Credit cards command 58% of Japan's e-commerce value

Worldpay data ranks the market as the global leader for direct card usage.

Japan remains one of the world’s most card-focused payment markets, with credit cards accounting for 58% of e-commerce transaction value and 35% of point-of-sale (POS) payments in 2025.

Japan has the highest share of direct credit card use amongst countries covered in Worldpay’s Global Payments Report 2026. 

Consumers continue to favour credit cards over debit cards, which are more commonly used to withdraw cash rather than make purchases.

At the same time, digital wallets are gaining ground, particularly in online shopping. 

Digital wallets are expected to increase their share of e-commerce transaction value from 29% in 2025 to 39% by 2030. 

Their share of POS payments is forecast to rise from 24% to 33% over the same period.

Industry analysts said digital wallet growth is being driven largely by online transactions, where wallets are increasingly used as a layer over existing card networks. 

Most digital wallet transactions in Japan are funded by credit cards, making cards the dominant source of funding within the wallet ecosystem. 

Domestic wallet brands, including PayPay, Rakuten Pay and au PAY, are amongst the most widely used.

Despite the growth of digital payments, cash continues to play a significant role in Japan’s economy. 

Cash is expected to account for 38% of POS transaction value in 2025 and is forecast to decline only modestly to 31% by 2030. 

The report attributed the continued use of cash to consumer preferences and long-established payment habits, alongside factors such as trust, convenience and reliability.

The Japanese e-commerce market is projected to grow from $193b in 2025 to $229b by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%. 

Growth in the POS market is expected to be slower, rising from $1.1t to $1.2t over the same period, with a CAGR of 1%.

Card network market share data for 2024 showed Visa leading with 41%, followed by JCB at 29% and Mastercard at 18%. American Express held a 5% share, whilst other providers accounted for 7%.