Similar outages happened before but this one hits hard.
BREAKING: Nationwide credit card payment outage hits Japan; retailers, convenience stores, public transport affected.
• Credit card payment systems across Japan suffered a nationwide outage, disrupting transactions at retailers, convenience stores and public transport.
• Major issuers, including Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS and Sumitomo Mitsui Card, are investigating the incident, with the cause still unknown.
• JR East’s Mobile Suica and Mobile PASMO transit payment apps were also affected, causing widespread payment disruptions.
BREAKING: Nationwide credit card payment outage hits Japan; retailers, convenience stores, public transport affected.
• Credit card payment systems across Japan suffered a nationwide outage, disrupting transactions at retailers, convenience stores and public transport.
•…
— BigBreakingWire (@BigBreakingWire) July 16, 2026
TOKYO, July 16 — Credit cards failed to work at convenience stores and other merchants across Japan on Thursday following a system outage, with major credit card companies rushing to restore services, Kyodo News reported.
Major credit card issuer Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co said the trouble began around 8am when card payments could not be processed at some merchants, while Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co reported a similar problem. The companies are investigating the cause.