UPI Launch in Japan: How Indian Tourists Can Make Easy Digital Payments Abroad

StartupTalky News

27 Jan 2026 — 3 min read

UPI Launch in Japan: How Indian Tourists Can Make Easy Digital Payments Abroad

India’s popular digital payments system, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), is set to launch in Japan. This marks a significant step in the platform’s global expansion, aimed at helping Indian tourists pay conveniently using the same mobile apps they use at home.

UPI allows instant money transfers and payments via apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm by scanning QR codes or using other identifiers. It has become one of India’s most trusted and widely used digital payment systems.

UPI Comes to Japan: What It Means for Indian Travellers

The rollout in Japan will initially be a pilot, carried out through a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) — the international arm of India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) — and Japanese IT firm NTT DATA.

This initiative means Indian tourists will not have to rely solely on cash or foreign exchange cards during their trips. Payments can be made directly from their Indian bank accounts in rupees, making spending abroad simpler and more convenient.

Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director and CEO of NIPL, said the collaboration lays a strong foundation for broader UPI acceptance in Japan and reflects the commitment to simplifying cross-border payments.

How Indian Tourists Can Use UPI for Payments in Japan

Indian visitors will be able to make payments at select merchant locations in Japan that are part of NTT DATA’s network. Payments can be made by scanning QR codes or using other UPI-enabled methods. The process is similar to how UPI works in India: the amount is directly debited from the user’s Indian bank account, without the need for currency exchange.

Masanori Kurihara, Head of Payments at NTT DATA Japan, said, “This partnership marks an important milestone as we expand payment choices for inbound travellers from India.”

Using UPI in Japan will allow travellers to pay easily for restaurants, shopping, transport, and other services while avoiding the hassle of handling foreign currency.

UPI Around the World: Where Else Indian Travellers Can Pay

Before Japan, UPI has already been rolled out in several countries, helping Indian travellers make seamless digital payments abroad:

United Arab Emirates (UAE): QR payments at malls and tourist spots.
Singapore: Linked with PayNow for easy merchant payments.
France: Accepted at major tourist attractions and city outlets.
Bhutan: QR payments are widely accepted.
Nepal: Integrated with national payment systems.
Mauritius: Available at retail and tourist locations.
Sri Lanka: QR payments accepted at airports and stores.
Qatar: Retail and duty-free points now support UPI.

Emerging markets include Saudi Arabia and Oman, where UPI integration is underway, reflecting NPCI’s aim to reach at least 20 countries by 2029. Japan will be UPI’s first entry into East Asia, further expanding its international presence.

Growing Indian Tourism in Japan

Japan has seen a steady rise in Indian visitors. Between January and August 2025, over 208,000 Indians visited Japan, a 36 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The UPI rollout addresses the need for familiar, convenient payment options for these travellers.

For Indian tourists, UPI in Japan promises a smoother, safer, and more seamless payment experience, reducing dependency on cash and simplifying travel budgeting.