Let me start by recalling what Exblog.jp is. It's a Japanese blogging platform, right? So they're probably looking for similar services, maybe in Japanese or with similar features. First, I need to list some alternatives.
I remember that Ameba Blog is quite popular in Japan. It's part of CyberAgent, so that's a solid option. Then there's FC2 Blog, which I think is also Japanese and offers free blogging. Hatena Blog is another one I've heard of; they have both free and paid plans.
Livedoor Blog might be an option, though I'm not sure if it's still active. Seesaa Blog is another Japanese platform. For more global platforms that support Japanese, WordPress.com and Blogger come to mind. Medium is also international but supports multiple languages.
Tumblr could be a good alternative for microblogging, and note.com is popular in Japan for creators. There's also Wix and Squarespace for more customizable websites, though they're not just blogging platforms. Qiita is for tech bloggers in Japan, and Pixiv has a blogging feature for artists.
Wait, I should check if Livedoor Blog is still around. Maybe it's better to confirm that. Also, are there any newer platforms that have emerged recently? Maybe not, but sticking to the established ones is safer.
I should categorize them: Japan-specific platforms first, then international ones with Japanese support, and maybe niche platforms. Also, mention features like customization, community, monetization, etc.
Oh, and the user might need help choosing, so maybe add a brief guide on factors to consider. Let me make sure the information is up-to-date. For example, note.com has monetization options, and Qiita is tech-focused.
Double-checking the names: is Hatena Blog. FC2 also offers domain hosting. WordPress.org is self-hosted, but the user might prefer WordPress.com for a hosted solution.
Okay, compiling all this into a structured answer with brief descriptions and key features. Maybe bullet points for clarity. Also, include a summary to help them decide based on their needs like audience, language, customization, etc.
Here are some alternatives to Exblog.jp for blogging, catering to both Japanese and international audiences:
Japan-Focused Blogging Platforms
Ameba Blog
Monetizing on Ameblo (Ameblo.jp)
- Register and create a blog on Ameblo.jp.
- Use the built-in affiliate feature "Ameba Pick" to select items to promote.
- Write blog posts with product recommendations linking to Amanba Pick items.
- Earn rewards when readers purchase through your affiliate links.
- Optionally, sell your own products or services via your blog.
- Remain active with quality content to grow your audience and increase earnings.
Popular in Japan with social features, customization, and integration with Ameba services.
URL: https://ameblo.jp
FC2 Blog
Monetizing on FC2 Blog
Start a blog on FC2 platform.
- Use FC2's affiliate programs to embed ads and affiliate links on your blog.
- Earn FC2 Points through services like FC2 Video and FC2 Live, which can be redeemed or monetized.
- Grow your readership with engaging content to increase ad clicks and affiliate conversions.
- Explore selling digital content or services under the FC2 Content Market.
Free platform with domain hosting, templates, and analytics. Supports multilingual content.
URL: https://fc2.com/blog
Hatena Blog
Hatena Blog is a popular Japanese blogging platform that offers a free service for users to create and write blogs. It caters to those who want to thoroughly write about daily life, thoughts, technical topics, or any content they want to document. It supports several writing modes, including Hatena notation, Markdown, and standard text editing. The platform is known for its simplicity, ease of use, and features like draft storage, photo posting from camera or gallery, preview functions, and mobile-friendly design through a dedicated app available for Android and iOS. Hatena Blog is the successor to Hatena Diary and was launched in 2019 with improved features.
Hatena Co., Ltd., the company operating Hatena Blog, is based in Japan and also runs other internet services such as social bookmarking (Hatena Bookmark) and image hosting (Hatena Fotolife). The blog platform is widely used within Japan, and there are thousands of websites powered by Hatena Blog.
Hatena Blog offers features like access statistics, blog design customization, and integration with external services such as Instagram, Twitter, and Amazon for easy content embedding. It continues to be one of the traditional and well-established blog platforms in Japan.
There are also tools and workflows available for technical blogs on Hatena Blog, including GitHub-based workflows for content management and publishing, making it suitable for both personal and professional blogging purposes.
Overall, Hatena Blog is valued as a solid blogging service for users who want to create well-written, content-rich blogs with a focus on easy editing and community interaction in the Japanese market.
