UnionPay QR code payment debuts in Japan
2019-05-13
UnionPay International announced today that UnionPay QR code payment service is now available in Japan, and the first sectors accepting the service include international airports, landmark department stores and well-known duty-free shops. Within this year, there will be tens of thousands of merchants in Japan accepting UnionPay QR code payment.
According to data from Japan Tourism Agency, China is Japan’s largest tourist source in 2018. Since the UnionPay app has accumulated more than 150 million users in mainland China and Hong Kong, it has become a new way for local merchants in Japan to attract Chinese tourists. At present, well-known merchants such as LAOX, Matsuya Ginza and Kansai Harukas have accepted UnionPay QR code payment. The UnionPay app users can also activate UnionPay mobile QuickPass payment service to make tap-and-go payments at some merchants in Kansai International Airport and Tokyu Plaza Ginza with their mobile phones. In addition, Japan’s largest retail company AEON is also about to accept UnionPay mobile payment services.
Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International, said that in recent years, UnionPay International has been committed to improving its acceptance network in Japan to enhance its service capacity for visiting tourists. Next, UnionPay International will further deepen its cooperation with Japanese institutions: Firstly, continue to improve its acceptance network and marking campaigns in Japan to enhance UnionPay cardholders’ payment experience. Secondly, to make UnionPay’s mobile payment services accepted in various sectors in Japan and to increase the availability of the UnionPay app. Thirdly, to promote more local issuers and Internet companies to conduct e-wallet collaborations to jointly provide UnionPay-based mobile payment services for residents in Japan.
At present, the overall acceptance rate of UnionPay cards in Japan is close to 60% with the acceptance rate in Tokyo and Osaka reaching about 90%. UnionPay cards are extensively accepted at popular tourist attractions, hotels and shopping merchants in Hokkaido, Kyoto, Kanagawa, Yokohama and Kumamoto, etc. UnionPay cardholders can also withdraw cash at about 80,000 ATMs in Japan. In addition, 35,000 merchants in Japan have launched promotions for UnionPay cards since last year. With UnionPay cardholders’ payment experience continues to improve in Japan, the transaction volume of UnionPay cards in Japan grew by about 10% in 2018.
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