#Japan #Itabashi #Smooth Pay #GTR

Smooth Pay: Transforming Parking Convenience in Japan

On May 18, 2026, the company Smooth, headquartered in Komae, Tokyo, announced the operational start of Japan's first fully automated coin parking system in Itabashi, Tokyo. This installation utilizes Smooth's innovative payment platform, Smooth Pay. It's important to note that while Smooth developed the payment infrastructure, it partnered with GTR, a sub-lease operator, for the actual management of the parking lot.

How Smooth Pay Works

Users can access the parking facility for the first time by scanning a QR code at the entrance, which directs them to a web application. This process does not require downloading an app. Users simply register their vehicle number and payment details, completing the registration in just a few minutes. From their second visit onwards, the parking payment is automatic: drivers merely enter and exit the lot, bypassing the need for a ticket machine, payment terminals, or cash transactions entirely.

The Evolution of Parking in Japan

Market Context

The time-based parking market in Japan is estimated to be worth approximately 800 billion yen. According to an analysis by the Japan Parking Business Association (JPB), the existing structure of coin parking remains outdated, with the experience for users being largely unchanged for decades. Traditional actions like stopping to pull a ticket, retaining a paper receipt, and operating payment machines contribute to traffic congestion and delays both at the exit and within the parking area itself.

Smooth aims to revolutionize this user's experience by implementing its automated mobility payment system.

Service Mechanism: Simplifying the User Flow

1. First-Time Users:
When accessing the Smooth Pay parking lot for the first time, users need to register via a web app accessible through a QR code or URL at the entrance. The process is designed for efficiency and takes just 1-2 minutes.

2. Subsequent Visits:
For returning users, the automation kicks in; entrance and exit cameras recognize the vehicle's license plate. As users enter and exit without manual interactions or ticket handling, the system automatically charges the pre-registered payment method, generating a receipt available on the web.

The parking operations require only signage and cameras, eliminating the need for traditional payment equipment.

Parking Location and Details

The first parking facility utilizing Smooth Pay is located at 2-16-3 Sakashita, Itabashi, Tokyo, with operations starting on May 18, 2026. Here’s an overview of its features:

• - Operating Hours: 24/7
• - Capacity: 5 vehicles
• - Vehicle Types: Standard and compact cars
• - Pricing:

- Daytime (8:00 - 19:00): 200 yen for 30 minutes
- Nighttime (19:00 - 8:00): 100 yen for 60 minutes
- Daily maximum: 700 yen for 24 hours; 300 yen for overnight parking

• - Payment Method: Requires a credit card registration via Smooth Pay
• - Accessibility: Just a 2-minute walk from Hasune Station.

Addressing Industry Challenges

Smooth does not operate parking lots themselves but has designed Smooth Pay as a modular mobility payment infrastructure applicable across the industry. This significantly reduces initial costs and maintenance efforts for parking operators, while improving operational efficiency and security by eliminating cash transactions. For users, the seamless, contactless payment experience provides unparalleled convenience, mitigating disturbances in parking flow.

As stated by CEO Isamu Funosuke, “Over the decades, user experiences in Japan’s time-based parking market have remained stagnant. Our goal is to create a more user-friendly parking experience without operating parking lots directly. This marks the beginning of redefining parking systems with a focus on mobility payment solutions, paving the way for future urban infrastructure, especially in the advent of autonomous driving technology.”

Conclusion

Smooth's implementation of the Smooth Pay system at Itabashi is a significant step forward for parking solutions in Japan. Not only does it address long-standing issues of efficiency and user friendliness, but it also represents a fundamental shift towards a fully automated, cashless environment within the parking industry, heralding a new era for urban infrastructure.

For more information, you can visit Smooth's website.

Contact Information

If you have any inquiries, please reach out via email at [email protected] or call 050-1793-6516. Media requests can be submitted through the contact page on our website.