Can You Use Alipay in Japan? A Complete Guide for Travellers

Japan is, in truth, one of the countries where Alipay has the most presence outside of mainland China, and it’s no coincidence. With the number of Chinese tourists it receives each year, thousands of Japanese businesses have gradually adapted and now accept QR code payments without any fuss.

However, if you're wondering whether you can use Alipay in Japan, the answer isn't as simple as it seems. Just because it's accepted in many places doesn't mean it will completely replace bank cards or cash. So, in this guide, we'll tell you what payment methods Japanese people use in their day-to-day lives, and when it's worth relying on Alipay during your trip.

🤔 Can You Use Alipay in Japan?

Yes, you can use Alipay in Japan, and it's becoming increasingly widespread. However, it doesn't work the same way across the whole country. To make it clear at a glance, here is the current situation:

📍 Where Is Alipay Accepted in Japan?

The list of places where Alipay is accepted in Japan is longer than it first appears:

• A classic department store, the kind that's been around forever, with multiple floors and absolutely everything you could need.
• Shopping centres, especially those geared towards an international audience.
• Duty-free shops, where QR code payment is already practically standard.
• Hotels, especially large chains accustomed to welcoming Chinese guests.
• Airports, both in shops and in some terminal cafés.
• Restaurants, especially those with menus in several languages.
• Cafés, increasingly so, though it really depends on the place.
• Pharmacies, a classic stop for tourists buying cosmetics and medicines.
• Cosmetics shops, the kind that usually have queues of people buying whole bags full.

▶️ Download Alipay from the Play Store ▶️ Download Alipay from the App Store

🗾 Which Cities in Japan Accept Alipay?

It is much more common in Tokyo than a village on the coast of Shikoku, of course. Where Alipay is accepted in Japan has a lot to do with the tourist influx in each area:

• Tokyo, especially in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, Asakusa and Akihabara, which are basically the tourist heart of the capital.
• Osaka, with Dotonbori, Namba and Umeda leading the way, are areas where paying with a QR code is the order of the day.
• Kyoto, in the most visited areas near temples and shopping streets.
• Nara, especially in the shops near the deer park.
• Hiroshima, in the centre and around the memorial areas.
• Fukuoka, with more and more accessible shops, especially in the city centre.

So, if your route takes you through these cities, paying with a QR code in Japan will be much easier than you expected.

🏪 Which Shops and Chains Accept Alipay in Japan?

Here’s something more concrete for you, because the shops that accept Alipay in Japan aren't just any old places; they’re chains you’ll likely already know or will end up visiting anyway.

Don Quijote and Alipay is a pretty common combination, to be honest, because that giant discount store is a must-visit for any tourist looking to pack their suitcase with Japanese curiosities.

And in shops like Uniqlo, it works just as well, so if you're planning to update your wardrobe while you're at it, you won't have any problems at all.

🚫 Where Does Alipay Usually Not Work in Japan?

Now let’s look at the other side of the coin, because Japan, even though it might seem like a super-technological country, still uses quite a lot of cash in its day-to-day life. And it’s no joke; some tourists get quite a surprise in this regard.

These are the places where it's best not to count on Alipay:

• Traditional izakayas, those charming little bars where you pay your bill by hand.
• Family-run ryokans, the smaller traditional guesthouses, often only accept cash.
• Local markets, the kind that smell of fresh fish and have been running the same way for generations.
• Temples and shrines, where offerings or entry fees are almost always in coins.
• Small restaurants, especially family-run ones, away from the main tourist areas.
• Rural areas, generally speaking, the further you get from the big cities, the less digital everything becomes.
• Some vending machines, which still just ask for coins or small notes, nothing more.
• Independent taxis, not linked to the big fleets, with a QR reader.

📱 How to Use Alipay in Japan?

In many establishments, the business itself has a fixed QR code stuck to the till, so the process is simple:

1. You open Alipay.
2. You select the payment option.
3. You scan the QR code displayed by the shop.
4. You confirm the operation with the amount shown on screen.
5. You'll receive the payment notification instantly.

📲 Show your QR code to pay

In other places it works the other way around, you're the one showing the code:

1. You open Alipay.
2. Go to the payment option and generate your personal QR code.
3. Show the code to the shop assistant so they can scan it with their reader.
4. You confirm the operation.
5. You'll receive a notification confirming that the payment has been completed.

Paying with Alipay in Japan is actually straightforward; you can make a payment in seconds without even taking out your wallet. Using QR codes in Japan has become so common that in some shops they don't even ask you anymore—they just point you straight to the reader.

💳 Can I Use Alipay in Japan With a Foreign Card?

Absolutely, and this is something that puts many people's minds at ease before travelling. Using Alipay without a Chinese account is completely possible thanks to the international version of the app. The process for linking your foreign card to Alipay is quite straightforward: you download the app, verify your identity, and add the card as a payment method. The compatible ones are:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• JCB
• Discover

Mind you, keep an eye on this: there may be some limitations depending on the country that issued your card, so if you get an error when linking it, don't worry, just try another card or check that your bank doesn't have any restrictions on international payments.

Bank cards accepted on Alipay

💴 Are There Fees for Using Alipay in Japan?

Let's talk about money, which always raises questions.

In most cases, there are no fees for using Alipay in Japan from the app itself. Paying at shops is usually free, with no added surcharge.

💰 What Are the Payment Methods in Japan?

After seeing all this, it’s time to ask how the Japanese pay for things in their own day-to-day lives, beyond what might be convenient for a tourist.

The most common ones among residents are:

• Visa and MasterCard cards, widely accepted in medium and large shops.
• Suica and PASMO are essential for transport and are also widely used in convenience stores.
• Apple Pay, which is becoming increasingly widespread, especially among younger audiences.
• Google Pay, with a similar presence, although slightly less than Apple Pay.
• PayPay, one of the country's most popular mobile payment apps, featuring constant discounts and campaigns.
• Rakuten Pay, linked to the Rakuten ecosystem, is widely used by those who already shop on that platform.
• d払い (d Barai), linked to NTT Docomo, which carries significant weight among its customers.
• Cash, which continues to play a starring role in so many everyday situations.

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