There's a fee for this region.
I've seen some people online saying they're planning to pick up the Japanese version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch for dirt cheap, and use it to unlock the "Remastered" edition on Switch 2.
Assuming they already have a dedicated Switch 2 set up for Japan and can access the Japanese eShop, there’s one other important thing to keep in mind: the upgrade requires a payment method that’s accepted by the Japanese eShop!
Unlike in most other regions, where the Switch 2 upgrade is completely free, the Japanese version comes with a ¥100 fee. This appears to be tied to Japanese regulations surrounding CERO Z (18+) titles, including credit-card-based age verification and restrictions on offering certain “premiums” or giveaways entirely free of charge.
To make matters worse, payment methods issued outside Japan won’t work on the Japanese eShop![1]
"If a Nintendo eShop exists for your region, credit cards issued from your region will not work in a different region’s eShop. (For example, credit cards issued for the U.S. will only work in Nintendo eShop for North America)," Nintendo informed.
Fortunately, Japanese eShop prepaid codes are an accepted payment method. However, prepaid cards issued in other regions cannot be redeemed on the Japanese eShop.
If you're interested in playing the game with Japanese audio, it may be worth checking whether your PC can handle it, as the PC version includes both Japanese audio and subtitles.
Sources:
- "Can I Change the eShop Country?" en-americas-support.nintendo.com. Retrieved October 3, 2026.