e-Commerce and Payments in Japan
A reputation for embracing technology and leading the way in digital innovation.
International retailers have a chance to appeal to a client base that has money to spend and a taste for consumer goods and fashion thanks to the Japanese e-commerce sector. The constraints of a society with a single language and a continued reliance on cash must be overcome for those looking to enter the Japanese e-commerce sector.
Market Overview
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Population
126.1 million
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Online Population
119.2 million
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Currency
JPY
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e-Commerce Market Value
$155.10 billion
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GDP
$4,295 billion
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GDP per Capita
$36,573
Available Local Payment Method
JP Bank Transfer
Type
Bank Transfer
Regions
Asia Pacific
Key Takeaways
- Domestic brands in Japan benefit from serving a monolingual country. International retailers interested in tapping into one of the biggest e-commerce markets in the world should think about funding and providing Japanese-language online shopping platforms.
- Many Japanese people still use desktop computers to purchase due to an older population. When compared to other industrialized countries, Japan’s smartphone penetration rate is significantly lower at 55%.
- Domestic player Rakuten, as well as global behemoths Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon Japan, are the most popular e-commerce sites in Japan. Although bank transfers and digital wallets are becoming more common, cards are still the most widely used payment method in Japan.
