This tutorial shows how to scrape App Store listings from the Japan storefront into CSV with the App Store Listings Scraper Japan template for UScraper. You will import the workflow, update app IDs, set the export path, run a dry test, and validate listing fields before using the data.
Before you start
Prerequisites and App Store data checks
You need UScraper installed as a local desktop app, a list of Japanese App Store app IDs, and a folder where CSV exports can be saved. Start with the bundled 10 IDs so the first run proves the export shape before you change the input list.
This tutorial is for supervised listing research from data you are allowed to collect and analyze. The workflow does not bypass login, purchase flows, private analytics, or App Store Connect. If the export will support client reporting, competitor monitoring, commercial resale, or training data, review Apple's current terms and get legal review.
Technical access is not permission. Keep the browser visible, document the source and run date, and use official or licensed data routes when your use case requires contractual access.
Workflow anatomy
How the App Store listings scraper works
The template is deliberately simple: Set Window Size -> Navigate -> Wait for Page Load -> Inject JavaScript -> Wait for Element -> Structured Export. It opens https://apps.apple.com/jp/ first so the browser is on a normal App Store Japan page instead of navigating directly to a JSON endpoint.
The injected script calls Apple Lookup with a URL shaped like https://itunes.apple.com/lookup?id=APP_IDS&country=jp&lang=ja_jp. It formats rating, size, language names, price, compatibility text, and category, then inserts one .app-row per returned listing into #uscraper-app-listings. UScraper waits for those rendered rows and exports them to CSV, which is easier to inspect than a direct JSON download.
Output shape
App Store listings CSV fields
The bundled JSON export is the authoritative workflow definition. It writes apple-store-app-listings-scraper.csv with headers enabled and one row per Apple Lookup result.
| Field group | Columns | Validation check |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | App name, seller, app ID, subtitle | Compare names and IDs against the Japan App Store page. |
| Market signals | Stars, rating count, ranking, price, category | Remember ranking is seed-list order unless your IDs came from a chart. |
| Listing copy | Description and age rating | Watch for long text when opening the CSV in spreadsheets. |
| Device fit | iPhone compatibility and iPad compatibility | Validate minimum OS and supported device assumptions. |
| Localization | Size and languages | Use these for Japan localization and catalog comparisons. |
Runbook
How to scrape App Store listings to CSV
Import the template
Open App Store Listings Scraper Japan, download the hosted JSON, import it into UScraper, and open the workflow canvas.
Review the lookup script
Open Inject JavaScript and find the appIds array. Keep the bundled IDs for the first run so you can validate the workflow without changing two variables at once.
Set the export folder
In Structured Export, confirm apple-store-app-listings-scraper.csv, headers enabled, create mode, and a local save folder for this project.
Run a dry test
Start the workflow, wait for the App Store page to load, and confirm that rendered app rows appear before export. If no rows appear, inspect the browser page before changing selectors.
Validate, then expand
Open the CSV, compare three rows against App Store pages, then replace or extend appIds with the approved list for your Japan storefront research.
After the first successful run, keep the export path project-specific so old snapshots are not mixed with new ones.
Troubleshooting
Validate and fix common App Store scraper issues
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Zero rows exported | Apple Lookup returned no records, the network failed, or the row container was not created | Run the bundled IDs again, inspect the browser console if available, and keep the Wait for Element block active. |
| Some app IDs are missing | The app is unavailable in Japan or Lookup did not return that ID | Confirm the app's Japan URL manually and split the batch into smaller groups. |
| Ratings or subtitles are blank | Apple did not return those fields for the app | Treat optional metadata as nullable and do not force a fake value. |
| Ranking looks wrong | Ranking is the seed-array order, not an App Store chart position | Use an RSS or search workflow to create the seed list if you need chart context. |
Alternatives
UScraper vs Apple APIs, scraper APIs, and code libraries
For app store scraper alternative searches, separate inputs from workflows. Apple Lookup and RSS feeds help seed data. Hosted APIs handle managed volume. UScraper fits supervised CSV exports you can inspect and keep locally.
FAQ
App Store listings scraping FAQ
Apple App Store listing pages and lookup responses may be publicly accessible, but automated collection can still be limited by Apple terms, robots rules, intellectual property rights, privacy law, and local law. Keep batches modest, avoid bypassing access controls, and get legal review before using exported listing data commercially.
Next step
Download the App Store listings scraper Japan template
Use App Store Listings Scraper Japan as the download path, then keep this tutorial open for validation and troubleshooting. For adjacent workflows, browse the UScraper template library or the UScraper blog for more App Store, marketplace, and search export guides.