Stripe Alternatives in Japan: A Guide for Foreign Founders
If you run a business in Japan, losing Stripe hits harder than it would in some markets. Japanese payment providers work differently, and most of their information is only in Japanese.
How Japanese providers differ from Stripe
- Review comes first. Most Japanese payment providers (決済代行会社) underwrite you before you can take payments. Expect days to weeks, not minutes.
- The law requires merchant checks. Japan’s Installment Sales Act requires card acquirers, and payment providers that hold final approval authority, to investigate merchants at onboarding and on an ongoing basis. The paperwork isn’t optional.
- Your website must have a 特定商取引法 notice. This legal disclosure lists your business name, address, phone number, representative, prices, payment timing, delivery timing and return policy. Missing it is one of the most common reasons for rejection.
- Payouts can be slower. Monthly settlement (for example, close at month-end and pay at the end of the following month) is common, especially with providers that take harder categories.
Four types of provider
| Type | Examples | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant signup | Stripe, Square, PayPal | Getting started fast | Review comes later; same category issues can recur |
| Large Japanese providers | GMO Payment Gateway, SB Payment Service | Mainstream categories with steady volume | Slower onboarding, stricter category rules |
| Case-by-case underwriters | Providers experienced with harder categories | Legal businesses large providers decline | Read fees, reserves and settlement terms carefully |
| Merchant of record | Paddle, Lemon Squeezy | Selling software globally | Higher fees, their own acceptable-use rules |
The company names are examples of each type, not a statement about which categories they accept.
What to prepare
- Company registration (登記簿謄本), or your sole-proprietor filing (開業届)
- ID for the representative
- A Japanese-language website with the 特定商取引法 notice, terms, privacy policy and refund policy
- Clear prices and a clear description of what customers receive, and when
- Contracts or licenses proving you’re allowed to sell other companies’ products, if you resell anything
- 3–6 months of processing history, if you have it
If your Japanese isn’t strong, have a native speaker review the site. Underwriters read it closely, and an unclear site reads as a risky one.
Foreign cards vs foreign companies
Many Japanese providers accept cards issued abroad. Far fewer sign merchants registered outside Japan. If your company is registered elsewhere, you may need a Japanese entity before you can use a Japanese provider.
FAQ
Can a company registered outside Japan use a Japanese payment provider?
Often not directly. Many Japanese providers only sign businesses registered in Japan (a KK, a GK, or a sole proprietor). Accepting foreign-issued cards is a separate question from accepting foreign-registered merchants.
Do Japanese payment providers require 3D Secure?
Japan's card industry security plan expects essentially all e-commerce merchants to use EMV 3-D Secure, so most providers will ask about it during onboarding.