Pay With UPI In Japan: What Indian Tourists Need To Know
Indian travellers heading to Japan will soon enjoy the convenience of paying digitally using their Unified Payments Interface (UPI) systems. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with NTT DATA, a global digital services firm, to make this possible. The MoU, signed on 7 October 2025 by NPCI International Payments Ltd. and NTT DATA’s Japanese subsidiary, aims to facilitate seamless UPI transactions across Japanese merchants.
Through this initiative, Indian tourists will be able to pay at stores in Japan by simply scanning QR codes on their mobile devices. This step reduces the need for cash, credit cards, or forex cards, offering a smooth digital payment experience for travellers. The collaboration also opens up opportunities for Japanese merchants to tap into the growing potential of UPI-based transactions.
“By initiating the partnership for UPI acceptance in Japan, we aim to make shopping and payments more convenient for Indian tourists, while helping Japanese merchants capture new opportunities,” said Masanori Kurihara, head of payments at NTT Data.
Expansion of UPI
Launched in 2016, the UPI system has transformed digital payments in India, promoting financial inclusion nationwide. According to NPCI data for September 2025, India processed 19.63 billion UPI transactions worth ₹24.9 trillion.
RuPay JCB Card Benefits for Japanese Travellers
In addition, RuPay has partnered with Japan’s JCB International to enhance the travel experience for cardholders. RuPay JCB users can now avail 25% cashback on Point of Sale (POS) transactions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines until 31 December 2025.
“RuPay’s partnership with JCB continues to create meaningful value for our cardholders as they travel abroad. With the festive and year-end holiday season being one of the busiest periods for international travel, this special cashback program ensures that our customers can enjoy greater savings and convenience across five vibrant countries,” said Kunal Kalawatia, chief of products and marketing at NPCI.
Through this initiative, Indian tourists will be able to pay at stores in Japan by simply scanning QR codes on their mobile devices. This step reduces the need for cash, credit cards, or forex cards, offering a smooth digital payment experience for travellers. The collaboration also opens up opportunities for Japanese merchants to tap into the growing potential of UPI-based transactions.
“By initiating the partnership for UPI acceptance in Japan, we aim to make shopping and payments more convenient for Indian tourists, while helping Japanese merchants capture new opportunities,” said Masanori Kurihara, head of payments at NTT Data.
Expansion of UPI
Launched in 2016, the UPI system has transformed digital payments in India, promoting financial inclusion nationwide. According to NPCI data for September 2025, India processed 19.63 billion UPI transactions worth ₹24.9 trillion.
RuPay JCB Card Benefits for Japanese Travellers
In addition, RuPay has partnered with Japan’s JCB International to enhance the travel experience for cardholders. RuPay JCB users can now avail 25% cashback on Point of Sale (POS) transactions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines until 31 December 2025.
“RuPay’s partnership with JCB continues to create meaningful value for our cardholders as they travel abroad. With the festive and year-end holiday season being one of the busiest periods for international travel, this special cashback program ensures that our customers can enjoy greater savings and convenience across five vibrant countries,” said Kunal Kalawatia, chief of products and marketing at NPCI.
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