Best Credit Cards for Foreigners in Japan (2026)

Can foreigners get credit cards in Japan? — 外国人でもクレジットカードは作れる？

Yes, foreigners can absolutely get credit cards in Japan. However, the approval process can be more challenging than for Japanese nationals. Card issuers evaluate applications based on a set of factors — and as a foreigner, some of those factors may work against you initially, even if you have excellent credit in your home country.

Japan's credit system (managed by CIC, JICC, and KSC — the three major credit bureaus) does not import your credit history from overseas. When you arrive in Japan, you start with zero credit history, regardless of your score back home. This means you need to build credit from scratch.

The key factors that card issuers look at when evaluating a foreigner's application:

• Visa type and length of stay — work visas (技術・人文知識・国際業務), permanent residency, and spouse visas are strongest. Student visas and short-term visas make approval harder.
• Time in Japan — the longer you've been resident, the better. Some cards approve newcomers; others want 1+ years of residency.
• Employment and income — 正社員 (full-time employee) at a known company is ideal. Freelancers and contract workers face stricter screening.
• Japanese bank account — having an established bank account (especially with salary deposits) shows financial stability.
• Existing credit history in Japan — any previous credit card, phone contract (分割払い), or loan payments build your profile.

Easiest cards for foreigners to get approved — 審査が通りやすいカード

If you've just arrived in Japan or have limited credit history, these cards have the highest approval rates among foreigners. Start here and upgrade later once you've built up a credit track record.

1. Rakuten Card — 楽天カード

The Rakuten Card is, without question, the most foreigner-friendly credit card in Japan. It has the lowest barrier to entry of any major card — many foreigners report being approved within days of arriving in Japan, sometimes even before receiving their first paycheck. Rakuten's business model relies on volume (they want as many cardholders as possible to drive Rakuten ecosystem spending), so their approval criteria are more lenient than traditional bank-issued cards.

The card earns 1% Rakuten Points on all purchases (¥100 = 1 point), and 3-5% on Rakuten Ichiba purchases. Points can be used for shopping, paying bills, or even investing through Rakuten Securities. There's no annual fee for the standard card. The application is available in English on the Rakuten website, which is a rare convenience.

The downsides: the standard card has a relatively low initial credit limit (often ¥100,000-300,000 for new foreign applicants), and the card design is famously plain. Rakuten also tends to send a lot of promotional emails. But as a first card in Japan, nothing beats it.

2. Amazon Mastercard — Amazon Mastercard

The Amazon Mastercard (issued by 三井住友カード) is another solid option for foreigners. Approval rates are reportedly high, and it's particularly attractive if you shop on Amazon Japan regularly. The card earns 1.5% on Amazon purchases (2% for Prime members) and 1% on everything else. There is no annual fee.

Being issued by 三井住友カード (one of Japan's largest card issuers), the Amazon Mastercard is widely accepted everywhere. The accumulated points are Amazon points, which automatically apply to your next Amazon order — simple and hassle-free. The application is through Amazon's website and is relatively straightforward, though it's in Japanese.

3. Epos Card — エポスカード

Epos Card (issued by Marui Group) is a hidden gem among foreigner-friendly cards. While less well-known internationally, it has a reputation for approving foreigners with relatively thin credit profiles. The card is a Visa, no annual fee, and comes with excellent overseas travel insurance built-in (up to ¥5 million in medical coverage) — a standout feature for a free card.

You can apply at any マルイ (Marui/OIOI) store and potentially get approved on the spot with instant card issuance. The base rewards rate is 0.5% (lower than Rakuten), but the travel insurance benefit alone makes it worth holding alongside another higher-reward card. After building a track record, Epos often invites cardholders to upgrade to the Epos Gold Card (also no annual fee once invited), which boosts rewards to 1.5% at select stores.

Best rewards cards — ポイント還元率の高いカード

Once you've built some credit history in Japan (6-12 months of on-time payments), you can aim for cards with higher rewards rates. Here are the top options:

The Rakuten Card remains one of the best all-around rewards cards at 1% flat rate. But if you're a heavy Amazon user, the Amazon Mastercard at 1.5-2% on Amazon purchases wins for online shopping. For maximum everyday rewards, consider cards like the JCB Card W (1% base, up to 5.5% at partner stores) — though JCB approval for foreigners can be stricter.

