An online store or business owner can accept payments with the help of a payment gateway. It sends sensitive payment information from the customer to the payment processor and any acquirers that are needed in a safe way. Japanese people can pay in a lot of different ways, such as with credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and wallet connections. The country has a modern gateway that acts as a central platform and software layer. It also makes sure that the payment goes through quickly and safely. It links the checkout system to a different provider or payment service that has more to offer. Because of this, it has a direct effect on the number of authorizations, the payment process, and stopping fraud. Japan’s main gateways should have safe ways to pay, clear prices, and easy-to-use sites that connect to apps, digital markets, and online stores by 2026.
The best payment gateway in Japan in our rating is NOWPayments because it gives stores a lot of new, digital ways to take payments. This makes it great for doing business with people in other countries. Besides that, it is easy to set up and use. Online shopping lets people from Tokyo and other places around the world buy things. Some people might be more likely to finish their purchases if the store or business takes bitcoin as payment. This is because they can use their own currency. People can pay in a unique way that works well with the ways people already pay. That means stores do not have to change how they handle checkout to accept more types of payments. This small and flexible system will let companies offer more ways to pay online by the end of 2026. It will still make the process easy.
In Japan in 2026, it is very important to choose the right payment gateway so that PayPay and other local payment methods are easy to use. A customer might not want to buy anything if they cannot use the payment method they like. Different payment processors charge different fees, handle chargebacks in different ways, and settle payments at different times. This changes how the business makes money as well. This makes it so that businesses of all sizes cannot make as much money as they used to. When you have gateway features, it is easier to report problems, give refunds, and match up payments made with different methods of payment. In multi-channel retail, you can pay with a card reader or by touching the screen at both online and in-store checkouts. This is very important. Japan’s payment systems are more likely to be hacked as digital business grows. It is important for businesses to follow the rules set by the government and have strong security measures and risk management tools.
Here’s a list of payment gatewaysin Japan in 2026:
- NOWPayments
- KOMOJU
- PayPal
- GMO Payment Gateway
- PAY.JP
What We Considered When Choosing the Best Payment Gateway: Our Selection Criteria
To make this evaluation genuinely useful for businesses choosing the best payment gateway in Japan in 2026, we focused on measurable factors that affect real checkout performance and operating costs in the Japanese market. Our goal was to compare the best payment options fairly across startups in Tokyo, growing e-commerce brands, and larger merchants—by looking at features that influence conversion, reliability, and long-term scalability with local payment methods such as konbini/kombini payments, as well as card and wallet flows.
- Fee Structure & Transparency: This aligns with transaction fees, helping merchants identify whether a gateway is “cheap” and predictable at scale or whether pricing varies by version, contract, or hidden add-ons from a payment service provider.
- Integration & Developer Experience: This mirrors integration tools, including APIs, plugins, and partner ecosystems that speed up launches for platforms and tools some Japanese merchants use (for example, integrations that can fit into commerce stacks like stores.jp, and in-store systems such as Smaregi, Stera, or other handheld POS setups).
- Business-Focused Features: This captures practical performance like transaction speed and operational workflows, settlement timing with acquirers, reporting, refunds, and scaling controls, especially important when handling a variety of payments and various payment methods across online, in-person, and remote sales.
The comparative table below summarizes how each gateway performs in these three decisive categories, which we will explore in detail for each provider.
| Payment Gateway | Transaction Fees | Transaction Speed | Integration Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOWPayments | 0.5% (no exchange); 1% (multi-currency). For new partners, 0 network fees on USDT (TRC20) deposits for 60 days with custody enabled. | 1-3 min average transaction time | API, Payment Widget, Payment Button, POS |
| KOMOJU | 3.25% (cards); 2.75% | Varies by method | API + platform integrations/plugins |
| PayPal | 3.60% (domestic commercial transactions in Japan) + fixed fee; +0.50% cross-border add-on | Depends on the funding source and checks | Checkout options + APIs/SDKs |
| GMO Payment Gateway (GMO-PG) | Often quote/contract-based (depends on package and local payment methods enabled). | Varies by method/flow | Multi-payment integrations + enterprise tooling (varies by product) |
| PAY.JP (pay.jp) | 3.3% (Standard); 2.78% (Business); 2.59% (Enterprise Visa/Mastercard); 2.7% (Enterprise JCB/Amex/Diners/Discover) | Standard card authorization flow timing. | REST API + docs/libraries |
NOWPayments
NOWPayments is the best crypto payment gateway that helps businesses in Japan accept digital payments in a fast, flexible way while keeping checkout simple for global customers. It stands out as an add-on payment solution because merchants can layer crypto payment options onto an existing online store without replacing their current card or local payment methods stack. For 2026, it’s especially relevant for e-commerce, gaming, and service businesses that want an alternative rail for cross-border buyers and stablecoin users. Overall, it’s a practical gateway choice for merchants who value speed, transparent fees, and straightforward integration tools.
