LINE in Japan for Thai travellers: keep your account, add friends by QR and follow shop accounts
LINE is Japan's main messaging app, and your Thai account works on any data connection. This guide covers adding friends, shop accounts and what changed after LINE Pay closed.
快速解答
- Your Thai LINE account works in Japan immediately on any connection, whether a travel eSIM, Wi-Fi or a local SIM, so you do not need a new account.
- Japanese restaurants, hotels and brands use LINE official accounts for coupons, bookings and queues, and you add them or Japanese friends by scanning a QR code.
- LINE Pay ended in Japan on 30 April 2025, so visitors should pay with credit cards, IC cards or cash instead.
Your Thai LINE account works as it is
LINE is the messaging app most people in Japan use, and it is run by LY Corporation. You do not need to create a new account or change the country on your profile when you arrive. Open the app you already have on whatever connection you use, such as a data-only eSIM, hotel Wi-Fi or a local SIM, and messages, internet calls and photos work as usual.
Internet access in Japan is open: LINE, Google, Facebook and WhatsApp all work normally, so you do not need a VPN to use LINE.
Adding Japanese friends by QR code
People in Japan rarely swap phone numbers and usually exchange LINE QR codes instead. This suits visitors well because you do not need a Japanese number.
- 1Open the add-friend menuOn the Friends tab, tap the add-friend icon and choose QR code.
- 2Scan or show a QR codeScan the other person's code, or show yours for them to scan.
- 3Check the name before addingConfirm the name matches the person you met, then tap add.
If you have no QR code to hand, you can search by LINE ID, but many people in Japan switch ID search off, so scanning is the most reliable route. After adding each other you can chat in English or Thai and use the translate button to read Japanese replies.
Official accounts of shops, restaurants and hotels
Many businesses in Japan run a LINE official account and put a QR poster at the entrance or on the receipt. Once you add one, it can do several useful things.
| 用途 | 範例 | 注意事項 |
|---|---|---|
| Coupons | A discount or freebie for new friends | Read the conditions and expiry in the message |
| 預訂 | Table reservations from the restaurant's menu | Menus are often Japanese only, so use a translate tool |
| Queues | Online queue tickets and an alert when your turn is near | Some systems need you to be near the shop |
| Notifications | Promotions, new menus or hotel notices | Mute or unfollow after your trip to cut noise |
Some booking or queue flows may ask for a Japanese phone number. Check in the app whether a foreign number is accepted, or ask the hotel desk to book for you.
Before you scan a LINE poster in a shop, decide whether you really want the coupon, because adding the account means receiving its messages afterwards. Some coupons are valid only on the day you add the account, and you usually show the coupon screen to staff before ordering or paying.
LINE Pay has ended in Japan: how to pay
The Japanese version of LINE Pay ended on 30 April 2025, while the Thai and Taiwan versions continue. Do not expect to scan-pay with it in Japanese shops. Mobile payment in Japan is now mainly PayPay and other services, but for visitors the practical options are:
- Credit or debit cards, widely accepted in cities
- IC cards such as Suica, PASMO and ICOCA, including those added to Apple Wallet
- Cash, for small shops and some ticket machines
Some large stores and department stores run membership cards inside LINE, which may ask for personal details or a Japanese phone number. If you do not really need the card, skip it and pay as normal without joining.
Other LINE features you can use while travelling
- Translation: Japanese messages in a chat can be translated in the app, or copied into a translation app.
- Keep Memo and albums: store hotel addresses, ticket screenshots and booking photos in a chat with yourself.
- Internet calls: call family in Thailand over data instead of a normal phone line.
- LINE Yahoo news and transit features exist in Japan, though they are mostly in Japanese.
When a hotel contacts guests over LINE, the message usually carries check-in details or a confirmation link. Check that the account matches the name on your booking confirmation, and do not send card or passport details in a chat unless you are sure it is the hotel.
Data use and connection tips
Text chat uses very little data, while video calls and large photos or videos use more. The details are in the related messaging data guide linked below. If your data is running low, send photos at standard quality and download videos over Wi-Fi.
Keep LINE verified while the Thai SIM is in the phone
LINE may send an SMS verification code when you log in on a new device or when it sees unusual activity. If you use a travel eSIM for data, keep your Thai SIM in the phone and switched on so it can receive SMS, but turn mobile data off on the Thai line to avoid roaming charges. Also note your account password and email before you fly.
常見問題
Do I need a Japanese number to use LINE in Japan?+
No. Your existing Thai account works. Some shop services may ask for a Japanese number, so check in that app.
Can I pay with LINE Pay in Japan?+
No. The Japanese version ended on 30 April 2025, so use cards, IC cards or cash instead.
Will following a shop flood me with messages?+
Shops may send promotions now and then, but you can mute or block the account at any time.
Does LINE use a lot of data on an eSIM?+
Text chat uses very little, while video calls and large files use more.
About the author
Bob Kanokphon Thongdee
- Co-founder of eSIMonline.asia
- More than 7 years in online marketing
- Founder of Cojourney Visa and Cojourney Travel
Instagram 和 TikTok 沒有網頁分享按鈕，因此我們會改為開啟手機的分享選單，或直接複製連結。