The key to maximizing rewards is stacking ecosystems. If you use Rakuten Card + Rakuten Bank + Rakuten Securities + Rakuten Mobile, your SPU (Super Points Up) multiplier on Rakuten Ichiba shopping can reach 10%+. Similarly, using Amazon Mastercard with Amazon Prime maximizes your return on Amazon spending.

Best cards for travel — 旅行向けカード

If you travel frequently — either back to your home country or around Asia — the right card can save you serious money on flights and provide valuable insurance coverage.

ANA Card / JAL Card — ANAカード / JALカード

The ANA Card and JAL Card are the go-to choices for earning airline miles in Japan. Both earn 1 mile per ¥100-200 spent (depending on the card tier and bonus programs), and miles can be redeemed for flights on their respective airlines and alliance partners (Star Alliance for ANA, Oneworld for JAL).

The standard ANA Card (一般カード) costs ¥2,200/year, while the JAL Card 普通カード is ¥2,200/year (with an initial year free). Both offer travel insurance (domestic and overseas) and airport shopping discounts. For serious mileage earners, the Gold tiers (¥15,400/year) offer significantly better earning rates and lounge access.

Foreigner approval: ANA and JAL cards are moderately difficult for foreigners — they generally want at least 6-12 months of residency and stable employment. Having an existing credit card with a clean payment record significantly helps.

American Express — アメリカン・エキスプレス

American Express has a unique position for foreigners in Japan. Unlike Japanese bank-issued cards, Amex uses its own global credit assessment — which means they may consider your international credit history or professional profile when deciding. Many foreigners report being approved for Amex even when rejected by Japanese domestic cards.

The Amex Green Card (¥13,200/year) and Amex Gold Card (¥31,900/year) offer strong travel benefits — airport lounge access, travel insurance, and a global points program (Membership Rewards) that can transfer to ANA, JAL, and other airlines. The annual fees are high, but if you travel frequently, the benefits can easily justify the cost.

The main downside: Amex acceptance in Japan is limited. Many small shops, restaurants, and convenience stores don't accept Amex. It's improving (especially with Amex's JCB partnership expanding coverage), but you'll still need a Visa or Mastercard as a backup for daily use.

Full comparison table — クレジットカード比較表

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the top credit cards for foreigners in Japan. Use this to find the best match for your spending habits and priorities.

How to apply for a credit card — クレジットカードの申し込み方法

The application process is similar across most cards. Here's the step-by-step:

Building credit as a foreigner in Japan — 信用情報を積み上げる

Japan's credit system rewards consistent, on-time payments over time. Here's how to build a strong credit profile from scratch:

• Start with an easy card — Get a Rakuten Card or Epos Card as your first card. Use it regularly for small purchases and pay the balance in full every month (一括払い). Never miss a payment.
• Use phone installments — Buying a phone on installment (分割払い) through your carrier (Docomo, au, SoftBank) creates a credit record. Make every monthly payment on time. This is one of the easiest ways to build credit even before getting a credit card.
• Avoid リボ払い — Revolving credit (リボ払い) charges extremely high interest (15-18% annually). Some card issuers try to auto-enroll you in revolving payments. Always check your settings and switch to 一括払い (full payment) or 2回払い (2-installment, interest-free).
• Keep utilization low — Don't max out your credit limit. Using less than 30% of your available credit is generally better for your profile.
• Don't apply for too many cards at once — Each application creates an inquiry on your credit file. Multiple applications in a short period signal desperation to issuers. Space applications at least 6 months apart.
• Maintain stable employment and address — Frequent job changes or address changes can hurt your profile. Stability is valued by Japanese credit assessors.

After 12-24 months of consistent credit card use with zero missed payments, you'll find that approval for better cards (Gold cards, airline cards, higher limits) becomes significantly easier. Your credit history in Japan is tracked for up to 5 years by CIC, so every on-time payment compounds your creditworthiness.

Frequently Asked Questions — よくある質問