Transaction Fees. NOWPayments uses a straightforward service-fee model that makes cost forecasting easier for merchants operating in Japan and globally. The standard fee is 0.5% for payments without exchange and 1% for multi-currency, fixed-rate, or “fee paid by user” flows. For new partners, there is also a limited promotion covering 0 network fees on USDT (TRC20) deposits for 60 days when custody is enabled, which can reduce stablecoin overhead during onboarding. This combination helps businesses test and scale crypto acceptance with fewer pricing surprises.
| Fee Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 0.5% | Payments without exchange |
| Transaction Fee | 1% | Multi-currency / fixed-rate / “fee paid by user” |
| Network Fee Promo | 0 network fees | USDT TRC20 deposits for 60 days (new partners, custody enabled) |
Transaction Speed. NOWPayments has an average confirmation time of around 1-3 minutes, which reflects typical on-chain confirmation behavior rather than card authorization timing. In real usage, speed can vary by coin, network congestion, and customer wallet behavior, so merchants should treat “time to confirmed payment” as the practical KPI. Stablecoins on fast networks are often chosen specifically to keep the customer payment experience smooth and predictable. For businesses, the main advantage is that payment status is tracked and designed to remain clear during confirmation.
| Speed Metric | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Payment Confirmation | ~1-3 min |
| Settlement to Account | Depends on merchant settlement setup |
| Instant Payout | ✅ (crypto settlement is immediate once confirmed, subject to network) |
Integration Tools. NOWPayments is easy to use, and it gives businesses a number of ways to accept cryptocurrency payments. People who use the API to make their own checkout process have more power. Teams that are not very tech-savvy can get their work done faster with pre-made UI tools. The Payment Widget and Payment Button make it easy and quick for e-commerce sites to add a “pay with crypto” option. You can do simple business in person or at the counter because it comes with tools for taking payments at the point of sale.
| Tool / Integration | Available | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| API | ✅ | For developers |
| Payment Widget | ✅ | Easy |
| Payment Button | ✅ | Instant |
| POS System | ✅ | Easy |
KOMOJU
KOMOJU is a way for people in Japan to pay for things. When people from Japan check out, they can choose from a number of Japanese ways to pay, which makes it stand out. There are a lot of online stores that choose this, mostly foreign brands that want to sell in Japan. They can offer different ways to pay without having to deal with lots of different vendors. Getting people to use it, like to pay at gas stations, is still a good idea in 2026 if you want to make more sales and build trust with customers. In real life, KOMOJU gives people who want to open a store in Japan a lot of ways to get in touch with each other.
Transaction Fees. The process fee changes based on the method the customer picks. Firms might like this way of setting prices because costs are based on the types of payments made instead of a single blended rate. Cards are charged at a standard rate of 3.25%. Two and a half percent is the standard rate at konbini or kombini convenience stores. Businesses should decide what their effective rate will be based on how many ways they think will be available. This is because how the merchant is set up can change the number of methods that can be used.
| Fee Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 3.25% | Credit/Debit card payments |
| Transaction Fee | 2.75% | Konbini / Kombini payments |
Transaction Speed. It takes different amounts of time depending on the payment method used on KOMOJU. This means that there is no set “speed” that all users must follow. Card payments work right away most of the time. Customers can pay at Konbini, but only when they are done with their transaction in the store. The procedure could take longer. Most of the time, people who prefer to carry cash or make in-person payments choose Konbini, which makes the slower transaction process acceptable. It is important for merchants to make sure that their fulfillment policies match the timing of method confirmation so that things do not go wrong with their stock or refunds.
