What to do with your points
A points balance is not value until it becomes something. These three pages take the destinations people actually aim for, rank the cards whose records support each one, and set out what has to be true for the redemption to pay.
Points → flights
Best credit cards for flights and airline miles in Japan
Which Japanese credit cards turn spending into award flights: the five that rank highest on the records, where each programme’s points can transfer, and how to earn without distorting your spending.
Top 5 cards · 31 programmes
Points → hotels
Best credit cards for hotel points and free nights in Japan
Which Japanese credit cards turn spending into room nights: the five that rank highest on the records, which programmes reach hotel value and how to make a free night worth more than the cash alternative.
Top 5 cards · 32 programmes
Points → more points
Best credit cards for bonus points and multipliers in Japan
Which Japanese credit cards earn most above their base rate: category multipliers, merchant bonuses and annual-spend milestones, ranked from the research records.
Top 5 cards · 36 programmes
Also useful
The points comparison table
Every card’s points mechanics in one grid.
Cards by points programme
Which cards earn in each programme, and how each programme works.