United’s app now works in Japanese with yen pricing, as it adds Chicago–Tokyo, San Francisco–Sapporo and Okinawa

United's mobile app is now available in Japanese, with yen pricing and local payment support. United calls itself the first major U.S. airline to offer a translated Japanese-language app .

The airline flew more than 1.8 million passengers between the U.S. and Japan in 2025 .

Three Japan routes to note

The release lists three route starts:

• Oct 24: daily, year-round Chicago O'Hare–Tokyo Narita
• Dec 11: three times weekly San Francisco–Sapporo, described as a winter seasonal route and the first continental U.S. nonstop to Sapporo
• Mar 27: three times weekly San Francisco–Okinawa, described as a summer seasonal route and the first continental U.S. nonstop to Okinawa

The release does not print the year for each start; the Oct 24 and Dec 11 dates fall this year and Mar 27 is the next spring. These dates are as of Oct 17, 2026; confirm on United's press release and booking page.

What the app change means

For Japanese-speaking travelers the app now handles booking and payment in yen, using local point-of-sale capabilities . For U.S. readers the news value is the routes behind it: with 1.8 million passengers flying between the two countries last year, United is clearly aiming at Japan demand in both directions .

Why it matters for points readers

New routes are where award seats tend to be worth checking first. You can search United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan and ANA, all Star Alliance partners, for Japan trips. We are not quoting award prices here, because they change and we have not confirmed them; check each program's search tool.

What to do

Both new San Francisco routes are called the first nonstop service of their kind from the continental U.S., which can make them useful for reaching northern Hokkaido or Okinawa without a connection in Tokyo. Put the three dates on your calendar and check award availability on each program when schedules open for your travel dates. Seasonal routes like Sapporo (winter) and Okinawa (summer) run only part of the year, so match your dates to the season.

Things change, so confirm routes, dates and frequencies on United's official page before booking.

Sources

• https://united.mediaroom.com/uniteds-award-winning-mobile-app-now-available-in-japanese-with-yen-currency-support