MoneyInJapan

Which Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS card should you get? All 22 compared

A decision page for readers who have already settled on Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS and only need to pick the right card in the lineup. All 22 are compared here — 22 of them open to new applications, with annual fees of ¥0–¥30,800. The axis that actually decides it: annual fee against ordinary earning, plus any milestone bonus you would reach anyway.

Issued by Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co., Ltd. · 22 cards recorded, 22 open to new applications · verified 2026-08-13

Which one to get

If you want one answer, start with the Mitsubishi UFJ Card — no annual fee and a 0.5% published base rate. If you already know what you want the card for, take the matching row instead.

Use caseCardAnnual feeFee conditionBase rateBest for
Best no-fee starting pointMitsubishi UFJ CardGeneralFree0.5%Broad-network mainstream card
Best paid card with a fee-waiver pathJA CardGeneral¥1,375First year free · waiver available0.5%JA ecosystem integration
Best premium / travel tierMUFG Card Platinum American ExpressPlatinum¥22,0000.5%Relatively accessible premium travel package
Best specialist / co-brandENEOS Card CGeneral¥1,375First year freeHigh-volume fuel discount

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.

  1. Start with the strongest no-fee card, and move up only when a paid tier has a waiver you will actually reach, a milestone bonus you would hit anyway, or a recurring benefit worth more than its fee.
  2. These cards do not all earn the same currency: the lineup spans ENEOS points, ENEOS points / discounts, Fuel discount, GDO Points and 6 more. A higher rate in a programme you cannot redeem well is worth less than a lower rate in one you can.
  3. 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.
  4. Jizile is a revolving-payment-only product. The headline rate is earned against interest you cannot avoid by paying the balance in full, so the advertised return is not comparable to the rest of this lineup.

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

8 of the 21 personal cards you can choose between here have no annual fee. The fee is the only cost you pay whether or not you use the card, so it is the first column to read.

CardGradeAnnual feeFee conditionNetworksAvailability
GDO CardGeneralFreeVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
JizileGeneralFreeVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
Mitsubishi UFJ CardGeneralFreeVisa · Mastercard · JCB · American ExpressOpen to new applications
VIASO CardGeneralFreeMastercardOpen to new applications
VIASO CinnamorollGeneralFreeMastercardOpen to new applications
VIASO GudetamaGeneralFreeMastercardOpen to new applications
VIASO mofusand x SanrioGeneralFreeMastercardOpen to new applications
VIASO My MelodyGeneralFreeVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
VIASO Urawa RedsGeneralFreeVisaOpen to new applications
ENEOS Card CGeneral¥1,375First year freeVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
ENEOS Card PGeneral¥1,375First year freeVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
ENEOS Card SGeneral¥1,375First year free · waiver availableVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
JA CardGeneral¥1,375First year free · waiver availableVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
MUFG Card Disney DesignGeneral¥1,375First year freeJCBOpen to new applications
SKYPASS MUFG CardGeneral¥3,300Confirm on the issuer pageVisa · MastercardOpen to new applications
MileagePlus MUFG CardGeneral¥5,500Visa · MastercardOpen to new applications
Mitsubishi UFJ Card GoldGold¥11,000First year freeVisa · Mastercard · JCB · American ExpressOpen to new applications
Mitsubishi UFJ Card Gold PrestigeGold¥11,000Visa · Mastercard · JCB · American ExpressOpen to new applications
SKYPASS MUFG GoldGold¥11,000Visa · MastercardOpen to new applications
GDO Gold CardGold¥15,746Visa · MastercardOpen to new applications
MUFG Card Platinum American ExpressPlatinum¥22,000American ExpressOpen to new applications
Miles & More MUFG Platinum AmexPlatinum¥30,800American ExpressOpen to new applications

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 10 different programmes. Rates in different currencies are not comparable until you fix what a point is worth to you.

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 22 cards, ordered by grade and then by fee, with what each is for and what to watch on it.

