QRIS in Japan: Easy Transactions for Indonesian Tourists 2025

Good news for Indonesian travelers planning a visit to Japan! Starting August 17, 2025, the transaction experience in Japan will experience a significant improvement thanks to the implementation of QRIS in Japan, or the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard which is now expanding into the international payment market. This strategic initiative is a manifestation of the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, with a primary focus on facilitating more efficient and convenient cross-border transactions for Indonesian tourists.

QRIS Launch in Japan: Momentum of Independence

Bank Indonesia (BI) has announced that the official launch of QRIS in Japan will coincide with the commemoration of the 80th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. The selection of this historic momentum is expected to further strengthen the good relations between the two countries, especially in the dynamic tourism sector and sustainable economic growth. BI Deputy Governor, Filianingsih Hendarta, revealed that a series of QRIS trials at various merchants in Japan have been running successfully and smoothly since May 15, 2025, providing confidence in the readiness of the large-scale implementation of QRIS.

Convenience and Benefits for Indonesian Tourists

The presence of QRIS in Japan brings a breath of fresh air for Indonesian tourists, eliminating the need to exchange large amounts of cash or face potential losses due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations when shopping. By utilizing payment applications commonly used in Indonesia, tourists can now make payments easily and quickly by simply scanning the QR code available at merchants participating in the QRIS ecosystem in Japan. The sophisticated system behind QRIS will automatically convert the transaction value into Rupiah, providing convenience and transparency in every transaction using QRIS in Japan.

One of the main benefits for travelers using QRIS in Japan is the savings in currency conversion fees. By eliminating the need to purchase US Dollars or exchange currency at money changers, travelers can allocate their travel budget to other needs while in Japan and transact using QRIS. In addition, the QRIS system allows real-time transactions, where conversion and payment processing occur instantly, providing certainty and convenience for QRIS users in Japan. Furthermore, this initiative significantly supports the tourism sector of both countries, making it easier for travelers to make payments and encouraging local businesses in Japan to accept payments from foreign tourists, which will ultimately increase their potential revenue through QRIS adoption in Japan.

QRIS Network Expansion in Asia
Bank Indonesia is not only focused on implementing QRIS in Japan, but also has a broader vision to expand this digital payment network to other strategic countries in the Asian region, including China and Hong Kong. Cooperation with authorities in China has also shown positive developments and is expected to be inaugurated on the same date, August 17, 2025, as part of the regional QRIS expansion initiative. Previously, QRIS has been successfully implemented and actively used in several neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, demonstrating the success of this cross-border payment cooperation model and becoming a foundation for the implementation of QRIS in Japan.

Challenges and Adaptation in Japan

Although QRIS in Japan offers significant conveniences, Indonesian tourists visiting Japan still need to pay attention to several important aspects. The tradition of cash payments is still quite strong in some areas of Japan, especially in rural areas or small shops that have not fully adopted digital payment systems, including QRIS. Therefore, it is highly recommended for tourists to still prepare some cash as anticipation when visiting areas that may not yet have adequate digital payment infrastructure for QRIS in Japan. Adapting to local payment habits will ensure smoothness and comfort during the trip.

History and Development of QRIS

The Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) was first introduced on August 17, 2019, marking Indonesia's first step in modernizing its payment system. After going through a series of trials and socialization, QRIS was officially used nationally on January 1, 2020. This innovation is a big leap for Indonesia in its efforts to strengthen the digital economy ecosystem at the regional and global levels, which is now realized with the implementation of QRIS in Japan. To date, the adoption of QRIS in Indonesia has shown tremendous growth, with more than 15.7 million business actors, from street vendors to large companies, having joined and utilized the convenience of QRIS payments in their operations, becoming an important capital for QRIS expansion in Japan.

Support for MSMEs

The implementation of QRIS in Japan between countries not only provides benefits for tourists, but is also expected to provide a significant boost to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia. With the ability to accept direct payments from foreign tourists using QRIS in Japan, MSMEs have a greater opportunity to expand their market reach and increase revenue. This is in line with the government's efforts to empower MSMEs and encourage their contribution to the national economy through the use of digital technology, including integration with international payment systems such as QRIS in Japan.

Conclusion

The launch of QRIS in Japan is an important milestone in the effort to simplify and increase the efficiency of payment transactions for Indonesian tourists. This visionary initiative not only offers ease and convenience in transactions, but also significantly strengthens the economic ties between Indonesia and Japan. By continuing to expand the QRIS network to other countries, it is hoped that the cross-border payment system will become easier, more integrated, and provide wider benefits for economic actors and tourists in the future.