What Japanese Credit Card/Debit Card do you use?

18 comments

1. try r/JapanFinance

2. Err.. regardless of what card you decide to get, your bank is not charged for processing payments. All credit cards can be linked to bank accounts. However unlike Gaica the withdrawal is usually the following month, so you need to budget appropriately.

   You will, of course, be responsible for whatever amount you owe.

3. Currently using Amazon. There is no annual membership fee or signing up fee, its a Mastercard hence can be used internationally, they have a very good app to keep track of purchases and control the the credit card (CC), and lastly it is technically a CC provided by SMBC bank.

   I felt Amazon is more liking to provide their CC to foreigners + students compared to others. The reason I am saying this is:

   * Firstly, my full name consists of more than 18 characters. Often many service providers in Japan do not accept name larger than 18 characters, moreover it also causes huge amount of issues and they end up not giving you their CC. Amazon did had similar issues, but they often overlook these things when considering someone for their CC.
   * Secondly, there was a mismatch between the name I used for the Amazon credit card (due to character limit) and my bank account, but they were kind enough to send me paper documents for manually linking the credit card and bank account.
   * Thirdly, I have multiple friends (also foreigners + students), who had similar situations yet all of them received Amazon CC.

   Regarding the handling or transfer fee, I am not clear what those are. I did multiple purchases on Amazon using the CC, also booked flight tickets and what not, so far there was no additional charge other than the mentioned payment for those goods and services.

   Hope this helps!

4. Credit card
   Jcb gold for flights/miles

   Rakuten for points on daily life expenses / ETC

   Cash card
   SMBC because that’s what my company uses to pay

5. Smbc platinum preferred because of sbi tsumitate ang great point backs

6. Funny you mention this. I was using Gaica but they announced they’re ending the product. So I’m gonna watch this thread lol.

   Apparently Nexus card is easy to get

7. My bank is the shitty Shinsei Bank but I opened an account and have a debit card on PayPay

   PayPay Bank card is a debit visa with no fees (at least I don’t have any)

   I can use Google Pay with it (Apple Pay not working)

   I can create an “infinite” number of virtual visa card (to do payment on internet in case its a scam)

   Basicallt what I do is transfering some “small” amount from my Shinsei to the PayPay (it’s quick like 3 minures), like 30.000yen. And then I use my paypay card easily everywhere (internet, etc.)

   It’s very convenient and it can be connected with PayPay (not the bank) to pay with PayPay (very convenient with the stores that don’t accept card but accept PayPay, there is plenty of stores like that)

   But I would never use PayPay as a main bank.

   I got multiple issues at the beginning:

   I needed to apply 3 times because they always refused me with shitty reason like “name does not match”, “proof paper not good”, so at the end I ended putting all the papers they asked even the optional one

   I struggled to link with PayPay because the name/adress were mismatching. I don’t remember clearly but basically on PayPay I validated an account by scanning my number card and it worked. But it would only put Alphabet name. And I think on PayPay Bank they asked me my name in katakana and alphabet, so it was mismatching.
   I ended validating again the PayPay app by typing my name and address by hand (in order to match with the paypay bank account)
   (It does not help that I have 3 first names + 2 family names)

   And also I got my card blocked once because I tried to use it on a website they thought it was scam. So they blocked in case and had to ask for a new card (it was free)
   Now I use virtual card on internet, so if it blocks I just delete the virtual card

8. Sony bank, debit/cash card in one, easy to open and easy to use app. Can’t recommend it enough.

9. If you want a debit card, Sony Bank offers a Visa debit as well as an English online banking interface. Like Shinsei they also offer excellent exchange rates.

   If you want a way to separate your online purchases from your bank account, getting a Wise account plus their debit card is a good option. Also very good exchange rates.

   If you want to get an actual credit card then EPOS and Rakuten are generally considered to be the easiest ones to get. Apply to one of them. If you are rejected, wait 6.5 months before applying anywhere else. The reject sits on your credit report for that amount of time.

   There are many, many threads about this here and on /r/JapanFinance, as well as the wiki over at /r/JapanFinance.

10. Amazon CC for day to day spending, food shopping, Konbini, and buying from Amazon (diapers, protein powder, whisky and other random stuff). Clock up some serious Amazon points especially as you get extra points for amazon shopping, and I think 1.5% for Konbini shopping.

    Rakuten CC for private insurance premiums and other bills such as phone bill. Soon to be Tsumitate part of new NISA starting January 2024 too. Yield a good amount of Rakuten points, which I am going start investing with on my rakuten securities account once I get that set up.

    ANA CC for train/bus (tied to a postpaid transport card), ETC, and ANA flight booking, yield some ANA miles.

11. I have an SMBC numberless card. It’s quite good.

12. I have two; Rakuten and a Ponta credit card through Lawsons. The best cards are the ones whose points or services you’re actually going to use.

    I use the Rakuten points for occasional shopping or hotel purchases

    The Ponta points we save up and use to buy drinks or snacks from Lawsons every once in awhile

13. SMBC and Rakuten. Very difficult to get SMBC now but Rakuten is easy.

14. Rakuten CC

    Saison Amex Gold (special campaign no annual fee)

15. SMBC using their Olive account. Cash, Debit, Credit and Point card in one card that you can switch freely using their app.

16. I have a gaica too, I signed up for a Rakuten credit card at 10:30pm the other night and it was approved 8:30am the next day lol. I got the card today. They didn’t put the panda character design I selected on the card, it’s just the generic silver one 🙁 the delivery guy didn’t check my name / ID either despite it apparently being a big deal for delivery.

    I hate how the credit card number, Rakuten point barcode and security number are all together on the back of the card, so you gotta show your card and all the details even just for Rakuten points, seems like a terrible risk of identity fraud. Thankfully there is a Rakuten point app too with a scannable barcode.

17. Credit cards: Rakuten, Amazon, and MUFJ. I got the MUFJ first as it was my bank, and I’ve had no trouble being approved since. There’s a bunch of credit card comparison sites in Japanese that you can translate in the browser for good tips. Just google クレジットカード比較。 If you’re a big spender and like hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Amex is a popular choice, but it ain’t free.

18. SMBC Olive and Amazon card.