How issuer-stated eligibility works, how to compare first-card features, and what to do if rejected.
Each issuer applies undisclosed screening. Compare first cards by stated eligibility, fixed cost, rewards, and payment settings—not presumed approval ease.
Issuers publish eligibility requirements but do not publish their complete screening models. Enter application details accurately and check the issuer’s required documents. CIC and JICC let you request your own registered credit information, but this site cannot infer how an issuer will decide or promise that any circumstance will help.
Start from how you actually spend, not from a "best card" list. Almost every popular first card in Japan has no annual fee and a base rate of roughly 0.5–1%, so the meaningful difference is which point ecosystem fits your life. If you shop on Rakuten, a Rakuten Card compounds value; if you use docomo, PayPay, or au services, the matching card keeps points in one place instead of scattering them.
Then narrow by network and practicalities. Pick a widely accepted network (Visa or Mastercard are the safest default; JCB and Amex have narrower overseas acceptance). Check that the card offers the extras you will use — a family card, an ETC card for tolls, or specific wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, QUICPay, iD). Finally, confirm the application is one you can complete with your current documents and a Japanese bank account for the automatic withdrawal.
Because you build credit history from zero in Japan, it is usually better to choose one card, use it consistently, and pay in full each month than to apply for several at once. A steady, on-time history on a single no-fee card is the simplest foundation for later upgrades or a second card.
Fixed cost: whether the primary card is genuinely no-fee, and whether any fee waiver has conditions. Rewards: the base earning rate that always applies, kept separate from headline campaign rates. Point terms: where points can be spent and when they expire — a high rate is worth little if the points lapse before you use them. Network and acceptance for where you shop and travel. Add-on cards (family, ETC) and digital-wallet support. Payment settings, especially whether automatic revolving (リボ) is off. And practical eligibility: the documents, age, and bank-account requirements you can meet now.
The comparison table below lines up the mainstream no-fee cards on the criteria that matter most for a first card. Use it to shortlist two, then open a head-to-head comparison for the final decision.
| Criterion |  Rakuten Card |  Epos Card |  Sumitomo Mitsui Card (NL) |  JCB Card S |  d Card |  PayPay Card |  au PAY Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express; available designs and combinations vary. | Visa. | Visa or Mastercard. | JCB. | Visa or Mastercard. | Visa, Mastercard, or JCB. | Visa or Mastercard. |
| Annual fee | No annual fee for the standard primary card. | No annual fee for the standard card. | No annual fee for the standard card. | No annual fee for the primary card. | No annual fee for the standard d Card. | No annual fee for the standard card. | No annual fee for the standard card. |
| Points | Earns Rakuten Points. | Earns Epos Points. | Earns V Points. | Earns J-POINT under the current JCB program. | Earns d POINT. | Earns PayPay Points. | Earns Ponta Points. |
| Base earning | Generally 1 point per ¥100 of eligible card use; exclusions and different rates apply. | Generally 1 point per ¥200 of eligible use; exclusions and different rates apply. | Base points accrue on eligible purchases; exclusions and rounding rules apply. | Points accrue on eligible monthly card use under JCB rounding and exclusion rules. | d POINT accrues on eligible shopping; excluded transactions and merchant-specific treatment apply. | PayPay Points accrue on eligible card purchases; exclusions and calculation rules apply. | Ponta Points accrue on eligible card use; exclusions and calculation rules apply. |
| Point expiry | Regular points expire one year after the last point was earned; earning a regular point extends the date. Limited-time points follow their stated date. | Points ordinarily expire two years after they are added; exceptions and extensions may apply under issuer rules. | Expiry is governed by the current V Point terms and activity rules. | Point validity follows the current J-POINT terms for this card. | Validity follows current d POINT Club rules and point type. | PayPay Points are governed by current PayPay terms; limited/campaign awards may have separate conditions. | Point validity follows current Ponta program terms and activity treatment. |
Issuers generally do not tell applicants the specific reason for rejection, so do not treat speculation about income, employment, residency or nationality as fact. First check that the application was accurate and complete. Avoid making several reactive applications, and consider requesting your own disclosure from CIC or JICC to check the information registered about you before deciding whether to reapply.
No-annual-fee credit card · Rakuten Card
A no-annual-fee card that earns Rakuten Points. Eligibility, payment settings, and current reward exclusions should be checked in the issuer disclosures.
No-annual-fee credit card · Marui (Epos)
A no-annual-fee Visa card issued by Epos Card, with Epos Points and partner benefits subject to current terms.
Annual-fee rewards card · American Express International
The canonical record represents the American Express Green Card in Japan, with Membership Rewards and conditional benefits documented by the issuer.
Yes. Approval depends on stable income and residency, not nationality — but your foreign credit history does not transfer, so you start fresh. Accessible first cards include Rakuten Card and Epos Card. Longer residency, a stable job, and having a Japanese bank account improve your odds. A longer-validity residence card also helps.
Issuers generally do not disclose an individual rejection reason, so explanations about income, employment, residency or nationality are speculation. Check that your application was accurate, avoid several reactive applications, and consider requesting your own registered information from CIC or JICC before deciding whether to reapply.
Compare a first card by stated eligibility, fixed cost, payment settings, and where you can redeem points—not supposed approval ease. Rakuten Card and Epos Card are two no-annual-fee examples with different point programs and card features. The best fit is usually tied to where you already spend. Confirm current terms on the issuer’s site.