Here’s our second article on how to use PayPay. Now that you’re hopefully all set with your account (if not, check out the previous article), let me share the different ways to add money to your account.
Charging your PayPay account from a linked bank account
PayPay’s recommendation, and maybe the easiest option, is to connect your account with your bank. Once they are connected, you will be able to top up easily from the application directly.
Warning: This option will only be available if your identity has been verified.
The screenshots show my September 2024 experience. Current menus may look different; follow the prompts in your app. For bank setup, see PayPay’s official registration guide (in Japanese). Once linked, tap Top Up (チャージ), select your bank, enter the amount and confirm.
1. Tap on the arrow on the main screen of PayPay (it may say すべて or All depending on the language set on the app)
2. In Account, tap on 銀行口座登録 (ginkou kouza touroku) or Add Bank
3. Select your bank – unfortunately not all banks can be connected with PayPay. Check the current list of accepted banks (in Japanese); similarly named banks are not necessarily the same institution.
4-… From then on you will receive specific information depending on your bank. You may need your one time password device. The number of screens will also vary depending on your bank. The last screen you will see will have a message along the lines of 口座の登録が完了しました (kouza no touroku ga kanryou shima shita, your account registration is complete)
On top of the need for your account to be verified to be able to link a bank account, you will have to have your name set in the same way in your bank account and PayPay account for it to work.
PayPay Card, PayPay Credit and other credit cards
First off, let me clear up an important distinction: adding a credit card as a payment method is not the same as topping up your PayPay balance. Other companies’ credit cards cannot top up that balance. Eligible PayPay Card users can set up PayPay Credit for card-backed payments and top-ups. See PayPay’s card top-up guidance (in Japanese).
The screenshot and steps below show how I added a card in September 2024. They are a historical example, not a current top-up procedure. For PayPay Card or PayPay Credit, follow the setup instructions in your current app.
1. Tap on the arrow on the main screen of PayPay (it may say すべて or All depending on the language set on the app)
2. Pick “Add card” in account (or カード追加, kaado tsuika)
3. Scan the card to prefill the numbers
4. Confirm
5. Done!
That old “until 2025” warning is no longer a useful guide. Direct payments with cards other than PayPay Card and certain Sumitomo Mitsui cards ended on 31 August 2026. Other eligible cards now use PayPay’s separate card-voucher system for in-store payments, which requires purchasing a voucher. Check the current card-voucher rules and costs (in Japanese) before using it. This still does not top up your balance.
Charging your PayPay account via an ATM
Here’s another straightforward option to charge your account – cash through a Seven Bank or Lawson Bank ATM. You do not need to link a bank account for this. Check PayPay’s current ATM instructions (in Japanese) if the buttons differ from my screenshots.
While it may seem a bit complex, it is not at all!
1. On the ATM of your choice, pick the option スマホ取引 (sumaho torihiki) or チャージ (charge) according to the ATM
2. In your PayPay application, tap “チャージ” or “Top Up”
3. Pick “ATM チャージ”/”ATM Top Up”
4. The QR code scanning screen will open, scan the code displayed on the ATM
5. Enter the security code appearing on your phone on the ATM
6. Insert the money you want to add into your PayPay account
7. Confirm the amount
8. You will have a confirmation screen on your application
9. It’s done! Check the completion message and your balance in the app. If it has not updated, check your transaction history and PayPay’s help page rather than repeating the deposit right away.
PayPay even provides these two videos – in Japanese, but with the explanation above, you should be all set!
For 7-eleven ATMs:
And for Lawson ones:
And that’s it for this article! We explored the main everyday ways to charge your PayPay account, so I hope you are now ready to go (and spend that money)! PayPay also lists other options, including eligible carrier billing and Yahoo! marketplace proceeds, in its full top-up guide (in Japanese). Availability, limits and fees depend on the method.
Information last checked: 10 October 2026 against PayPay’s official guidance. Screenshots show the author’s September 2024 experience. Top-up methods, payment options, limits and fees may change; check the official instructions before proceeding.
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