Clean interface with strong community features. Offers free and paid plans (custom domains).
URL: https://hatenablog.com
Seesaa Blog
Seesaa Blog is a Japanese free blog hosting service that supports various types of blogging such as diaries, affiliate marketing, and summary blogs. It offers features like SSL for security and mobile access, making it a versatile platform for personal and professional blogging. Users can customize their blogs with templates, stylesheets, and integrate external services such as Google Search Console. It is known for its user-friendly interface and a variety of design templates suitable for beginners and advanced users alike.
Seesaa also provides a help center with manuals, troubleshooting guides, and FAQs to assist users in creating and managing their blogs effectively.
Overall, Seesaa Blog is a popular choice in Japan for free blogging with good customization options and reliable service features.
Ad-supported free blogging with mobile optimization.
URL: https://seesaa.net
Note
note.com is a Japanese media platform operated by note based in Tokyo. It allows creators to post various types of content including text, manga, photos, and audio. Users can enjoy and support these creations on the platform. Note.com serves as a marketplace for digital content where creators set prices and make transactions with users, but the platform itself does not manage these contracts.
Features include a simple editor for creators, a variety of content formats, and a community space for creators and fans to connect. The platform charges users for digital content as set by individual creators, and payments are processed via site-displayed methods such as credit cards. Usage fees like communication costs are borne by the user. Refunds and cancellations are handled as specified by creators.
Note.com also provides guidelines for safe and enjoyable creative activity, and supports features such as memberships and messaging between creators to enhance community interaction.
In summary, note.com is a content creation and sharing platform focused on connecting creators and supporters, enabling paid transactions for digital content in a community-driven environment.
Creator-focused platform for articles, photos, and monetization (paid subscriptions).
URL: https://note.com
International Platforms with Japanese Support
WordPress.com
Monetizing on WordPress
Set up a WordPress blog (self-hosted or via WordPress.com).
- Use affiliate marketing by joining affiliate programs and embedding affiliate links in posts.
- Display ads using Google AdSense or other ad networks.
- Create sponsored content by partnering with brands for paid posts or product reviews.
- Offer memberships or subscriptions for exclusive content using plugins like MemberPress.
- Sell digital or physical products directly with WooCommerce or similar eCommerce plugins.
- Build email lists and use email marketing to drive traffic and sales.
Highly customizable with themes/plugins. Use the Japanese version for localization.
URL: https://ja.wordpress.org
Blogger (by Google)
Blogger, by Google, is a free online content management system that allows users to create and manage blogs with time-stamped posts. It was originally developed by Pyra Labs in 1999 and acquired by Google in 2003. Blogger enables users to write, publish, and customize blogs with various templates and themes hosted on Google's servers, accessible through a blogspot.com subdomain or custom domains.
Key Features:
- Users can create multiple blogs (up to 100 per Google account).
- Easy-to-use blog creation with customizable templates and layouts.
- Support for text, photos, videos, and labels for posts.
- Integration with Google services, including optional AdSense for monetization.
- Mobile-friendly interface and an official Blogger Android app for blogging on the go.
- Blogger API v3 for developers to programmatically create and manage blog content.
- HTTPS support for custom domains for secure browsing.
- Various design options, including dynamic views using AJAX, HTML5, and CSS3.
- Blogging controls such as managing who can edit or read the blog, private blogs, and post scheduling.
Recent updates:
- Responsive web interface to improve mobile usability.
- Removal of Google+ integrations and switching back to Blogger comments.
- Internationalization improvements with simplified URLs based on location.
Blogger remains a popular choice for easy and free blog hosting with Google's reliability and infrastructure backing it.
Simple, free, and integrates with Google services. Supports Japanese.
URL: https://blogger.com
Medium
Medium is an American online publishing platform launched in 2012 by Evan Williams, co-founder of Twitter and Blogger. It allows users to read and write long-form articles, blogs, and stories on a wide range of topics. Medium combines social journalism with professional and amateur contributions, providing a minimalist, distraction-free environment focused on quality writing rather than audience size. It features a membership model with exclusive content and pays authors based on reader engagement through "claps" and reading time. Medium is widely used for sharing ideas, insights, and stories, and it supports multimedia including images and videos within posts.
