Usage Area of LINE Pay in Fukuoka Expanded—LINE Pay’s First Ever Undertaking of Its Services in the Areas of Railway Functions, Shopping Arcades, Universities, Shrines, and Tourist Destinations which Include Fukuoka Airport and Fukuoka Tower

In addition to zoos, botanical gardens, museums, bicycle parking facilities, the yatais (outdoor food stalls) and department stores, LINE Pay has now expanded its services to Heisei Chikuho Railway, Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University, Kamikawabata/Kawabata Shopping Arcades, Fukuoka Airport, Fukuoka Tower, the retail shops that line the main street of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and Torikai Hachimangu Shrine.

LINE Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Takeshi Idezawa, Representative Director and CEO), its subsidiary company, LINE Pay Corporation, which operates a mobile remittance and payment service on the “LINE” communication app, called “LINE Pay” (Head Office: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Ko Youngsu, Representative Director and CEO), and LINE Fukuoka Corporation (Head Office: Hakata, Fukuoka, Noritaka Ochiai Representative Director/President/CEO), another subsidiary based in Fukuoka, were selected to lead the Fukuoka City Full Support Verification Test Project related to the “Cashless” initiative that took place in June. Currently, we are in the midst of conducting a pilot test so that people can experience the “cashless” service through LINE Pay in both public facilities of Fukuoka City, which includes the zoo, the botanical garden, museums, bicycle parking facilities, commercial facilities, such as the yatais and department stores. We are pleased to announce that we have expanded on the available locations where LINE Pay is accepted from October 2.

This time, we have also started our service in shopping arcades, schools, shrines, etc. With the new additions, we will offer a “cashless experience” that is more closely integrated with our lives, which are not limited to just the entertainment spots, public and commercial facilities in urban areas.
In addition, the coverage of LINE Pay services now covers tourist destinations, such as Fukuoka Airport, Heisei Chikuho Railway, Fukuoka Tower and the retail shops lining the main street of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, bringing Fukuoka City closer to a truly cashless city.

Facilities where LINE Pay is accepted
LINE Pay in our daily life

※Courtesy of Fukuoka City (left picture)

·Kamikawabata/Kawabata Shopping Arcade
The shopping arcade is located at the heart of Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, close to Tenjin and Nakasu. The shopping arcade has been an endearing fixture for the local residents for a long time.
Target: 10 stores
Verification period: Mid-October

·Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University
Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University is a private women's university in Fukuoka City. Approximately 900 students are studying under the education philosophy that values individual dreams and goals, centering on Christian and English education.
Target: School stores
Verification period: Mid-October

·Torikai Hachimangu Shrine
Torikai Hachimangu Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Fukuoka, which boasts a history of 1700 years, and is deeply worshipped by the Japanese as a god of marriage and healing of illness.
Target: Stalls that sell lucky charms
Verification period: Mid-October

LINE Pay at tourist spots

·Fukuoka Airport
More than 23 million passengers use Fukuoka Airport per year and it serves as the main gateway to Kyushu. This will be the first case where LINE Pay is introduced at airports.
Target: 67 stores (in the Domestic and International Terminal Buildings)
Verification period: October 2

·Heisei Chikuho Railway
Heisei Chikuho Railway is a local railway connecting the cities of Tagawa, Nogata and Yukuhashi in Fukuoka Prefecture. The introduction of LINE Pay to railways is the first of its kind in Japan, and this will be the first for the railway company to introduce a cashless payment method.
Target: One-day pass “Chikumaru Kippu”
Verification period: After October

·Fukuoka Tower
Fukuoka Tower is located in the Seaside Momochi area of Sawara Ward, Fukuoka. Many tourists visit this symbolic landmark tower representing Fukuoka.
Target: Fukuoka Tower viewing ticket
Verification period: Early October

·Retail shops on the main street of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, known as the god of learning, attracts more than 8.5 million worshippers annually. LINE Pay will be available at shops on the front approach to the shrine.
Verification period: Mid-October
Note: LINE Pay is not available at some stores.