| Speed Metric | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Payment Confirmation | Cards: near-instant / Konbini: customer-dependent |
| Settlement to Account | Varies by method and settlement schedule |
| Instant Payout | Not guaranteed (method-dependent) |
Integration Tools. KOMOJU lets merchants use APIs to connect their systems. When they check out, this makes it more personal and gives them more say over how payments are handled. It also comes with plugins and platform integrations that make setting up common e-commerce stacks faster. In Japan, stores can offer more ways to pay with the yen now that they do not have to build each one separately. You can easily use many methods at the same time with KOMOJU.
| Integration Tool | Available |
|---|---|
| API | ✅ |
| E-commerce Plugins | ✅ |
| Payment Links | ✅ |
PayPal
PayPal is a widely recognized payment gateway and a worldwide-known brand that it is easy to use. This extra way to pay could be useful for Japanese people who do business with people from other countries or with customers who would rather use a digital wallet than type in their card information over and over. Businesses that want to reach a lot of people and let them “pay with PayPal” can still use this service in 2026. It is unique because anyone, anywhere in the world, can use it quickly.
Transaction Fees. Most of the time, PayPal charges both a flat fee and a fee that is based on a percentage. The total cost depends on what is being bought and how the transaction is made. A lot of people say that 3.60% is the normal rate for business deals in Japan. Most of the time, people who do business with other countries raise this rate by 0.50%. Since a lot of your customers are in other countries, fee modeling is very important for your business. Many companies want to reach more people and make more sales. Still, it is important to see how the effective rate stacks up against other options.
| Fee Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 3.60% | Domestic commercial transactions (Japan) |
| International Fee | +0.50% | Cross-border add-on (on top of base rate) |
Transaction Speed. Many customers think it is quick and easy to check out when they use a wallet because they do not have to fill out as many forms. Steps that are added on top of the main process to review or check something can slow things down sometimes. Users should use their funnel analytics to check the speed. For all kinds of customers, the most important thing to keep an eye on is “time taken to finalize payment.”
| Speed Metric | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Payment Confirmation | Typically fast, but depends on funding source and checks |
| Settlement to Account | Varies by payout method and account configuration |
| Instant Payout | Depends on PayPal product and merchant eligibility |
Integration Tools. PayPal has simple ways to check out that are simple to set up. That is not all, you can also change the developer paths to fit your needs. If a store owner wants more control, they can use APIs and SDKs instead of a simple checkout button. This much freedom makes it easy for small businesses to get up and running quickly. It also works for bigger businesses that want to make things their own. PayPal is easier to set up than payment gateways that are made just for your site because so many people use it.
| Integration Tools | Available |
|---|---|
| API | ✅ |
| E-commerce Plugins | ✅ |
| Payment Links / Buttons | ✅ |
GMO Payment Gateway
GMO Payment Gateway (GMO-PG) is one of the biggest payment service providers in Japan. People like it because it helps businesses and lets them reach people across the country. The fact that it meets the rules for doing business in Japan makes it stand out. It is well known that Japan’s settlement rules and payment systems are tough to grasp. If a business in 2026 wants a payment system that works well in Japan and has great customer service, this is a great choice. People in business often think about this when they put together different methods, reliability, and compliance all in one place.
Transaction Fees. As GMO-PG does not put out a single rate for all of its goods, this is the case. Instead, transaction fees are usually based on the items sold, the payment methods, the number of transactions, and the terms of the sale. This is good for many small businesses because they can set their own prices based on how they take payments and how big they are. A quote is usually what you need to know your exact rate.
| Fee Type | Note |
|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | Typically quote/contract-based (varies by methods + package) |
Transaction Speed. A GMO-PG transaction can be handled in a number of different ways, and different amounts of data can flow through it at the same time. Card authorizations happen quickly most of the time. Another method might have different steps and times for verification, though. Check the “time to confirmed payment” for each payment method and the “time to settlement” for each payout schedule if speed is not too important to them. There are different ways to pay in real life, so this is more like how payments work there.
