Indian tourists travelling to Japan will soon be able to make payments using UPI

Indian tourists visiting Japan will soon be able to make digital payments using their Unified Payments Interface ( UPI) apps at select merchants across the country. The National Payments Corporation of India’s international arm, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NTT DATA Japan, a subsidiary of the NTT DATA Group, to enable this facility.

Under the agreement, NTT DATA-acquired merchants will begin accepting UPI payments, allowing Indian visitors to pay directly by scanning QR codes on their mobile devices. The initiative aims to make transactions easier and reduce dependence on cash or forex cards during travel.

Masanori Kurihara, Head of Payments at NTT DATA Japan, said, “The introduction of UPI payments in Japan means Indian tourists will be able to shop more conveniently, while Japanese merchants will be able to capture new business.”

The move comes as Japan records a growing number of visitors from India. Between January and August 2025, over 208,000 Indian tourists travelled to Japan, Travel and Leisure, reported. The collaboration is expected to strengthen Japan’s tourism ecosystem by providing a familiar and secure digital payment option for these visitors.

This will be the first time UPI services are introduced in East Asia. Currently, Indian travellers can use UPI for payments in countries including France, the UAE, Nepal, Mauritius, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Bhutan.

NTT DATA Japan operates CAFIS, the country’s largest card payment processing network, which connects banks, merchants, and ATMs across Japan. Once implemented, this system is expected to integrate UPI transactions seamlessly within the Japanese retail network.

The agreement reflects the expanding global footprint of India’s homegrown payment system and its growing role in facilitating cross-border financial inclusion.