Card that saw payment amount surge by 558% in Japan... Try using it = South Korean report

``Well, it's easier than I thought, even without cash.'' Recently, Omotesando in Tokyo has become a new shopping spot for people traveling to Japan. The reporter purposely did not carry cash here.
, I tried shopping using just a card. It was okay even if I ran out of money along the way. Linked to “Travel Wallet”, a foreign currency charge and payment service platform
This is because you could use it like a debit card by charging yen directly from your account. In Omotesando, all payments could be made with cards issued by Travel Wallet.
On the 15th, when 100 yen dropped to 899 won, I didn't have enough money to charge it, so I exchanged 20,000 yen with no fees through the Travel Wallet app and got a tax-free tax refund.
When I received the refund, I felt like I had received an extra discount. It was also convenient to have the ability to exchange charge amounts between people traveling together. I met Han while shopping.
Choi Sang-hoon (33), a foreign tourist, also explained that he used a Travel Pay card to prepare for his trip to Japan.
According to the reporter's first-hand experience, the main reason behind this "ease" is currency exchange.
・In some cases, all fees such as payments and refunds were waived. Fees are charged when exchanging yen, when making payments in Japan, and when re-exchanging pre-loaded yen to won.
The big advantage is that you can use your card in Japan just like you would in Korea. First, get real-time exchange rates at your desired timing while you prepare for your trip.
I exchanged yen. In fact, after downloading the app on August 9th, the reporter charged it with yen four times before leaving for a trip to Japan.
Press the “Charge” button in “My Wallet” and select “Japanese Yen JPY”.
Then, you can charge without any restrictions from the linked account. On August 10th, I charged 10,000 yen at the then exchange rate of 915.45 won per 100 yen, and the exchange rate subsequently declined.
I steadily exchanged yen every time I went. Although Japan is known as a "cash society," I had no difficulty using cards during my trip to Tokyo. Not only at the franchise sales floor, but also during interviews.
Card payments were accepted at all stores on the main street. Thanks to Japan's ``cashless policy'' implemented in conjunction with the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, people can now use their cards without having to carry cash.
It wasn't too much of a stretch to travel there. Kim Dae-sung (39), an office worker I met during my trip, said, ``I came to Japan for a business trip, but compared to when I was studying abroad in Tokyo 10 years ago, I can't use my credit card anymore.''
It's definitely gotten easier,'' he said, adding, ``The Japanese government rolled out a cashless policy around the Olympics, and the infrastructure for credit card payments has been installed in alley shops, creating an atmosphere of acceptance of card payments.''
It looks like I was able to do it," he said. However, you should be aware that ATM withdrawal fees may be higher than you think. Travel wallet for less than $500 a month at Japanese ATMs
There are no fees when you withdraw cash, but there are fees when you withdraw more than $500. Additionally, most Japanese ATMs have their own fees. Japan's largest convenience store
When I tried to withdraw yen from an ATM at 7-Eleven, which is an ense store, there was a fee of 220 yen to withdraw 20,000 yen. If withdrawing cash is unavoidable in Japan, the “Minist”
We recommend that you withdraw cash at At this convenience store, ATM usage fees are completely free. Domestic financial companies and platform operators have recently announced that travel demand is on fire.
There is fierce competition in Japan's emerging payment market. The total amount of travel pay card payments used in Japan in the past three months was 110 billion won (approximately 12.1 billion yen).
This is a 558.68% jump compared to the period from October to December 2022, when travel to Japan, which had been closed due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, began to open again.
This is believed to be due to the Korean airline industry rapidly expanding routes to Japan, which also coincides with the summer vacation season. Compared to the first quarter of this year, when the “Japan rush” was noticeable.
However, the increasing trend is noticeable. From January to March of this year, Travel Pay's payment amount was 49 billion won (approximately 5.4 billion yen).
Here, Woori Card will be released on August 23rd in partnership with Travel Wallet.
When adding in the amount spent on the ``Travel Wallet Woori Card,'' the amount spent during the holiday season is expected to increase even further. Currently, my travel wallet is a VISA prepaid card.
It provides the services of ``Travel Pay Card'' and ``Travel Wallet Uri Card.'' Not only travel wallets but also big tech companies such as Naver and Kakao are also Japanese.
We are focusing on expanding the payment market. Naver Pay has partnered with Union Pay to provide payment services in Japan. Naver Pay is the first to link payment with Union Pay.
is. Kakao Pay has released a website for tourists to Japan, and is offering discount benefits at Don Quijote, one of Japan's largest retail stores.
“Travelog,” a travel-specific card released by Hana Card in July 2022, has also become very popular among travelers to Japan.
There is. The amount of Travelog usage in Japan from September 2022 to August this year will reach 234.3 billion won (approximately 25.8 billion yen). This card also runs a campaign where there are no exchange fees or payment fees.
are giving. ATM withdrawal fees are also free. However, a fee will be charged when re-exchanging the charged yen to won.