| Speed Metric | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Payment Confirmation | Method-dependent (cards vs. local methods differ) |
| Settlement to Account | Contract and method dependent |
| Instant Payout | Not published as universal capability |
Integration Tools. Japan lets people pay for things in a number of different ways, so GMO-PG customers can choose how they want to pay. Business-level tools and structures based on APIs can both be combined. The GMO-PG service line that is chosen determines the tools that are used. People who want to work with fewer vendors might like this method because it lets them use a single provider for lots of different local payment methods. Before you can start implementing, you need to know which GMO-PG products will work with your channels and how you will need to use them.
| Integration Tools | Available |
|---|---|
| API | ✅ |
| E-commerce Plugins | Varies |
| Multi-Method Tools | ✅ |
PAY.JP
Pay.JP is a Japanese payment gateway that is known for having clear prices and an easy-to-use interface for developers. Now that everything is clear, businesses can choose a plan that works best for their stage of growth. Today’s e-commerce or SaaS teams need a simple, easy-to-use payment method that starts with an API. This is very important for them. In 2026, companies that want to work with a Japanese developer and value openness can still do so. It looks great when you want an easy-to-understand integration surface and percentage rates that are simple to guess.
Transaction Fees. PAY.JP provides out actual percentage rates each plan, which helps consumers figure out how much money they will make. The Standard plan costs 3.3%, the Business plan costs 2.78%, and the Enterprise plan costs 2.59% for Visa and Mastercard and 2.7% for JCB, Amex, Diners, and Discover. Some tiers may have recurring fees, so sellers should add up how much they sell to find out how much it will cost them. The price structure is easy to understand, which makes it easier to figure out how to grow.
| Fee Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 3.3% | Standard plan |
| Transaction Fee | 2.78% | Business plan |
| Transaction Fee | 2.59% | Enterprise (Visa/Mastercard) |
| Transaction Fee | 2.7% | Enterprise (JCB/Amex/Diners/Discover) |
| Monthly Fee | Varies | Some tiers include monthly fees |
Transaction Speed. The speed of a PAY.JP transaction might fluctuate depending on how the card is approved and how risk is verified. Customers frequently measure speed by how quickly they can check out and how quickly approvals happen, not by how long it takes the network to respond. Businesses may measure speed best by looking at their application logs and counting how many times “pay click → payment succeeded.” This keeps the metric in line with what customers really go through.
| Speed Metric | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Payment Confirmation | Standard card authorization flow (typically fast) |
| Settlement to Account | Depends on plan and payout schedule |
| Instant Payout | Not stated as universal capability |
Integration Tools. PAY.JP is built around a REST API and easy-to-follow instructions that are simple for developers to use. This is useful for businesses who wish to provide customers the option to customize their checkout, services, or have greater control over how payments are handled. Not all platforms have plugins, yet the essential API technique keeps the same even when commodities change. In general, it is safe, dependable, and easy for teams of engineers to utilize.
| Integration Tools | Available |
|---|---|
| API | ✅ |
| E-commerce Plugins | Varies |
| Payment Links | Varies |
Conclusion
We looked at some of the most important payment systems in Japan for 2026. These include NOWPayments, KOMOJU, PayPal, GMO Payment Gateway, and PAY.JP. The greatest choice for Japanese businesses is one that offers them stable transaction costs, a payment method that does not hold down clients, and easy-to-ship and maintain up-to-date integration capabilities for e-commerce, digital products, and sales across borders.
NOWPayments is the best choice for Japan since it makes it easy for businesses who want to be ahead of the curve to take crypto payments as well as other types of payments. The pricing are easy to understand, and the processing is dependable. The best things about it are the same ones we talked about: clear transaction fees of 0.5 percent without exchange and 1 percent for multi-currency or fixed-rate flows; a new partner promotion that lets you deposit USDT TRC20 for free for 60 days as long as custody is enabled; an average confirmation time of 5 minutes; and a variety of integration tools, such as an API, Payment Widget, Payment Button, and POS. It is reasonable to conclude that NOWPayments is the best and most flexible approach to stay competitive in Japan in 2026 while offering your present consumers new ways to pay.