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Japan · Banking & Payments
PayPay
Japan's most widely used QR-code payment app - pay by scanning at shops, with balance, bank and card funding.
What it helps with
- Paying by QR code in small shops and restaurantsPayPay is the most widely accepted QR payment in Japan, including small shops that do not take cards.
- Paying with your home wallet app at PayPay shopsVisitors can scan PayPay QR codes with 35 foreign wallets from 17 countries and regions through Alipay+, including Uzbekistan’s HUMO (June 2026).
- Splitting bills with friendsResidents send and receive money between PayPay accounts instantly.
About PayPay
PayPay is a smartphone payment app operated by PayPay Corporation and one of Japan's leading cashless services, with a user base counted in the tens of millions. It works at convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and many small shops that display the PayPay QR code.
Key Features
- QR-Code Payments: Scan the shop's PayPay code or show your own code at checkout.
- Multiple Funding Sources: Pay from your PayPay balance, a linked bank account or a supported credit card.
- Transfers and Bill Splitting: Send money to friends and split bills inside the app.
- Points and Coupons: Earn PayPay Points and use coupons through regular campaigns.
How to Get Started
- Download the PayPay app and register with your mobile phone number.
- Complete identity verification if you want higher limits or bank-account linking.
- Top up your balance or link a bank account or card.
- Scan the shop's code, or show your own code, to pay.
Before you use it
- Sign-up: Opening a PayPay account needs a Japanese mobile number; bank linking needs a Japanese bank account.
- Payment: Foreign visitors pay at PayPay merchants with Alipay+ wallets; the yen amount is converted to the visitor’s currency by the wallet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Does PayPay work with a foreign bank card in Japan?
- Not reliably - a foreign card may be declined. Check the notice above, or plan to use a local payment method.
- Is PayPay available in English?
- Not officially - the interface is mainly in the local language.
- Do I need a local phone number to use PayPay?
- No, an international phone number generally works for PayPay.
- Do I need local ID or residency for PayPay?
- No, PayPay doesn't require local ID or residency for visitors.
- Where can I use PayPay?
- iOS · Android
- How much does PayPay cost?
- Free for users; no fee for paying in shops