Find Your Perfect Japan Travel Credit Card

If you want to find the best credit card for Japan travel, there are lots of choices that can make it easier for you to save up and get rewards. For a straightforward way to earn rewards, you might like cards like the Wells Fargo Autograph Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. But if you’re looking for extra perks and benefits to make your trip even better, you might prefer cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Platinum Card from American Express. Let’s take a look at some of the best credit cards for traveling to Japan to see which one suits you best.

Comparing the Best Credit Cards to Use in Japan

Choosing the best credit card for Japan depends on how you spend and what you like. A no-fee card with good rewards is a safe bet for stress-free travel. But if you’re willing to pay an annual fee, you might get extra perks like access to airport lounges.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards card makes it easy to earn awesome travel rewards for what you buy.

You won’t pay extra fees for using it outside the country. When you spend money, you earn miles. For every dollar spent, you get 2 miles. If you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel or buy from Capital One Entertainment, you get 5 miles per dollar until 2025.

This means you get lots of rewards without having to stick to specific types of purchases.

And there are cool travel perks too:

• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Transfer your miles to partners like British Airways and Choice Hotels
• Two free visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges

But there’s a $95 annual fee for cardholders.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph card helps you earn travel rewards when you buy regular things. With no annual fee, you can earn 3X points on dining out, traveling, buying gas, using transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans, and 1X points on everything else.

This means you can quickly gather points on things you already buy, like filling up your car or grabbing a meal. Plus, when you use it abroad, you won’t be charged any extra fees for foreign transactions. And you have lots of ways to use your points, including transferring them to travel partners starting in 2024.

But this card doesn’t offer special travel benefits like access to airport lounges or a yearly travel credit.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card helps you earn travel rewards on all your purchases easily. It doesn’t have an annual fee, and you earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, no matter what you’re buying. That means you don’t have to keep track of different categories for bonus points, and you only need one card in your wallet.

Plus, when you use it outside the country, you won’t be charged extra fees for foreign transactions. But, you won’t get fancy travel perks like airport lounge access or any travel-related credits with this card.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

If you’re looking for a fancy travel card with awesome perks, the Amex Platinum might be for you. You won’t be charged extra for using it abroad. Plus, you earn 5X points on eligible airfare and hotel purchases, and 1X points on everything else.

Here are some of its perks:

• Access to over 1,400 airport lounges
• Up to $200 airline fee credit each year
• You can get up to $189 off CLEAR Plus every year
• You can get up to $100 for Global Entry every four years or for TSA PreCheck® every 4.5 years

Remember, some perks require you to sign up first. You can use your points for travel on amextravel.com or transfer them to partners like ANA Mileage Club and Delta SkyMiles. But there’s a big $695 annual fee for cardholders.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has great benefits for traveling, even to Japan. You won’t pay extra fees when using it abroad. Plus, you can earn lots of points: 5 times on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 times on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, 2 times on other travel purchases, and 1 time on everything else.

When you want to use your points for a trip to Japan, redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards to get a 25% bonus. So, 10,000 points would be worth $125 toward travel. You can also move your points to airline loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

As a bonus, you’ll get up to $50 in credits each year for hotel stays booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That’s a nice discount on your lodging. The only downside is the $95 annual fee.

Citi Premier® Card

The Citi Premier card gives you access to great rewards and extra perks for everyday spending. There are no extra fees for using it abroad. Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels—great for everyday shopping!

Here’s a cool bonus: You can get $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more once a year through thankyou.com. This could be handy if you’re planning a longer stay in Japan. You can use your points for travel on thankyou.com or transfer them to partners like Cathay Pacific and Choice Privileges.

The only downside is that there’s a $95 annual fee for cardholders.

Bilt Mastercard®

The Bilt Mastercard is great for earning rewards on your rent and everyday spending. No yearly fee! Get 3X points on dining, 2X points on travel, and up to 1X points on rent payments, all without extra fees, up to 100,000 points per year. You also earn 1X points on other purchases, but you need to use the card at least 5 times every month to earn points.

It’s especially good for renters because you can earn rewards on your rent without any extra fees. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees when you use it abroad.

You can also transfer your points to travel partners like American Airlines and Hyatt, which gives you cool options for traveling to Japan. For example, you can use American Airlines miles to book flights with Japan Airlines, or Hyatt points for hotel stays in Tokyo, Kyoto, and other cities in Japan.

Just remember, you won’t earn any points if you don’t use your card at least 5 times each month, but even small purchases count towards this requirement.

Discover the Best Credit Card to Use When You Arrive in Japan

Ready to make your Japan trip dreams a reality? Discover credit card choices that match what you like and how you spend. Whether you prioritize no-fee simplicity or crave luxury perks, there’s a card waiting to enhance your journey. Maximize your rewards, enjoy stress-free transactions abroad, and unlock exclusive benefits. Start your journey today and turn your Japan adventure into unforgettable memories!