Which American Express card should you get? All 14 compared
A decision page for readers who have already settled on American Express and only need to pick the right card in the lineup. All 14 are compared here — 13 of them open to new applications, with annual fees of ¥13,200–¥165,000. The axis that actually decides it: annual fee against ordinary earning, plus any milestone bonus you would reach anyway.
Issued by American Express International, Inc. · 14 cards recorded, 13 open to new applications, 3 of them business products · verified 2026-08-13
Which one to get
If you want one answer, start with the American Express Green Card — ¥13,200 a year and a 0.3% published base rate. If you already know what you want the card for, take the matching row instead.
| Use case | Card | Annual fee | Fee condition | Base rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest way in | American Express Green CardGeneral | ¥13,200 | Confirm on the issuer page | 0.3% | Entry Amex lifestyle card |
| Best premium / travel tier | American Express Platinum CardPlatinum | ¥165,000 | — | 1% | Comprehensive premium travel |
| Best specialist / co-brand | Delta SkyMiles AmexGeneral | ¥13,200 | Confirm on the issuer page | — | Delta mileage/status |
| Best business option | Amex Business GreenBusiness | ¥13,200 | Confirm on the issuer page | 0.3% | Small-business Amex entry |
Each row is selected from the recorded data by rule — cheapest fee, a stated waiver, the highest published rate within a grade — not by editorial preference. Nothing here reflects how likely you are to be approved.
How to decide inside this lineup
4 rules apply to this lineup. Work down them in order — the first one usually settles it.
- This lineup has no permanently free card, so the entry tier is a recurring cost from day one. Compare its lowest-fee option against a no-fee card from another issuer before committing to the ecosystem.
- These cards do not all earn the same currency: the lineup spans Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors points, Marriott Bonvoy points, Membership Rewards and 1 more. A higher rate in a programme you cannot redeem well is worth less than a lower rate in one you can.
- This lineup has more than one grade, so an upgrade is an arithmetic question: divide the extra annual fee by the extra published rate to get the spend that repays it, then add only the benefits and milestones you expect to use.
- 3 products here are business-focused and should be compared on their own terms — expense controls, employee cards, accounting integration and who is liable — not against consumer lifestyle perks.
Each rule is triggered by the recorded fees, grades, programmes and payment types rather than written per provider, so it changes when the lineup does.
Annual fees and what they really cost
No card here is free to hold on ordinary payment terms. The cheapest annual fee is ¥13,200, and you pay it whether or not you use the card.
| Card | Grade | Annual fee | Fee condition | Networks | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green Card | General | ¥13,200 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Amex Business Green | Business | ¥13,200 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex | General | ¥13,200 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Persona STACIA Amex | General | ¥15,400 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Hilton Honors Amex | General | ¥16,500 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex | General | ¥34,100 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex Gold | Gold | ¥28,600 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Amex Gold Preferred | Gold | ¥39,600 | — | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Amex Business Gold | Business Gold | ¥49,500 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| American Express Platinum Card | Platinum | ¥165,000 | — | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Amex Business Platinum | Business Platinum | ¥165,000 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Hilton Honors Amex Premium | Premium | ¥66,000 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex Premium | Premium | ¥82,500 | Confirm on the issuer page | American Express | Open to new applications |
| American Express Centurion | Centurion | Varies | Invitation only | American Express | Invitation only |
A waiver or a free first year still means you pay the fee until the condition is met. Family cards, ETC cards and optional programmes can carry their own charges, which are not in this column — check the issuer page. All amounts include tax.
Earning rates and what they earn into
These cards earn into 5 different programmes. Rates in different currencies are not comparable until you fix what a point is worth to you.
| Card | Base rate | Earns | Comparison-site range | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green Card | 0.3% | Membership Rewards | 0.5%–1% | ¥13,200 |
| Amex Business Green | 0.3% | Membership Rewards | — | ¥13,200 |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex | — | Delta SkyMiles | — | ¥13,200 |
| Persona STACIA Amex | — | S Points / Membership Rewards-like program | — | ¥15,400 |
| Hilton Honors Amex | — | Hilton Honors points | — | ¥16,500 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex | — | Marriott Bonvoy points | — | ¥34,100 |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex Gold | — | Delta SkyMiles | — | ¥28,600 |
| Amex Gold Preferred | 1% | Membership Rewards | 1%–3% | ¥39,600 |
| Amex Business Gold | 1% | Membership Rewards | — | ¥49,500 |
| American Express Platinum Card | 1% | Membership Rewards | — | ¥165,000 |
| Amex Business Platinum | 1% | Membership Rewards | — | ¥165,000 |
| Hilton Honors Amex Premium | — | Hilton Honors points | — | ¥66,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex Premium | — | Marriott Bonvoy points | 1%–2% | ¥82,500 |
| American Express Centurion | — | Membership Rewards | — | Varies |
The base rate is the figure the issuer publishes; where none is published the cell is blank rather than estimated. The comparison-site range is calculated by Kakaku.com under its own assumptions about redemption value and bonus conditions — it is a secondary signal, not an issuer claim.
