Tokyo’s Cashless Payment Ratio Reaches 62.2% in FY2025

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government released survey results on June 15, showing that Tokyo’s cashless payment ratio for the fiscal year 2025 reached 62.2% on a monetary value basis (up 1.5 percentage points from the previous year) and 66.5% in volume terms (down 1.1 percentage points). The survey by the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs was carried out online from November 5 to 19 last year.

The survey consists of two parts: the ratio of cashless payment among the total amount paid by consumers, calculated by asking Tokyo residents about their spending patterns over a specific period, and attitudes toward cashless payments targeting Tokyo citizens and residents of three overseas cities—Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

By age group, the cashless payment ratio in value terms was the highest among those in their 30s at 66.9%, followed by those in their 40s at 66.7%, registering the largest year-on-year increase of 4.5%. Although those aged 70 and older had the lowest ratio, all age groups were generally around 60%, showing no significant differences between age groups.

In volume terms, those in their 20s had the highest ratio at 72.6%, followed by those in their 40s at 70.7%. For all other age groups, excluding those in their 70s or older, the ratio hovered in the second half of the 60% range. By payment method, credit cards were the primary driver of cashless payments across all age groups.

In Tokyo, as shown in previous years, the main reasons cited for using cashless payments were “convenience of payment” and “cost-effectiveness,” such as point rewards. When those who answered either “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” are combined, the figures totaled 79.0% and 80.4%, respectively. Similar trends were observed in the three overseas cities surveyed. In Seoul, both reasons exceeded 73%; in Hong Kong, both exceeded 80%; and in Singapore, “convenience of payment” was cited by the highest percentage of respondents at 74.6%.

As for reasons for not using cashless payments, in Tokyo, as seen in previous surveys, concerns about fraudulent use and reluctance to provide personal information were frequently cited, although the percentage of people citing such reasons is declining. In the three overseas cities as well, concerns about fraudulent use ranked high among the reasons.

In the survey, a total of 3,017 Tokyo citizens responded, while a combined total of 1,368 people of the three overseas cities answered, with 456 people each from the three. This survey has been conducted since fiscal year 2021 to promote cashless payments, thus contributing to the convenience of daily life for Tokyo citizens and the productivity of business operators.

As other initiatives to further promote cashless payments, TMG is promoting cashless tax payments via bank transfers and smartphone payment apps, while conducting financial literacy programs, such as financial seminars, to explain the benefits and precautions of using cashless payments. It is also implementing cashless payment systems at 78 public facilities managed by TMG and collecting admission fees and the like.