Press Release

PayPay Corporation (hereinafter “PayPay”) is pleased to announce that WeChat Pay (微信支付) will become available for use at PayPay merchants nationwide*1 through HIVEX® starting from mid-September this year.

WeChat Pay is the payment feature of China’s WeChat (微信). With this initiative, together with the overseas mobile payment services already available, users of 26 cashless payment services from 14 countries and regions will be able to make payments at PayPay merchants when visiting Japan, including payments for dining, souvenirs, and accommodation.

*1: “WeChat Pay” is only available at merchants using the user-scan method (MPM).

In July 2025, the number of visitors to Japan increased by 4.4% year-on-year, marking the highest-ever figure for the month of July. The cumulative number of visitors for the first half of 2025 has also surpassed 20 million at the fastest pace ever.*2 “WeChat Pay”, which is to be newly integrated, is a payment function offered within the Chinese communication app “WeChat,” which boasts over 1.4 billion monthly active users. Inbound tourists from mainland China exceeded 4.71 million in the first half of 2025, reflecting a 53.5% increase year-on-year, second only to Korea in terms of the number of visitors to Japan. With upcoming events like the Osaka-Kansai Expo happening until October 13, 2025, as well as the autumn foliage season and year-end holidays, an increase in tourists from overseas is anticipated, leading to expectations for further expansion and capture of inbound demand.

*2: (Reference) Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), “Number of Inbound Visitors (Estimated for June 2025)“

PayPay Corporation, with the aim of supporting merchants seeking to capture inbound demand, has been establishing an environment where users of overseas cashless payment services can make payments at PayPay-affiliated merchants since the launch of the PayPay app in October 2018.
By entering the cost of goods and services in Japanese yen when processing payments through overseas cashless payment services using PayPay’s QR code, transactions can be automatically converted into each country’s currency, facilitating easy shopping for users and providing a smoother experience for merchants in handling foreign visitors who speak different languages.

PayPay will continue to support merchants in capturing inbound demand by advancing collaboration with overseas payment services.

■List of overseas cashless payment services is integrated with PayPay (14 countries and regions, 26 services)

* (Reference) Based on data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) “Number of Visitors to Japan by Nationality and Month (2003-2025),” calculated with the cumulative total for 2024.

◼︎About “HIVEX®”

“HIVEX®” offers common business rules, system integration for cashless payment providers (MPSP), and a consistent neutral brand, bringing greater scalability at a commercial level to deliver a better user experience. By collaborating with “HIVEX®”, it becomes possible to conduct cross-border payments that were previously unattainable.

PayPay Corporation is registered as follows:
・Prepaid Payment Instruments (third party type) Issuer (Registration number: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00710 / Registration date: October 5, 2018)
・Business Operator that Concludes Contracts on the Handling of Credit Cards (Registration number: Kanto (Ku) No. 106 / Registration date: July 1, 2019)
・Telecommunications Carrier (Filing number: A-02-17943 / Date filed: July 2, 2019)
・Fund Transfer Operator (Registration number: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00068 / Registration date: September 25, 2019)
・Bank Agency Services (License: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau (Gindai) No. 396 / Registration date: November 26, 2020)
・Financial Instruments Intermediary Services (Registration number: Kanto Finance Bureau Director (Kinchu) No. 942 / Registration date: June 25, 2021)
・Electronic Payment Agency Services (License: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau (Dendai) No. 109 / Registration date: February 14, 2023)
・Designated Funds Transfer Operator, permitted to provide digital payment of wages （Designation No.: Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare No. 00001 / Date of designation: August 9, 2024) ・Japan Payment Service Association (https://www.s-kessai.jp/, Date of admission: September 12, 2018
・Japan Consumer Credit Association (https://www.j-credit.or.jp/, Date of admission: July 1, 2019

* “PayPay” offers four types of electronic money and other services: PayPay Money, PayPay Money Lite, PayPay Points, and PayPay Gift Vouchers.
PayPay Money can be used to pay for partner services and merchants if it is within the amount deposited into the PayPay account opened after completing an identity verification process. It can also be used for sending and receiving money between PayPay users free of charge. PayPay Money can also be cashed out to a designated bank account (no withdrawal fee if using PayPay Bank). The legal nature of this is an electromagnetic record which can be used to pay for goods and services, can be remitted or cashed out, and is issued by PayPay who is a Fund Transfer Operator registered under Article 37 of the Payment Services Act. PayPay Money (Paycheck) refers to PayPay Money that can only be purchased with wages received by the PayPay user in their Paycheck Account. Based on the provisions of Article 43 of the Payment Services Act, PayPay protects the debt it owes to its users by depositing assets equivalent to or higher than the debt amount. PayPay Money Lite is an electronic money issued by PayPay, which can be purchased and used to pay for services and merchants. PayPay users can transfer and receive PayPay Money Lite free of charge. The legal nature of this is a prepaid payment instrument issued by PayPay (Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Payment Services Act). Based on the provisions of Article 14 of the Payment Services Act, PayPay preserves the relevant assets for the purpose of protecting the owners of the prepaid payment instrument by providing a security deposit for issuance to the Legal Affairs Bureau in an amount that is half or more of the unused balance of prepaid instrument methods as of March 31 and September 30. Until the customer’s identity verification is completed, issued PayPay Money Lite (including previously issued ones) is distinguished as PayPay Money Lite (Low Value), and for those customers who have completed identity verification (including previously issued ones), it is classified as PayPay Money Lite (High Value). In addition, PayPay Points, which are granted through campaigns and promotions when using PayPay, can be used for partner services and in transactions at merchants in addition to PayPay Money and PayPay Money Lite. However, it cannot be transferred to other users or cashed out. PayPay Gift Voucher is a type of electronic money issued by PayPay, which can be used to make payments for affiliated services and merchants designated by the PayPay Gift Voucher. However, it cannot be transferred to other users or cashed out. PayPay Gift Vouchers have an expiration date, after which they will no longer be valid. The deadline for Gift Vouchers can be confirmed in the details or specifications of the measure or promotion campaigns for which they are issued. PayPay also strives to create a safe and secure environment for users. If an unexpected payment is made by a third party using a PayPay account, or if a request to settle a payment suddenly arrives from PayPay to a user that does not have a PayPay account, there is a scheme that ensures compensation for the damages suffered (the difference will be provided as compensation if compensation is also provided by a third party), given that the prescribed conditions are met. Please see “Applying for compensation” for details.

*Company names, trade names, and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.