MoneyInJapan

Compare products & services

Source-backed products laid out side by side, by category.

Editorially approved comparisons

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🏦 Banking

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
Sony BankOnline bankPartialNo monthly account fee; ATM/transfer fees depend on tier — verify current schedule.
SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIABank (English support)YesAccount and transfer fees vary; balance-based fee waivers apply — verify current schedule.
Rakuten BankOnline bankPartialNo monthly fee; ATM/transfer fees depend on account rank — verify current schedule.
SBI Shinsei BankBankPartialFees depend on program tier — verify current schedule.
Japan Post BankBank (nationwide)PartialBasic account has no monthly fee; some transfer/ATM fees apply — verify current schedule.

💳 Credit cards

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
Rakuten CardNo-annual-fee credit cardPartialNo annual fee; interest applies only if you use revolving or installment payments.
Epos CardNo-annual-fee credit cardNoNo annual fee for the base card; interest only on revolving/installment use.
American Express (Japan)Annual-fee rewards cardYesAnnual fee varies by card tier — compare against the benefits you will use.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card (NL)No-annual-fee credit cardNoNo annual fee for the standard card; other cards and payment services have separate fees.
JCB Card SNo-annual-fee credit cardNoNo annual fee for the standard card; other cards and payment services have separate fees.
d CardNo-annual-fee credit cardNoNo annual fee for the standard card; other cards and payment services have separate fees.
PayPay CardNo-annual-fee credit cardNoNo annual fee for the standard card; other cards and payment services have separate fees.
au PAY CardNo-annual-fee credit cardNoNo annual fee for the standard card; other cards and payment services have separate fees.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card Gold (NL)Fee-waivable gold cardNo¥5,500 annual fee, permanently waived after ¥1,000,000 of qualifying annual spend.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card Platinum PreferredPoints-focused platinum cardNo¥33,000 annual fee; value depends on directing high annual spend to the card.
Olive Flexible Pay GoldAll-in-one bank + card goldNo¥5,500 gold fee, permanently waived after ¥1,000,000 of qualifying annual spend in credit mode.
Amazon MastercardNo-annual-fee co-brand cardNoNo annual fee; interest applies only if you use revolving or instalment payments.
JCB Card WNo-annual-fee card for ages 18–39NoNo annual fee; interest applies only on revolving/instalment use.
JCB GoldMainstream domestic gold cardNo¥11,000 annual fee; first year can be free for qualifying new online applications.
JCB PlatinumValue-oriented concierge platinumNo¥27,500 annual fee; value comes from concierge, dining and lounge use rather than points.
Rakuten Gold CardLow-cost ecosystem gold cardPartial¥2,200 annual fee; benefits over the free card are limited.
Rakuten Premium CardRakuten card with travel featuresPartial¥11,000 annual fee; judge Priority Pass value under current visit limits.
Rakuten Black CardRakuten top-tier premium cardPartial¥33,000 annual fee; access is gated and issuance is not guaranteed.
American Express Gold PreferredDining and travel rewards cardYes¥39,600 annual fee including two free family cards; interest via PayFlex applies only if used.
American Express PlatinumLuxury travel and family-card platinumYes¥165,000 annual fee including up to four free family cards; strongest for households using premium travel.
Epos Gold CardOptimizable fee-waivable goldNo¥5,000 annual fee, permanently waived by invitation or after ¥500,000 of qualifying annual spend.
Epos Platinum CardAnnual-bonus-optimized platinumNo¥30,000 direct or ¥20,000 invited; value depends on annual bonus points.
Saison Card DigitalInstant-issue digital cardNoNo annual fee; a ¥1,650 charge applies only if there is no use across a full annual measurement period.
Saison Gold PremiumLifestyle-category gold cardNo¥11,000 annual fee, free the following year after ¥1,000,000 of qualifying annual spend.
Saison Platinum American ExpressMid-priced travel platinumNo¥33,000 annual fee; strong mid-price travel card with mileage options.
d Card GOLDDocomo household gold cardNo¥11,000 annual fee; justified mainly by 10% on eligible docomo charges.
d Card PLATINUMHeavy-Docomo platinum cardNo¥29,700 annual fee; the earn rate on docomo charges depends on prior monthly spend.
au PAY Gold Cardau/UQ household gold cardNo¥11,000 annual fee; highly competitive inside the au ecosystem.
PayPay Card GoldPayPay ecosystem gold cardNo¥11,000 annual fee, effectively offset by 11,000 points at exactly ¥1,000,000 of qualifying annual spend.
AEON Card SelectAEON shopping + banking cardNoNo annual fee; strongest for regular AEON shoppers.
AEON Gold CardFree invitation-based gold cardNoNo annual fee once issued; typically an invitation or upgrade product.
Orico Card THE POINTStraightforward 1% no-fee cardNoNo annual fee; 1% base with a 2% introductory period (six months, up to ¥500,000).
Orico Card THE POINT PREMIUM GOLDLow-fee electronic-money goldNo¥1,986 annual fee; one of the least expensive Gold cards.
Mitsubishi UFJ CardNo-fee bank-group cardNoNo annual fee; best for MUFG account and selected-store users.
Mitsubishi UFJ Card Gold PrestigeMUFG-ecosystem gold cardNo¥11,000 annual fee; first year free for eligible web applications.
Mitsubishi UFJ Card Platinum American ExpressLow-fee full-service platinumNo¥22,000 annual fee including one free family card; a service-value platinum, not a points card.
View CardJR East / Suica commuter cardNo¥524 annual fee; a specialist Suica/JR East commuter card.
JRE CARDStation-building shopping cardNoFirst year free, then ¥524; up to 3.5% at eligible station-building stores.
View Gold Plus CardPremium JR East travel goldNo¥11,000 annual fee; best for frequent JR East and Shinkansen travellers.
JAL Card (Regular)Entry JAL mileage cardNoFirst year free, then ¥2,200 (¥6,600 for the American Express variant).
JAL CLUB-A Gold CardFrequent-flyer JAL gold cardNo¥17,600 mainstream (¥20,900 Suica/Amex; ¥34,100 Diners); 25% flight bonus.
JAL Platinum CardPremium JAL international cardNoAround ¥34,100 (JCB/Amex variants); for frequent international JAL travel.
ANA Visa/Master General CardEntry ANA mileage cardNo¥2,200 after a free first year; standard 1,000-mile joining bonus.
ANA Visa/Master Wide Gold CardFrequent-flyer ANA gold cardNo¥15,400 annual fee; 2,000-mile joining bonus and 25% boarding bonus.
Diners Club CardDining and travel charge cardPartial¥29,700 annual fee; strong dining, travel and lounge services.
Diners Club PremiumUltra-premium dining and travelPartial¥165,000 annual fee including free family cards; invitation product.
Luxury Card Mastercard TitaniumEntry metal premium cardPartial¥55,000 annual fee; entry metal premium card.
Luxury Card Mastercard BlackConcierge and networking premiumPartial¥110,000 annual fee; ~1.25% base plus premium services.
Luxury Card Mastercard GoldUltra-premium rewards and statusPartial¥220,000 annual fee; the most expensive card in this set.

