Goodbye Cash, Hello Cashless
Writer: Rara Ichsan | Illustrator: Safira Marini
Did you know that Japan recently raises its tax to 10%? As the new era of Japan
started – 令和 or Rei Wa, meaning fortunate harmony – and so is the way of their lives are
changing. Japan itself has been known for being a cash-oriented society where other forms
of money such as debit cards, credit cards, etc. are not as commonly used as cash. With the
government urging people to change their habits to be a cashless society, these are few
applications that work as a form of online payment!
PayPay
One of the earliest online wallet platform in Japan, and a joint venture by Paytm with Softbank and Yahoo! Japan. The application will connect directly to your
bank account and you can easily put your desired amount of money into the online wallet
application. when compared to other online wallet applications, this application is also used in
more shops nowadays than others. Another feature to highlight about PayPay is that you can
also transfer money to your friends’ accounts through their PayPay IDs or phone number.
LinePay
LINE itself is not an unknown name in our ears as it is one of the most frequently used
messaging app in Japan. Following the trend to be a cashless society, LINE then created a
digital wallet that can make payments for services or in shops conveniently and it’s also one
of the popular online payment applications next to PayPay. What’s more interesting, you
can easily pay your bills through the app by scanning the bar-code on the bills. So, when it's
time for you to pay your bills, you don't even have to break a sweat as paying your bills is now
one click away!
AliPay
AliPay - established by Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. - is one of the most popular payment
applications in Japan. Originating in China, AliPay mainly targets Chinese tourists in Japan.
AliPay, along with PayPay, are the apps that can be used in a wider range of shops in Japan,
so it’s easier to find shops that you can pay through them.
Now that you know what apps are available, you can easily choose either one. With these
online wallet applications in hand, it's time to say goodbye to carrying papers and coins, and say hello to the cashless society!