Apps

Visiting Japan? Use This App to Find Free Wi-Fi, Discover Places to Go and Take Pictures with Local Mascots in AR

While Japan was mainly closed to travel when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, 2023 is seeing a revival of tourism as entry requirements ease. Many services and tools are appearing to help make the journey more enjoyable and convenient fo…

The State of Cashless Around the World: A Deep Dive

Earlier this year, the editors of PayPay Inside-Out and SoftBank News teamed up to learn more about the state of cashless payments around the world by checking with PayPay employees, who hail from more than 40 countries and regions. As the…

HELLO CYCLING Bike-sharing Platform Gathers Speed as a Transportation Alternative

An extensive and efficient network of trains and buses often comes to mind when Japan’s transportation infrastructure is mentioned. To avoid crowded trains and get to locations between stations and bus stops, however, bike-sharing is gaini…

SoftBank Corp. Launches App to Make Life Easier for Foreign Workers New to Japan

Japan is facing considerable demographic challenges—including a low birthrate and an aging population—that are causing labor shortages and posing a threat to economic growth. Against this backdrop, in 2019 the Japanese government created a…

OYO Japan Rebrands as Tabist to Offer New, Localized Travel Experiences

On March 16, 2022, OYO Japan held a virtual press conference to announce it will re-launch under a new brand name, “Tabist.” OYO Japan’s President and Chief Executive Officer Ryota Tanozaki unveiled the new brand and company name that will…

The State of Cashless Around the World: a PayPay Inside-Out and SoftBank News Collaboration

When talking about the group companies of SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434), one would be remiss not to mention PayPay Corporation. Jointly formed by SoftBank Corp. and Yahoo Japan in 2018, in collaboration with India’s largest digital payment …

SoftBank Corp. and PayPay Collaborate with SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN to Boost Cashless Payments and Official App Usage

One the major strengths of SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) is its unparalleled number of customer touchpoints. This customer foundation spans SoftBank’s mobile and broadband subscribers (55 million), and the users of platforms provided by gro…

Mobile Payment Service Provider PayPay Holds Press Conference to Unveil Giveaway Campaign

PayPay Corporation, a joint venture established by SoftBank Corp. and Yahoo Japan Corporation, held a press conference on November 22, 2018 to announce a new campaign for its “PayPay” smartphone payment service that uses QR codes and barco…