Every card compared
All 14 cards, ordered by grade and then by fee, with what each is for and what to watch on it.
| Card | Annual fee | Base rate | Best for | Main edge | Caution / status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green CardGeneral | ¥13,200 | 0.3% | Entry Amex lifestyle card | Partner bonuses/optional Membership Rewards Plus | Base cash-equivalent value depends heavily on redemption |
| Amex Business GreenBusiness | ¥13,200 | 0.3% | Small-business Amex entry | Business expense tools/benefits | Fee and redemption value |
| Delta SkyMiles AmexGeneral | ¥13,200 | — | Delta mileage/status | Delta status/mileage benefits subject to spend | Award availability and status thresholds |
| Persona STACIA AmexGeneral | ¥15,400 | — | Department store/rail benefits | Hankyu/Hanshin and STACIA benefits | Regional ecosystem |
| Hilton Honors AmexGeneral | ¥16,500 | — | Hilton loyalty | Hilton status and free-night paths | Spend thresholds and point value |
| Marriott Bonvoy AmexGeneral | ¥34,100 | — | Hotel loyalty value | Free-night/status benefits after conditions | 2025/2026 product changes; point value is variable |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex GoldGold | ¥28,600 | — | Premium Delta card | Higher Delta status/mileage benefits | Spend/status conditions |
| Amex Gold PreferredGold | ¥39,600 | 1% | Travel/dining package | Membership Rewards Plus included; hotel/dining benefits | Credits require use; acceptance and fee |
| Amex Business GoldBusiness Gold | ¥49,500 | 1% | Premium business package | Business and travel/dining benefits | High fee |
| American Express Platinum CardPlatinum | ¥165,000 | 1% | Comprehensive premium travel | Hotel status, credits, concierge | Very high fee; benefits must be actively used |
| Amex Business PlatinumBusiness Platinum | ¥165,000 | 1% | Premium business card | Premium business/travel package | Very high fee |
| Hilton Honors Amex PremiumPremium | ¥66,000 | — | Premium Hilton card | Higher status/free-night benefits | Fee and threshold economics |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex PremiumPremium | ¥82,500 | — | Strong for frequent Marriott users | Higher hotel/status/free-night benefits after spend thresholds | Major fee/threshold changes; points variable |
| American Express CenturionCenturion | Varies | — | Ultra-premium Amex | Top-tier benefits | Invitation and opaque pricing |
The last three columns are the English research record for each card. Signup campaigns are deliberately excluded — they are not standing value.
Benefits, and what switches them on
14 of these cards have a recorded insurance, lounge, family-card or eligibility term. What decides a benefit’s value is not whether it exists but what switches it on.
| Card | Insurance | Lounge | Family / ETC | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green Card | Travel insurance subject to use | Airport lounge benefit subject to terms | Family card fee applies | 20+ guideline / screening |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex | Travel insurance | Airport lounge benefit | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| Amex Business Green | Travel insurance | Airport lounge benefit | Employee cards | Business owners / corporations |
| Persona STACIA Amex | Travel insurance | — | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| Hilton Honors Amex | Travel insurance | Hotel benefits | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex | Travel insurance | Hotel benefits | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| Delta SkyMiles Amex Gold | Travel insurance | Airport lounges | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| Amex Gold Preferred | Travel insurance | Airport lounge and travel credits | Family cards: stated free allocation | 20+ / screening |
| Amex Business Gold | Travel insurance | Airport lounges | Employee cards | Business owners / corporations |
| American Express Platinum Card | Premium travel insurance | Global lounge collection / concierge | 4 family cards free stated | Screening |
| Amex Business Platinum | Premium travel insurance | Global lounge collection/concierge | Employee cards | Business owners / corporations |
| Hilton Honors Amex Premium | Travel insurance | Hotel benefits | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex Premium | Travel insurance | Hotel benefits | Family card terms | 20+ / screening |
| American Express Centurion | Premium travel insurance | Premium lounges/concierge | See official materials | Invitation |
A blank cell means nothing was recorded, not that the benefit is absent. Travel insurance in Japan is often conditional on paying for part of the trip with the card, and lounge access usually caps visits and charges for guests — the activation rule is on the issuer page.
