UPI payments now possible in Japan: What it means
Heading to Japan soon?
Good news—Indian tourists will be able to pay at Japanese stores using their favorite UPI apps, thanks to a fresh deal signed in 2025 between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and NTT DATA Japan.
This means you can just scan a QR code and pay directly from your phone, skipping the hassle of cash or forex cards.
UPI's journey so far
Indian visits to Japan are up by 36% this year, with over 208,000 travelers between January and August.
NIPL's Ritesh Shukla says this move makes spending in Japan much smoother for Indians.
Plus, as Masanori Kurihara from NTT DATA points out, it opens new doors for Japanese businesses keen to welcome more Indian customers.
With UPI already live in places like France and Singapore, this is its first big step into East Asia—making travel just a bit easier (and cooler) for everyone.