Traveling to Japan is fun until it’s time to make payments – searching for ATMs, scrounging up loose cash in the wallet, and doing the mental math of converting Yen into Indian Rupees. However, that is about to change with the much-awaited UPI launch in Japan!
Unified Payments Interface, India’s homegrown digital payments platform, is making its way to Japan – the Land of the Rising Sun – in a major step in India’s expanding fintech infrastructure.
How is the UPI launch in Japan happening and how will it work?
Let’s dive deep into the details!
UPI Launch In Japan: When Is It Launching, How Will It Work, And Other Details!
For those unfamiliar with it, UPI stands for Unified Payments Interface. It is an instant, 24/7 real-time payment system in India developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
It allows users to link multiple bank accounts to a single mobile app, guaranteeing a secure, instant payment experience without sharing bank account details.
It is a QR code-based payment. Users can send and receive money using any UPI app, such as Paytm, Google Pay, and PhonePe.
Today, it has revolutionized standard retail payments in India, allowing people to make safe and secure payments in an instant.
UPI Launch In Japan: Updates So Far
UPI is expected to be launched in Japan on a pilot basis in 2026. Japanese IT services firm NTT Data is working closely in collaboration with the NCPI to enable UPI payments in India.
This strategic partnership will explore technical and regulatory mechanisms to link Indian and Japanese payment systems. Once UPI payment in Japan activates, Indians will be able to make payments by just scanning a QR code – all within seconds!
The transaction amount will be debited directly from the traveler’s bank account in India and will eliminate the need for currency exchange, cash-based, or card-based payments.
NTT Data already has a significant role in the payment ecosystems across India and Southeast Asia. Around 60 lakh stores in India, including e-commerce platforms, use its services. Now, it is stepping in to promote India’s expanding UPI ecosystem in Japan.
How Will UPI Be Revolutionary For Indian Tourists In Japan
After revolutionizing the way Indians pay, UPI is set to make its way to Japan. The strategic move to introduce UPI in Japan will be a game-changer for Indian tourists.
For years, Indians in Japan have had to rely on traditional Japanese cash and international credit cards for making transactions.
With the UPI launch in Japan, Indian travelers will be able to make seamless, cashless payments in an instant, just the way they do in India.
The introduction of UPI in Japan will boost cashless travel for Indians in the country.
All they have to do is scan the QR code at the place they’re at, enter the amount they’re paying, and make the payment. Note that Indian travelers will be able to make UPI payments at select merchant locations in Japan that are a part of NTT Data’s network.
It will make paying at places like shops, restaurants, malls, and other services much easier and more convenient.
How The UPI Launch In Japan Will Boost Spending By Indian Tourists
The UPI launch in Japan isn’t just meant to ease payments for Indian tourists in Japan, but to capture their spending power. As more and more Indians visit Japan, the UPI launch move will significantly increase payments made by Indian tourists in Japan.
Data sourced from Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), from January to December 2025, shows that a total of 3,15,100 Indians travelled to Japan. This represents a 35.2% increase over 2024 and a nearly 80% increase than pre-Covid levels in 2019.
More and more Indians are visiting Japan than ever before due to multiple reasons. Firstly, accessibility has increased – more frequent, direct flights connect India and Japan.
Secondly, Indians show an affinity towards Japanese culture and the way of life that blends modernity with tradition. Through social media, Indians are getting a glimpse of Japanese culture, further driving them to make a trip to Japan.
Thirdly, the drop in Yen’s (Japan’s official currency) value has made traveling within Japan comparatively cheaper for Indians.
Where Else Can Indians Pay Using UPI?
While Japan is the newest entry into the markets where UPI is acceptable, there are many countries where Indians can pay using UPI. These are namely:
- Bhutan: Launched in 2021
- Singapore: Launched in 2023
- France: Launched in 2024
- Nepal: Launched in 2024
- United Arab Emirates: Launched in 2024
- Mauritius & Sri Lanka: Jointly launched in 2024
Summing Up
Payments in Japan just got easier – thanks to UPI! While Japan was already a tourist-favorite destination among Indians, it is expected that more Indians will visit it now that the payment system has become more convenient.
What do you think of this move?