Upgrade maths: what a higher tier has to return
The cheapest rung here pays for itself at ¥3,772,000 of eligible spend a year. 1 of the rungs does not raise the rate at all, so that one can never be repaid by earning.
| From | Up to | Extra fee | Extra rate | Break-even spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green Card | Amex Gold Preferred | ¥26,400 | +0.7% | ¥3,772,000 |
| Amex Gold Preferred | American Express Platinum Card | ¥125,400 | 0% | Rewards alone never repay it |
- Reward-only break-even spend
incremental annual fee ÷ incremental effective reward rateThe eligible spend at which the higher tier’s extra earning covers its extra fee, and nothing more.- Upgrade net value
incremental rewards + used credits + used benefits + family-card savings − incremental annual feeCount a credit or benefit only at the value you would actually redeem, not at its advertised value.- Milestone expected value
milestone benefit value × probability you reach the threshold without changing how you spendIf reaching the threshold requires new spending, the milestone is a cost, not a benefit.
These figures use the published base rate only — no merchant multipliers, milestones, insurance, lounge access or family-card savings. Adding spending you would not otherwise do always breaks the arithmetic.
Check these on the issuer page before applying
The tables above narrow the choice; only the issuer can settle it. Check these four things on the official page before you apply.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Credit limit | Almost every issuer sets an individual limit after underwriting. Do not infer a usable limit from the card’s tier unless an official public range is stated. |
| Rewards limits | Check monthly and annual bonus caps, annual-spend thresholds, whether enrolment is required, and whether taxes, utilities, e-money charging, securities accumulation, fees or cash advances earn a reduced rate or nothing at all. |
| Benefit limits | Confirm what activates the insurance, who is covered, lounge visit and guest rules, reservation channels, blackout dates, and whether a benefit renews by calendar year, membership year or card anniversary. |
| Payment and overseas use | Verify the foreign transaction fee, cash-advance terms, installment and revolving settings, the accepted network, and mobile-wallet compatibility. |
Important cautions
This page is a comparison, not advice. These hold whichever card you pick.
- This is a comparison guide, not approval advice. Issuers decide eligibility and credit limits, and nothing here predicts either.
- Never increase spending to reach a points threshold or a fee waiver. Interest and unnecessary purchases overwhelm rewards quickly.
- Use a conservative point value. The same point is worth different amounts as a statement credit, as merchant spend, as miles or as a limited campaign reward.
- Invitation, campaign, insurance and lounge terms change. Re-check the official terms immediately before applying.
- If you are a foreign resident, confirm accepted identification, name and address matching, Japanese-language requirements and any bank-account condition directly with the issuer.
Common questions
Which American Express card should I get?
For most people the starting point is the American Express Green Card — ¥13,200 a year and a 0.3% published base rate. Move up to the American Express Platinum Card (¥165,000 a year and a 1% published base rate) only when the extra fee is repaid by earning and by benefits you will genuinely use. American Express decides eligibility and credit limits, so check the current terms on the issuer page before you apply.
Is a paid American Express card worth the annual fee?
On rewards alone, the ¥26,400 step from the American Express Green Card to the Amex Gold Preferred is repaid at about ¥3,772,000 of eligible spend a year, because the published rate only rises by 0.7%. Below that, the upgrade has to be justified by benefits you actually use.
Do all American Express cards earn the same points?
No. The lineup spans Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors points, Marriott Bonvoy points, Membership Rewards and 1 more. Rates in different currencies are not directly comparable, so decide how you would redeem before you compare them.
Does American Express have a no-annual-fee card?
Not as recorded on 2026-08-16: none of the 10 personal cards you can choose between here is permanently free, and the cheapest is ¥13,200. If you do not want a recurring fee, compare a no-fee card from another issuer.
Does American Express offer a business card?
Yes — 3 of these are business products, and the lowest-cost one is the Amex Business Green (¥13,200 a year and a 0.3% published base rate). Compare them on expense controls, employee cards, accounting integration and liability rather than on consumer perks.
Sources and freshness
Everything on this page comes from the issuer’s own product and lineup pages, and from the points programme’s official pages, as checked on 2026-08-13.
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/all-cards
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/gold-preferred-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/platinum-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/benefits/centurion
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/marriott-bonvoy-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/marriott-bonvoy-premium
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/hilton-classic-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/hilton-premium-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/delta-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/delta-gold-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/benefits/persona-stacia-american-express-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/green-business-corp-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/gold-business-corp-card
- www.americanexpress.com/ja-jp/credit-cards/platinum-business-corp-card
Card facts are from the research database as of 2026-08-16; the points and benefit records are from the 2026-08-17 pass. Fees, benefits, campaigns and application rules change without notice. If something here is wrong, tell us on the corrections page.