Additionally, Medium offers social interaction features such as commenting, recommending, and sharing articles, and it has a global community of readers and writers. Users can create accounts with email or through Google and Facebook platforms.
Minimalist writing platform with a built-in audience. Supports Japanese content.
URL: https://medium.com
Tumblr
Tumblr is a microblogging and social media platform founded in 2007, currently owned by Automattic. It serves as a creative and social community platform where users can post a wide range of content including text, images, videos, GIFs, and audio. Tumblr features a dashboard feed where users can follow others, like, reblog content, and schedule posts. It emphasizes community and self-expression, especially thriving in areas such as digital art, fandoms, memes, and niche interests. The platform supports custom domains and HTML editing for blog customization.
Tumblr has historically been popular among younger users, especially Generation Z, and is known for fostering progressive and LGBTQ+ communities. While previously hosting a large volume of content with millions of posts daily, user activity has fluctuated over the years. The platform is available as an app on Android and iOS, with features supporting creative content sharing, fandom engagement, and community building.
In traffic terms, Tumblr remains a major social media site, ranked high globally with significant direct and organic search traffic. It continues to be a significant platform for online creative and social expression with a diverse user base.
Microblogging with multimedia support and social features.
URL: https://tumblr.com
Qiita
Qiita refers to two distinct platforms depending on context:
Qiita (Japanese platform) is a popular knowledge-sharing service for engineers where users can easily record and share programming tips, know-how, and notes. It targets programmers and developers who want to document and exchange useful technical information.
Qiita (pronounced "cheetah") is an open-source, web-based platform for microbial (multi-omics) study management and analysis. It enables researchers, especially in microbiome and omics fields, to store, analyze, and meta-analyze large datasets of microbial samples with standardized pipelines. Qiita supports data sharing, reanalysis, and integration from multiple studies with features for metadata standardization and computational plugins.
If the query refers to software and research in microbial studies, the latter Qiita is a powerful tool for biomedical researchers. If referring to programming and engineering knowledge sharing, the first Qiita is a widely used Japanese technical community platform.
Please specify which Qiita is of interest for more detailed information.
For tech bloggers and developers (Japanese-centric).
URL: https://qiita.com
Pixiv
Pixiv is a major Japanese online platform for sharing and enjoying illustrations, manga, and novels. It functions as a social networking service focused on creative works, allowing users to upload, browse, and bookmark artworks as a way to connect with others who share similar tastes. Pixiv has a vast collection of works—over 90 million illustrations, manga, and novels—with a user base surpassing 50 million registered members. The platform supports communication through artwork rather than text, enabling users from Japan and worldwide to interact and enjoy art collectively. Pixiv also offers premium features, such as ad-free browsing, advanced search, and content filtering. It is operated by Pixiv Inc., which also provides related services to support creators. The platform is accessible via web and mobile apps on both Android and iOS.
Ideal for artists/creators to blog alongside sharing artwork.
URL: https://pixiv.net
Wix/Squarespace
Wix and Squarespace are popular website builders with distinct strengths. Wix offers greater design flexibility with over 2,000 templates and advanced eCommerce features, making it a strong choice for online stores and small businesses wanting scalable sales options. It also excels with an all-in-one marketing suite including AI-powered tools for SEO, chatbots, and multi-channel selling. However, Wix's drag-and-drop editor uses absolute positioning, which can lead to design complexity and requires separate mobile design adjustments.
Squarespace is known for its polished, professional-quality templates (around 180+), making it ideal for creatives, solopreneurs, and brands wanting elegant portfolios or service-based sites. It offers unlimited storage and products on all plans and includes useful features like built-in scheduling and a responsive template design that handles mobile automatically. Squarespace’s interface is generally cleaner and more intuitive but with fewer third-party integrations and extensions compared to Wix. It is better suited for those prioritizing visual quality and ease of use over extensive customization.
Website builders with blogging features (Japanese templates available).
URLs: Wix / Squarespace
How to Choose?
Audience: Use Japan-focused platforms (Ameba, Hatena) for local reach.
Customization: WordPress or Wix for full control.
Monetization: note.com or Medium Partner Program.
Simplicity: FC2 Blog or Blogger.
