With Japan solidly in the top 10 for cross-border e-commerce1, the opportunity for global growth is clear. To succeed when shipping from Japan, businesses must understand the payment methods international consumers prefer, as this directly impacts trust and conversion rates at checkout.
This guide explores the most popular international e-commerce payment options and online payment methods. We'll cover what you need to offer to meet global customer expectations and maximize your international sales potential.
Understanding global consumer preferences for international payments
When an international customer is ready to buy a product shipped from Japan, their choice of e-commerce payment method is influenced by several key factors. Security, familiarity with the payment brand, and the convenience of the checkout process are primary concerns. Offering payment in their local currency is another significant factor that builds trust and improves the customer experience.
Key factors that influence international consumers’ choice of e-commerce payment online include:
- High-value market demand: Major export markets, such as China (importing ¥2.43 trillion2) and the U.S. (importing ¥1.48 trillion3), have established and distinct payment preferences. Catering to these is not optional; it's essential for capturing these high-value sales.
- Frequent online shopping habits: With nearly two-thirds of international consumers now shopping online4 at least weekly, a fast and frictionless payment process is an absolute expectation. Any inconvenience or lack of familiar options can lead to immediate cart abandonment, especially among regular, digitally-savvy shoppers.
- Growing importance of trusted payment systems: The global payment processing market is set to reach US$147 billion by 20325. This massive growth is driven by consumer demand for secure, reliable, and innovative online payment systems, including trusted international digital wallets and other seamless transaction methods.
Therefore, to successfully expand globally, Japanese businesses must go beyond domestic payment habits and offer the e-commerce payment options that are popular and trusted in their key export markets.
Credit cards
Credit cards remain one of the most widely accepted online payment methods for global e-commerce. Major brands like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are trusted and used by a vast number of consumers worldwide, making acceptance of an international credit card a foundational payment method for businesses in Japan selling to an international audience.
Digital wallets and express checkout options
Beyond traditional cards, the adoption of the international digital wallet is growing rapidly. These e-commerce payment options offer a fast, secure, and often one-click checkout experience favored by many global shoppers.
PayPal: A trusted global option
PayPal remains one of the most recognized and trusted international online payment wallets, a status supported by its 434 million active users6 as of the end of 2024. Holding a commanding 45% share of the global payment processing market7, its strong brand recognition, ease of use, and robust buyer protection policies make it a preferred choice for international shoppers who may be hesitant to enter card details on an unfamiliar website.
Apple Pay & Google Pay: Mobile convenience for international purchases
Apple Pay and Google Pay function as popular international e-wallets for mobile shoppers. The rapid adoption of these platforms is clear: Apple Pay has grown from 507 million to 744 million users in just the last four years8. These services allow customers to pay securely using their stored international credit or debit cards, offering a seamless, one-tap checkout. Meanwhile, Google Wallet is predicted to reach 300 million users by 20289, largely driven by Android's strong market presence in key export regions for Japanese businesses, like Southeast Asia.
Other emerging international payment services
Beyond the major wallets, it's wise to monitor other emerging e-commerce payment options that are popular in your key export markets. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services, offered by providers like Klarna and Afterpay, are increasingly expected at checkout, particularly in North America, Europe, and Australia. For the Chinese market, integrating Alipay and WeChat Pay is essential. Similarly, region-specific super-apps like GrabPay in Southeast Asia are dominant.
Offering these targeted payment methods is a key way to optimize your e-commerce website for higher international conversion rates.
Once the payment is complete, the next step is seamless order management and shipping. This is where DHL Express Commerce (DEC) becomes essential. It integrates directly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Magento, allowing you to efficiently manage all your new orders and streamline the entire shipping process from a single dashboard.
Optimizing your payment gateway for international shoppers
After choosing which payment methods to offer your international customers, the next step is to ensure you can process them all securely. A payment gateway provides the technology for this, acting as the secure bridge between your e-commerce store, the various payment options you accept, and your customers' banks. It's the crucial component of your online payment system that authorizes and handles every transaction safely.
When selecting a payment gateway for your Japanese business, consider these key factors to ensure a smooth experience for your international customers:
- Global payment acceptance: Ensure the gateway accepts a wide range of international credit cards (like Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and the digital wallets most popular in your key export markets, such as the U.S., China, and Europe.
- Advanced security and fraud prevention: Look for robust security features, including PCI DSS compliance and advanced fraud detection tools specifically designed to handle the complexities and risks of cross-border transactions.
- Seamless e-commerce integration: Choose a gateway that integrates smoothly with your existing e-commerce platform (like Shopify or WooCommerce) to ensure a stable and easy-to-manage connection for your online store.
- Clear and competitive fee structure: Carefully review all transaction fees, cross-border charges, and currency conversion rates. A transparent fee structure helps you accurately calculate your costs and manage profit margins effectively.
- Multi-currency processing: The ability to display prices and process payments in your customers' local currencies (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP) is a significant factor in improving the international customer experience and boosting conversion rates.
Boosting conversions: Payment strategy for Japanese e-commerce growth
Offering a thoughtful selection of preferred international payment methods is a direct way to optimize your e-commerce website for global sales. It removes a major point of friction at checkout, which can significantly boost your conversion rates.
A smooth checkout process using familiar payment options builds immediate trust and enhances customer satisfaction, encouraging them to return. Advanced payment gateways can elevate this experience even further. By using a feature called 'tokenization,' they can securely save a customer's payment details for future use.
This not only enables effortless one-click checkouts for repeat customers but also provides the secure foundation needed for building effective subscription marketing models, creating valuable recurring revenue streams for your business.
Connecting you to a global customer base with DHL Express
Integrating the right international payment methods is key to capturing the global e-commerce market in Japan. However, a seamless payment experience is only half the battle won; efficient and reliable international shipping from Japan is the other crucial component for success.
A successful payment strategy could cause a spike in international orders. DHL Express Commerce (DEC) provides the essential automation to manage this growth, seamlessly connecting your e-commerce store to our global logistics network. It allows your business to scale efficiently without being overwhelmed by the manual tasks of international fulfillment.
By connecting their store to DEC, Japanese businesses ensure that once an international payment is made, the delivery process is smooth, transparent, and meets customer expectations for speed.
Prepare your business for global expansion and optimize your entire cross-border e-commerce operation from Japan, from preferred international payment methods to world-class logistics.
Open a DHL Express Business Account today to explore how DHL Express Commerce can integrate seamlessly with your online store.
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