New Delhi, Oct 14, 2025: In a major step towards expanding India’s digital payments footprint globally, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the overseas arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NTT DATA Japan to enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance in Japan.
This strategic partnership aims to streamline digital transactions for Indian travellers visiting Japan by enabling them to use their familiar UPI apps to make payments at a wide range of Japanese merchant outlets. The move is set to significantly enhance convenience and ease of spending abroad, offering seamless QR-code-based payments at checkout counters.
With the collaboration, both entities will work together to integrate UPI into merchant ecosystems acquired by NTT DATA across Japan. This means Indian tourists will be able to make quick, secure payments without needing international cards or cash conversion.
The partnership is especially timely, as tourism between India and Japan is seeing a sharp rise. Between January and August 2025, over 208,000 Indian visitors travelled to Japan — a 36% increase compared to the same period last year. This surge highlights the growing need for easier, more accessible payment methods for Indian tourists.
By introducing UPI in Japan, Indian travellers will enjoy faster checkouts, greater transparency, and reduced dependence on foreign exchange, while Japanese merchants benefit from increased footfall and enhanced customer experience.
This initiative also aligns with India’s broader vision of positioning UPI as a globally trusted digital payment platform. In recent years, UPI has expanded its presence in countries like the UAE, Singapore, France, and Sri Lanka — bringing with it a seamless, secure, and efficient way to transact.
For Japan, which has traditionally relied on card-based systems, the adoption of UPI signals a growing openness to QR-based and mobile-first payment methods. It also opens new opportunities for local businesses to cater to a tech-savvy Indian customer base.
As digital travel experiences become the new norm, this collaboration between NIPL and NTT DATA marks a milestone in cross-border payment integration, setting the stage for a future where Indian travellers can use UPI as easily abroad as they do at home.
