Paying with a credit card in Japan can be surprisingly tricky.
The spread of self-payment systems has also made cash payments more difficult.
While you’ll find the usual payment methods like magnetic stripe, chip (IC), and standard contactless (NFC) for cards and smartphones, Japan also has its own unique contactless systems. Like QuickPay or ID.
You might see a contactless symbol, but it may only work for Japanese-payment system, not your Visa or Mastercard tap-to-pay.
If your contactless payment doesn’t work, you’ll likely need to insert your card and use the chip (IC) function instead.
When you’re at the register, you’ll need to tell the clerk how you want to pay or select it on a screen.
Even if you see a Visa or Mastercard logo, it might not be for their contactless feature. If the clerk asks, just say something simple like, “credit card” or “Visa touch”
Sometimes, even the staff isn’t sure which specific international contactless payments their system accepts.
You might be asked “The number of payments?”
This is a standard question in Japan, allowing customers to choose installment plans at the point of sale. Just say “one time” or “ikkatsu” (一括).
Choosing Your Receipt Type
In Japan, you may be asked to choose between a standard itemized receipt (レシート - reshiito) and a more formal one (領収書 - ryoshusho or Invoice). The ryoshusho is a unique feature of Japanese business culture, but legally, there is no significant difference between the two.
Don’t be surprised if you get two receipts – one from the store’s register and another from the card terminal.
In Japan, you’ll almost always be given a receipt, even if you don’t ask for one. It’s just part of the service.
Here’s a local tip for paying with cash
For a 912 yen total, instead of paying with a 1000 yen bill, many people will pay with 1012 yen. The goal is to get back a simple 100 yen coin.
If you have trouble making a payment in Japan, it’s not because you’re a foreigner, but because the payment system is complicated and incomprehensible even to Japanese people.
