What it is
Rakuten Pay is a smartphone and QR-code payment service from Japan's Rakuten group. Shoppers can pay with a registered card, Rakuten balance, or Rakuten points, which encourages repeat purchases in the Rakuten ecosystem.
- Part of the large Rakuten loyalty ecosystem.
- Pays with card, balance, or Rakuten points.
- QR, NFC, and online checkout supported.
Where it is mainly used
Rakuten Pay is used across Japan at restaurants, retail, convenience stores, and online shops. It is attractive to merchants who want to reach Rakuten's large domestic user base.
- Broad coverage throughout Japan.
- Tens of millions of Rakuten users in reach.
- Strong for both physical and online stores.
How customers pay at checkout
In-store, the shopper shows a Rakuten Pay barcode or uses QR/NFC; online, they select Rakuten Pay and confirm in the Rakuten app. Rakuten points can be earned or spent on the same purchase.
- App barcode or QR/NFC in stores.
- Online redirect to Rakuten Pay confirmation.
- Points earned and redeemed in one flow.
Merchant access and local-entity notes
Rakuten Pay is mainly contracted by Japan-based businesses, and online onboarding is commonly done through a payment service provider. A foreign merchant without a Japanese entity will usually need a PSP that supports it.
- Direct use fits Japan-based sellers.
- Online access often via a PSP or local acquirer.
- Local presence helps approval.
PSP and aggregator route
Global and local payment providers list Rakuten Pay among supported Japanese methods. Using one lets you add it alongside other local wallets without separate Rakuten contracting.
- PSPs such as Adyen, Stripe, and Japan-focused gateways support it.
- One integration covers multiple Japanese methods.
- PSP handles onboarding and settlement.
Pricing and settlement
Rakuten Pay merchant fees and settlement terms depend on whether you contract directly or through a PSP. Published pricing is for initial screening only; confirm the provider's official pricing page or a written quote before you go live.
- Direct fees are stated in the Rakuten Pay agreement.
- PSP-added pricing varies by provider.
- Settlement is commonly fast but confirmed per contract.
Public contact route
Rakuten Pay provides an official merchant site and merchant management manuals. No public sales email found; use the official website contact page or LocalPayMap consultation.
- Official Rakuten Pay site: https://pay.rakuten.co.jp/
- Merchant management manual: https://pay.rakuten.co.jp/business/manual/data/manual_merchant.pdf
- Smartpay Rakuten manual: https://smartpay.rakuten.co.jp/pdf/manual_merchant.pdf
Technical and pricing fields to verify
Use this structured checklist before you ask for a quote or implementation access. Unknown fields are intentionally marked as “to be confirmed” instead of being treated as unavailable.
| Pricing model | wallet acceptance or psp priced |
|---|---|
| Pricing basis | provider quote required |
| Fee range | To be confirmed |
| FX markup | to be confirmed |
| Chargeback fee | To be confirmed |
| Payout fee | To be confirmed |
| Reserve policy | To be confirmed |
| API / checkout route | psp wallet enablement |
| SDK languages | to_be_confirmed |
| Sandbox | likely supported verify in docs |
| Webhooks | likely supported verify in docs |
| Idempotency | to be confirmed |
| PCI scope | to be confirmed |
| 3-D Secure | To be confirmed |
| Recurring billing | to be confirmed |
| Marketplace split | to be confirmed |
| Partial refund | to be confirmed |
| Preauth / capture | To be confirmed |
Official links to open
Public pricing signals are for initial screening only. Actual quotes can vary by country, industry, transaction volume, settlement currency, integration route, and contract terms.
Questions merchants ask
What makes Rakuten Pay different from other Japanese wallets?
It is tied to the Rakuten ecosystem, so shoppers can earn and spend Rakuten points, which drives loyalty and repeat buying.
How do shoppers pay with Rakuten Pay?
In-store with an app barcode or QR/NFC, and online by selecting Rakuten Pay and confirming in the Rakuten app.
Can a foreign merchant use Rakuten Pay directly?
Direct use is mainly for Japan-based sellers; overseas merchants typically add it through a PSP that supports Japanese methods.
What does Rakuten Pay cost?
Fees depend on direct versus PSP routing. Published pricing is for initial screening only; confirm the provider's official pricing page or a written quote before you go live.
Does Rakuten Pay support online checkout?
Yes. Online stores can offer Rakuten Pay as a redirect-based payment option.
Is Rakuten Pay a wallet or a QR method?
It is both: a wallet that can hold balance and points, and a QR/NFC scan method for in-store payments.