CardAnnual feeBase rateBest forMain edgeCaution / status
GDO CardGeneralFreeGolf ecosystemGolf-course and store benefitsNiche points
JizileGeneralFree1.5%Higher advertised returnAdvertised 3x pointsRevolving-payment-only; interest risk
Mitsubishi UFJ CardGeneralFree0.5%Broad-network mainstream cardUp to advertised 20% at eligible merchants with conditionsMaximum rate requires multiple conditions and has cap
VIASO CardGeneralFree0.5%Automatic annual cashbackCertain telecom/online mall bonusesPoints below redemption threshold can lapse
VIASO CinnamorollGeneralFree0.5%Character designSame VIASO core earningThreshold/expiry risk
VIASO GudetamaGeneralFree0.5%Character designSame VIASO core earningThreshold/expiry risk
VIASO mofusand x SanrioGeneralFree0.5%Character designSame VIASO core earningThreshold/expiry risk
VIASO My MelodyGeneralFree0.5%Character designSame VIASO core earningThreshold/expiry risk
VIASO Urawa RedsGeneralFree0.5%Supporter cardTeam-related design/benefitsThreshold/expiry risk
ENEOS Card CGeneral¥1,375High-volume fuel discountPer-liter discount rises with monthly card spendSpend bands and eligible fuel limits
ENEOS Card PGeneral¥1,375Fuel/pointsPoints-focused ENEOS variantUse pattern determines best variant
ENEOS Card SGeneral¥1,375Fuel savingsFuel discount/reward structure by S/P/C variantCompare S, P, C based on monthly liters and other spend
JA CardGeneral¥1,3750.5%JA ecosystem integrationJA/roadside/fuel-related benefits by variantMany local variants and settlement requirements
MUFG Card Disney DesignGeneral¥1,3750.5%Disney designSelected-store bonuses may applyPaid fee versus standard free MUFG card
SKYPASS MUFG CardGeneral¥3,300Korean Air mileageDirect SKYPASS milesMileage valuation/availability
MileagePlus MUFG CardGeneral¥5,500Alternative United mile routeDirect United milesCompare to Saison/UC mileage cards
Mitsubishi UFJ Card GoldGold¥11,0000.5%Multi-network goldEligible-merchant bonusesCheck newer Gold Preferred positioning and fee
Mitsubishi UFJ Card Gold PrestigeGold¥11,0000.5%Mainstream bank goldAnnual spend bonus and selected-store bonusesFee waiver/bonus rules
SKYPASS MUFG GoldGold¥11,000Korean Air premium mileage cardDirect SKYPASS miles and gold benefitsFee and award availability
GDO Gold CardGold¥15,746Golf-focused premium cardGolf and premium travel benefitsUnusual fee; quantify golf savings
MUFG Card Platinum American ExpressPlatinum¥22,0000.5%Relatively accessible premium travel packagePremium rewards/benefitsGuest and lounge restaurant counts/fees
Miles & More MUFG Platinum AmexPlatinum¥30,800Lufthansa-group mileage optionDirect Miles & More earningMileage expiry/devaluation and fee

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

22 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.

CardInsuranceLoungeFamily / ETCEligibility
Mitsubishi UFJ CardOverseas travel insurance subject to useFamily/ETC available18+; high-school students excluded
VIASO CardTravel insurance subject to useFamily/ETC available18+
VIASO mofusand x SanrioSee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
VIASO CinnamorollSee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
VIASO My MelodySee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
VIASO GudetamaSee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
VIASO Urawa RedsSee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
JizileSee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
GDO CardSee official pageFamily/ETC available18+
MUFG Card Disney DesignTravel insuranceFamily/ETC available18+
JA CardTravel insuranceFamily/ETC available18+
ENEOS Card SRoadside serviceFamily/ETC available18+
ENEOS Card PRoadside serviceFamily/ETC available18+
ENEOS Card CRoadside serviceFamily/ETC available18+
SKYPASS MUFG CardTravel insuranceFamily/ETC available18+
MileagePlus MUFG CardTravel insuranceAirport lounge benefit statedFamily/ETC available18+
Mitsubishi UFJ Card GoldTravel insuranceAirport lounge benefitsFamily/ETC available20+ with stable income
Mitsubishi UFJ Card Gold PrestigeTravel insuranceDomestic loungesFamily/ETC available20+ with stable income
SKYPASS MUFG GoldTravel insuranceAirport loungesFamily/ETC available20+
GDO Gold CardTravel insuranceAirport loungesFamily/ETC available20+
MUFG Card Platinum American ExpressTravel insurancePriority Pass; conciergeFamily/ETC available20+ with stable income
Miles & More MUFG Platinum AmexTravel insuranceAirport loungesFamily/ETC available20+

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 published base rate does not rise as the fee does, so no amount of ordinary spending repays the difference. Only a waiver, a milestone or a benefit you use can justify it.

FromUp toExtra feeExtra rateBreak-even spend
Mitsubishi UFJ CardJA Card¥1,3750%Rewards alone never repay it
JA CardMitsubishi UFJ Card Gold¥9,6250%Rewards alone never repay it
Mitsubishi UFJ Card GoldMUFG Card Platinum American Express¥11,0000%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 checkWhy it matters
Credit limitAlmost 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 limitsCheck 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 limitsConfirm 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 useVerify 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 Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS card should I get?

For most people the starting point is the Mitsubishi UFJ Card — no annual fee and a 0.5% published base rate. Move up to the MUFG Card Platinum American Express (¥22,000 a year and a 0.5% published base rate) only when the extra fee is repaid by earning and by benefits you will genuinely use. Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS decides eligibility and credit limits, so check the current terms on the issuer page before you apply.

Is a paid Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS card worth the annual fee?

The published base rate does not rise with the fee here, so the extra fee cannot be earned back through ordinary spending. The only things that justify it are a waiver you will reach, a milestone you would hit anyway, and benefits you will genuinely use.

Do all Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS cards earn the same points?

No. The lineup spans ENEOS points, ENEOS points / discounts, Fuel discount, GDO Points and 6 more. Rates in different currencies are not directly comparable, so decide how you would redeem before you compare them.

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.

Report a correction

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.

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