ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Economy

Alipay out from Japan's cashless rebate program

Foreign visitors also ineligible for stimulus aimed to soften 2019 tax hike

A shopper makes a purchase via smartphone at an airport. Japan will exclude foreign services like Alipay from its domestic rewards program.

TOKYO -- Japan intends to exclude foreign digital payment services such as Alibaba Group Holding's Alipay from a rebate program for cashless purchases, a measure designed to cushion the blow from a consumption tax hike coming next October.

Visitors from overseas also will be unable to take advantage of the government-subsidized rewards program, which is aimed at promoting the spread of cashless payments as well.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more