Chronology of expanding LINE Pay in Fukuoka

·June
Kyushu Electric Power's electric bill invoice (payment table) adopted LINE Pay’s Invoice Payment.
Verification tests started at public facilities. Admission fees to the Fukuoka Municipal Zoo and Botanical Garden as well as Fukuoka City Museum became payable through LINE Pay.

·July
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum started to use LINE Pay

·August
Bicycle parking facilities and the yatais adopted LINE Pay.

·September
Verification tests started at commercial facilities: Hakata Riverine shopping mall and Hakata Hankyu department store.

In addition to these, big companies operating nationwide have decided to introduce LINE Pay one after another. Cashless payment through LINE Pay is available at stores in Fukuoka, such as Lawson, Geo, Loft, BIG ECHO, as well as Shirakiya and Uotami, which are operated by Monteroza.

In 2018, we continued to increase the number of places where LINE Pay is available, aiming at the introduction of the settlement at one million locations nationwide.
※The list of stores where LINE Pay is available: https://line.me/ja/pay/merchant

We are not only expanding the cashless spots of LINE Pay but also conducting various campaigns to promote the use of LINE Pay.

Campaigns under way in Fukuoka

·Half price every day! A “bargain deal” campaign at the yatai in Fukuoka.
Implementation period: from Saturday, September 1, 2018, 0:00 to Friday, November 30, 2018, 23:59
Venue: 16 yatai food stalls in the Hakata and Tenjin areas of Fukuoka City
Details: 50% will be refunded if paid by LINE Pay during the campaign period.

·Shopping is also a steal with LINE Pay! 10% Dicount Campaign
Implementation period: from Wednesday, September 19, 2018 to October 31, 2018
Venue: Hakata Hankyu, Hakata Riverine Mall
Details: 10% will be refunded if paid by LINE Pay during the campaign

·Entrance fee is half price with LINE Pay! “Let’s Go Out Campaign.”
Implementation period: from Friday, September 21, 2018 to Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Target facilities: Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka City Museum, Marine World Uminonakamichi and Fukuoka Tower (early October)
Details: 50% will be refunded if you pay for the admission fee by LINE Pay during the campaign.

Through these undertakings, LINE Pay will reduce the various unwieldy issues related to time, effort and handling charges down to zero, thereby closing the distance between people, money and services. With an eye to a cashless society, we are aiming to be the leader in the world of mobile fintech.

In addition, based on a new agreement that was concluded with Fukuoka City—Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Community Collaboration Projects— the LINE Group will work to realize a city with a quality of life that is richer, more convenient and future-oriented through cutting-edge technologies of AI and Fintech.

Company Profiles
LINE Fukuoka Corporation
Corporate Name
LINE Fukuoka Corporation
Head Office Location
JRJP Hakata Bldg. 12F, 8-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 812-0012
Representative
Noritaka Ochiai, Representative Director/President/CEO
Established
November 18, 2013
Main Business Content
Development, Creative, Operation, Planning, etc., of LINE and LINE related services
LINE Pay Corporation (As of May 11, 2018)
Corporate Name
LINE Pay Corporation
Head Office Location
JR SHINJUKU MIRAINA TOWER 23rd FL., 4-1-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022
Representative
Ko Youngsu, Representative Director and CEO
Capital
3.6 billion JPY
Established
May 9, 2014
Main Business Content
  • Issuance, Sales and Management of Electronic Money, Other Electronic Value Information and Advance Payment Method, Provision of Electronic Payment System, and Fund Transfer Business
  • Sales and Operation of LINE@
  • Service Development Business
  • Advertisement Business

LINE Official Account: @linepeay_jp
Official Twitter: https://x.com/linepay_jp

LINE Pay Corporation has joined the following associations and registered as a business operator at the time of the start of the operation of the business.

  • Advance Payment Method (Third-Party Type) Issuer (Registration Number: The Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau No. 00669/Registered on October 1, 2014)
  • Fund Transfer Business Operator (Registration Number: The Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau No. 00036/Registered on October 1, 2014)
  • Japan Payment Service Association (https://www.s-kessai.jp/ /Joined on August 6, 2014)