Japan store to use WeChat payments

Tencent Holdings Ltd is bringing its mobile payment services to Japan in a new push to tap into the growing purchasing power of Chinese outbound tourists.

Starting Sept 30, Chinese travelers can use WeChat payment services to buy products at eight Daimaru Matsuzakaya department stores in Japan, according to a statement from J. Front Retailing Co Ltd, the parent company of Matsuzakaya.

Users can pay bills by scanning the quick-response codes on WeChat, the most popular messaging application in China, which boasts of 600 million regular users.