📈 NISA & investing

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
Rakuten SecuritiesBrokerage (NISA/iDeCo)PartialMany domestic funds and trades are low- or no-commission — verify current fee schedule.
SBI SecuritiesBrokerage (NISA/iDeCo)PartialMany trades and funds are low- or no-commission — verify current fee schedule.
Monex SecuritiesBrokerage (NISA/iDeCo)PartialCommissions vary by product; some funds/trades are low-cost — verify current schedule.

🧑‍💻 Freelance & business

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
freeeCloud accounting softwareNoSubscription plans (monthly/annual) vary by tier — verify current pricing.
Money Forward CloudCloud accounting softwareNoSubscription plans vary by tier — verify current pricing.
YayoiAccounting softwareNoDesktop license or cloud subscription depending on product — verify current pricing.
MakeLeapsInvoicing & billingYesSubscription plans (free tier for low volume) — verify current pricing.
MisocaInvoicing & billingNoFree tier plus paid plans by invoice volume — verify current pricing.
boardInvoicing & business managementNoSubscription plans by feature tier — verify current pricing.
FREENANCECash flow & freelancer protectionNoAccount is free; factoring charges a per-transaction fee — verify current terms.
freee Company EstablishmentCompany incorporationNoService tiers plus separate statutory registration costs — verify current pricing.
Money Forward Cloud Company EstablishmentCompany incorporationNoService plus separate statutory costs — verify current pricing.
Zeirishi.comFind a tax accountantNoMatching is free to users; the accountant’s own fees apply — verify with each firm.
SquareCard & in-person paymentsPartialNo monthly fee; per-transaction processing fees — verify current rates.
StripeOnline paymentsYesPer-transaction processing fees; no monthly minimum — verify current rates.
GMO Aozora Net Bank (Business)Business bank accountNoNo monthly account fee; transfer fees apply — verify current schedule.
Wise BusinessCross-border business accountYesPer-transfer and conversion fees; account opening fee may apply — verify current terms.

🏠 Loans, mortgages & property

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
Flat 35Fixed-rate mortgagePartialRate and fees vary by lender and loan-to-value — verify current terms.

💸 International money

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
WiseInternational transfersYesTransparent per-transfer fee plus mid-market rate — compare the recipient amount.
RevolutMulti-currency accountYesPlan-based; free FX up to allowances, then a fee — verify current terms.

Crypto & FX

ProviderCategoryEnglish supportFees
bitFlyerRegistered crypto exchangePartialTrading fees and spreads vary by product and order type — verify current schedule.
bitbankRegistered crypto exchangePartialMaker/taker fees and spreads vary — verify current schedule.