Japanese manta rays are distributed in the subtropical ocean from 40 north latitude to 30 south latitude. Type species is produced in Japan and distributed in the following places:

1. India to the Pacific Ocean: Off the coast of South Africa, and the Arabian Sea eastward to the Hawaiian Islands and Polynesia (including Japan and Korea).

2. Eastern Pacific Ocean: continental coast.

3. Western Atlantic: Ivory Coast (possibly more extensive).

Japanese manta rays live in the coastal areas of China and are more common in the South China Sea and the East China Sea of China. It is also distributed near Taiwan Province Island, and there is a small amount of activity in the Yellow Sea.