What is in MSFS 2020 World Update 20, and how do I install it?

MSFS 2020 World Update 20: Japan is a free optional scenery package that refreshes Japan with improved terrain and aerial data, selected photogrammetry, five handcrafted airports, 67 custom points of interest, and Japan-themed flights and challenges. Install it from the in-simulator Marketplace, then confirm every component in Content Manager.

What does World Update 20: Japan include?

World Update 20, shown as World Update XX: Japan in some menus, is a second major Japan scenery release rather than a renamed copy of the original World Update I. Our complete MSFS 2020 World Update catalogue places both Japan releases in their proper sequence.

• Updated ground data: improved aerial imagery, elevation information and terrain coverage across the region.
• Selected photogrammetry: more detailed three-dimensional urban scenery in supported areas. It is not a country-wide photogrammetry conversion.
• Five handcrafted airports: bespoke airport scenery beyond the generic base-simulator treatment.
• 67 custom landmarks: a mixture of historic structures, towers, bridges, civic buildings and other recognisable points of interest.
• Japan-themed activities: curated flights and challenges intended to showcase the updated scenery.

The package does not make every Japanese airport handcrafted, and separately listed aircraft or third-party scenery are not included. World Update 20 was also released for MSFS 2024, but installation status is managed separately in each simulator.

How do I install World Update 20 in MSFS 2020?

1. Update the simulator first. Close MSFS 2020 and install any pending update through Steam, the Microsoft Store, the Xbox app or the Xbox console interface, depending on where you own it. Launch the simulator and let its mandatory update finish. Our MSFS 2020 update procedure covers both platform and in-simulator stages.
2. Open Marketplace. From the main menu, enter Marketplace and search for World Update XX, World Update 20 or Japan. Roman numerals are commonly used on the package artwork and listing.
3. Claim and download the free package. Open the official Japan World Update entry and use the displayed free purchase or download option. The mandatory simulator update alone does not install this optional regional content.
4. Check every component. Open Profile, then Content Manager, and search for Japan or World Update XX. Install or update any component that is marked as available rather than installed. See our Content Manager walkthrough if the bundle is owned but its packages are missing.
5. Restart MSFS 2020. A clean restart ensures that airport, landmark and terrain packages are loaded before the next flight.

The download size can change as packages are revised, so use the size displayed by Marketplace or Content Manager rather than relying on an old figure. Leave extra free space for downloading and unpacking; the temporary requirement can exceed the final installed size.

Why does the updated Japan scenery not appear?

Missing scenery usually means that the free bundle was claimed but one or more of its Content Manager packages were never installed.

• Owned but not installed: find the World Update in Content Manager, select its uninstalled components and download them.
• World Update is absent from Marketplace: finish the mandatory simulator update, restart MSFS and confirm that you are signed into the account that owns the simulator.
• Flat or simplified cities: under General Options and Data, enable Online Functionality, Bing Data World Graphics and Photogrammetry. These features require an active internet connection.
• Duplicate buildings or broken airports: temporarily remove third-party scenery covering the same Japanese city or airport from the Community folder. On Xbox, inspect installed Marketplace add-ons instead, as there is no user-accessible Community folder.
• Old terrain remains visible: restart the simulator first. If the problem persists, delete and rebuild the rolling cache from the Data settings.

Do I also need the original Japan World Update?

World Update I is not a substitute for World Update XX, and the later package does not necessarily duplicate every asset from the original release. For the fullest official Japan coverage, keep both installed and updated unless storage is limited; Content Manager handles the official packages without a manual load order.

Can I remove other World Updates to save space?

Yes. Regional World Updates are optional, and removing an unrelated region does not prevent World Update 20 from working. Content Manager lets you uninstall individual packages and restore them later; our advice on choosing and managing MSFS 2020 World Updates explains the storage trade-offs.