UPI Set for Trial Launch in Japan To Support Rising Indian Tourist Footfall

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is poised to enter the Japanese market through a proposed trial run aimed at simplifying retail payments for Indian tourists. The initiative comes at a time when outbound travel from India to Japan is accelerating rapidly, creating strong demand for familiar, seamless payment options abroad.

The pilot will test whether India’s real‑time payments framework can operate effectively within Japan’s retail ecosystem. It also signals growing global interest in interoperable, low‑cost digital payment systems.

Partnership Between NTT Data And NPCI

Japanese IT services provider NTT Data is collaborating with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to facilitate UPI transactions in Japan. The partnership is exploring technical pathways to link Indian and Japanese payment systems as part of the trial rollout.

By integrating the systems, UPI users visiting Japan may soon be able to complete transactions using QR codes connected to their Indian bank accounts. This collaboration marks a key step in expanding UPI’s international footprint.

Background And Core Features Of UPI

UPI was launched in 2016 as a government‑backed digital payments system enabling instant fund transfers via mobile applications. The platform allows users with Indian bank accounts to send and receive money seamlessly, typically at no charge.

One of UPI’s defining features is its interoperability, allowing any UPI‑enabled app to scan a single QR code for payments. UPI has already expanded into multiple overseas destinations to assist Indian travellers with cross‑border retail transactions.

Rising Indian Tourism to Japan

The Japan pilot aligns closely with the rise in Indian tourist arrivals. Over 315,000 Indians visited Japan in 2025, making Indian travellers one of the fastest‑growing outbound cohorts to the country.

This growth has created strong demand for convenient and familiar payment solutions that reduce friction at the point of sale. Enabling UPI in Japan aims to cater to this expanding demographic while supporting local merchants looking to serve a more diverse customer base.

Global Expansion and Strategic Significance

UPI is among the world’s largest real‑time payment ecosystems measured by transaction volume. Its expansion into major global markets reflects India’s increasing influence in digital financial infrastructure.

The Japan pilot is expected to test the adaptability of UPI in a technologically advanced payments environment. Successful implementation may bolster future partnerships and position UPI as a viable global retail payments rail.

Read More: India’s Credit Card Spending Hits ₹17.65 Trillion.

Conclusion

The proposed UPI pilot in Japan represents a significant step in internationalising India’s digital payments ecosystem. By enabling instant, QR‑based transactions for Indian tourists, the rollout aims to improve payment convenience and support rising tourism flows.

As NPCI and NTT Data work to integrate the systems, Japan becomes the latest test bed for UPI’s global ambitions. The outcome of the trial may shape future cross‑border payment collaborations across other major markets.

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