW and 9.595 MHz SW
    • Radio Nikkei 2: 3.945 MHz SW, 6.115 MHz SW and 9.76 MHz SW

Certain satellite providers distribute radio channels that are tailored to every musical genres such as from SKY PerfecTV![10] and Usen (Music AirBee! and Sound Planet[11]).[12] In the education field, the Open University of Japan broadcast educational programming only on satellite TV (radio broadcasts and free-to-air TV broadcasts ended since October 2018[7]).

Community FM stations

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Since January 10, 1992, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications started accepting applications for community FM licenses which are allowed on municipal level.[13] Currently, as of April 2021, there are roughly 335 community FM stations across Japan.[14]

Community FM stations with English articles include:

Kanagawa Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture

Others

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Notes

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  1. ^ Broadcasts on TV and radio and programming are in English language. The network is not in Japanese registration and follows to FCC
  2. ^ Programs are mainly in Japanese and English
  3. ^ Mie Prefecture is designated under Kansai Region, but actually part of Tokai Region as broadcasters follow the designated regional forecast grouping set by the Japan Meteorological Agency[9]
  1. ^ Currently branded as Air-G

References

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  1. ^ Dawson, Chester (2013-04-24). "In Japan, Television Viewing Doesn't Have to Take a Back Seat". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  2. ^ a b "民放ラジオ44局 2028年秋までにFM放送への転換目指すことに" [44 Commercial Radio Stations to convert to FM-only Broadcasting by 2028]. NHK News (in Japanese). 2021-06-15. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  3. ^ "民放AMラジオ44局、2028年秋めどに"FM局"目指す" [44 Commercial AM Radio Stations Aiming to Become FM-only Stations by 2028]. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  4. ^ "Japan's NHK to reduce satellite TV and radio channels". Nikkei Asia. 2020-08-03.
  5. ^ "AMラジオ、34局が順次放送休止へ「ひとつの時代が終わる気がする」" [34 Commercial Radio Stations to cease AM broadcasting]. ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). 2024-02-02. Archived from the original on 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  6. ^ "AMラジオ34局、1日から順次運用休止。FM転換目指す" [34 AM radio stations will be suspended from operation starting from February 1, 2024]. AV Watch (in Japanese). 2024-02-02. Archived from the original on 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  7. ^ a b "放送大学の地上波放送が9月30日終了。BS完全移行でHD/SD 2ch同時放送". AV Watch (in Japanese). 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "List of Community Radio Stations in Japan". Japan Community Broadcasting Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  9. ^ "気象庁 | 予報区分の一覧表" [Japanese Regional Forecast Categories]. Japanese Meteorological Agency (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  10. ^ "Radio Channel List". SKY PerfecTV! (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  11. ^ "USEN440 Channel List" (PDF). USEN Music (in Japanese).
  12. ^ "Channel List". USEN Music (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  13. ^ "A 10 Year History of the Japan Community Broadcasting Association" (PDF). Japan Community Broadcasting Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  14. ^ "What is the JCBA?". Japan Community Broadcasting Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-02.