Japan's First Coin Parking Lot Equipped with Fully Automated Payment System 'Smooth Pay' Begins Operations in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo

Smooth Inc. (Headquarters: Komae City, Tokyo; CEO: Fusanosuke Izumi; hereinafter 'Smooth'), the developer of the mobility payment infrastructure 'Smooth Pay', announced today, May 18, 2026, the start of operations of Japan's first*1 coin parking facility equipped with its proprietary payment system 'Smooth Pay' in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. The land for this parking lot is not managed by Smooth; operations are handled by sublease operator GTR Inc., while Smooth provides the payment platform and technical support for operations.

For their first use, users simply access a web application via their smartphone using a QR code located at the facility and register their vehicle license plate and payment information without needing to download any apps. From the second time onward, users can complete their payments by simply 'entering and exiting' parking lots equipped with Smooth Pay. Ticketing machines, payment kiosks, and cash payments are completely unnecessary.

*1 According to internal research. This is the first permanent coin parking facility in Japan (as of May 2026) to realize fully automated payment (contactless and operation-free entry/exit) from the second use onward, requiring only initial web registration without app downloads.

■ What is Smooth Pay: A Fully Automated Mobility Payment System

'Smooth Pay' is an automated mobility payment service developed by Smooth that connects hardware installed at parking lots with a payment system. It integrates automated license plate recognition cameras, a payment system, and a user authentication platform, providing it as a service infrastructure to parking operators.

Smooth Pay itself is not a parking operation business, but rather an infrastructure layer that 'sits on top of' existing and newly built coin parking lots. This eliminates the need for parking operators to own and maintain ticketing and payment machines themselves, while users can enjoy a consistent, operation-free payment experience across different operators.

■ Market Background: The 'Ticketing Machine to Payment Kiosk' Experience Remains Unchanged Even in an 800 Billion Yen Market

The hourly parking market in Japan is estimated to be worth approximately 800 billion yen*3. An actual condition analysis survey by the Japan Parking Business Association (JPB), an industry group, also highlighted the market structure of coin-operated parking and the delay in adopting cashless payments as key issues*4. However, the user experience itself has not changed significantly for decades. Stopping at a ticketing machine, keeping a paper ticket, operating a payment kiosk, and taking out cash or credit cards—this series of actions continues to cause issues such as exit congestion, on-site accidents, and payment machine maintenance.

Smooth aims to completely rebuild this experience through the introduction of its automated mobility payment system.

*3 Eirpark Inc., 'Japan's Hourly Parking Market: A Growing Industry Continuing to Expand'
*4 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 'Actual Condition Analysis Survey on the Coin-Operated Automobile Parking Market'

■ Service Flow: Web Registration for the First Time, 'Just Enter and Exit' From Then On

1. First-time use: Register via a web app without downloading (takes 1-2 minutes)

Users access a web browser on their smartphones via a QR code posted at the parking lot entrance or a specified URL. No app installation is required at all, and vehicle license plate and payment information (credit card) can be registered in just 1-2 minutes.

Check the 'Test Drive' section on our website for details!

2. Second time onward: Fully automated payment (operation-free, contactless)

At parking lots equipped with Smooth Pay, cameras installed at the entrance and exit automatically recognize license plates, allowing registered users to enter and exit without any gate or payment operations. Upon exit, the registered payment method is automatically charged, and a receipt is issued online.

A parking lot where operations are completed with only signs and cameras.

■ Overview of 'Smooth Pay 1st Installation Property (Itabashi Ward)'

Location: 2-16-3 Sakashita, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 'Yume Sakashita Nichome Parking'

Operator: GTR Inc.

Payment Platform Provider: Smooth Inc. (Smooth Pay)

Start of Operations: Monday, May 18, 2026

Business Hours: 24 hours

Capacity: 5 vehicles

Supported Vehicles: Standard and light cars

Standard Rates: 8:00-19:00: 200 yen / 30 min | 19:00-8:00: 100 yen / 60 min

Maximum Rates: 700 yen for 24 hours after parking | Nighttime (19:00-8:00): 300 yen

Payment Method: Smooth Pay (Credit card registration required)

Access: 2-minute walk from Hasune Station

* The land and site of this parking lot are not owned by Smooth, but are operated by a sublease business operator.

■ The Challenge Smooth Pay Solves: A Design Philosophy to Expand as an 'OS' for the Entire Industry

Smooth does not aim to operate parking lots itself, but rather contributes to solving industry challenges by deploying 'Smooth Pay' as a layer of mobility payment infrastructure that can be implemented across the industry.