It’s become a “where are they gonna go next?” game for those watching out which new country Android Pay will be going to expand their mobile payment platform. Well the answer for today is to the Land of the Rising Sun. It’s actually surprising that it took them this long to get to Japan, given that it is one of the more digitally advanced countries in the world. But yes, finally, Google has brought Android Pay to the Asian giant, and for the initial launch, their partner is Rakuten Edy.
This means that those in Japan will be able to use the digital wallet at more than 470,000 locations all over the country, as long as the shop or place accepts Rakuten Edy eMoney. This includes huge chains like Family Mart, Lawson, McDonald’s, but also coffee stands, vendo machines, taxis, etc. The first step is of course to download the Android Pay app onto your compatible smartphone (those running Android 4.4 KitKat and above). Then you either connect your existing Rakuten Edy account or if you don’t have one, you can create a new Edy card from within the app itself.
When you’re ready to make your payment, just tap it on the eMoney reader. You will be able to see how much your balance is and what your recent transactions are. If you’re running low on funds, you can add money through your credit card or you can reload at any store that supports Rakuten Edy top-up system. You can also add your loyalty cards for things like Rakuten Super Points.
Android Pay plans to add more partners in 2017 for Japan, like The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Visa and Mastercard, etc. Currently, Google’s digital wallet is available in the US, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Poland.
SOURCE: Google
