Around the Hirosaki area, more and more stores are currently introducing smartphone payment systems.

With the increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan, the introduction of smartphone payment systems such as "Alipay" and "WeChatPay", especially in China, is progressing. This is partly because Aomori Bank made a bank account link with "Origami Pay" in Tohoku last April for the first time in Tohoku, and is working to spread Alipay.

In December of last year, in Ajigasawa-machi, the publicity paper featured two pages of cashless payments, and a study session for retailers is making efforts. A person in charge of the Regional Management Strategy Group, Policy Promotion Division, said, “Inbound tourists stayed in the town but did not actually shop. First of all, we will start by learning about the demands and needs in order to create an acceptance system. ".

Mr. Keihei Narita, the owner of the Irish pub "Dorans" (Daikanmachi), which introduced "Alipay" and "Wechat pay" from February last year, said, "A Chinese tourist trying to get past the store wants to come. We introduced smartphone payments, but we do not feel that they are directly linked to attracting customers. It may be good in the sense that there are more options.”

"PayPay" has become a hot topic in the "10 billion yen campaign" and is being introduced rapidly. It was said that it was introduced in December last year at "Dorans". “The appeal of the store is that there is no initial cost and that it will be deposited the next day,” says Narita. "European and American foreigners often pay by card," he said.

Miki Takemori, the owner of the general store "bambooforest" (Daikanmachi), who has introduced Rakuten's cashless system since the opening of the store in 2012, said, "I visited the store after seeing the list of installed stores that can be confirmed from the application. There are also customers who do this, and in many cases they use points to make purchases."

Kiyocho Kikuchi, the owner of the Kikuchi Pharmacy (Dote-machi), said, “One year ago, I had a difficult time responding to the increase in the number of “bomb purchase” tourists. We introduced a smartphone payment system from last year, and most of the customers talk to each other. It's convenient because it's no longer needed."

A 30-year-old man living in Hirosaki said, "I've seen a Chinese group doing shopping at a drugstore in the neighborhood. I need a reception system, but I also need to know the demand." One of the women in their 20s said, "I'm happy with the smartphone payment system, but I also want Suica to support it."