Rakuten Card is the standard credit card from Rakuten Card in Japan. It charges no annual fee, pays Rakuten points on every purchase and lets those points settle the bill. This guide goes through what Rakuten lists in October 2026, what still costs money, and who should hold it.
The card at a glance
- ¥0
- Annual fee
- 1%
- Points on spending
- ¥1,000,000
- Credit limit up to
- ¥1
- One point against the bill
For life, with no spending condition
One Rakuten point per ¥100, with some exclusions
Set for each applicant
From 50 to 500,000 points at a time
Where the points come from
Rakuten lists a flat rate for ordinary spending and a bonus for one place.
| Spending | What Rakuten lists |
|---|---|
| Anywhere the card is accepted | One point per ¥100, a 1% return. Some purchases are excluded |
| Rakuten Ichiba | The card adds one more times the base points. It counts card spending without tax, shipping or wrapping, is paid as limited-time points and has a cap and conditions |
| Furusato nozei at Rakuten Ichiba | Not eligible for Ichiba's ordinary points of one per ¥100 |
- Rakuten point
- The points Rakuten pays. For the monthly bill Rakuten counts one point as ¥1.
- Limited-time point
- A point that expires on a set date, which is how Rakuten pays the Ichiba bonus.
- e-NAVI
- Rakuten Card's online account service. Registering for it is part of Rakuten's sign-up offer.
- Contactless
- Tap-to-pay, which Rakuten says every card brand supports.
What the points can do
Rakuten lists three uses.
Against the bill: one point is ¥1 on the monthly bill for card purchases, in units of 1 between 50 and 500,000 points.
At shops that show the Rakuten Point mark, where points are earned and spent.
At Rakuten Group services, for example to buy things with points alone, to invest them or to pay for travel bookings.
Some shops, products and services are excluded from point use, so read the page before you plan around a particular one.
What still costs money
Rakuten lists the annual fee as zero, but a few extras are priced.
| Extra | What Rakuten lists |
|---|---|
| ETC card | ¥550 a year including tax. Free for Diamond and Platinum Rakuten members |
| Edy function | ¥330 issuance fee including tax, if you ask for it |
| Cash advance | Needs a limit applied for when you apply |
| Revolving and instalment payments | Offered for purchases. The page lists no rates, so read the fee table before you choose them |
Other ways to pay listed are a one-off payment, bonus payment in summer or winter in one or two instalments, and instalments over a period you set.
Security and insurance
Rakuten lists usage notification emails, 24-hour monitoring for suspicious use, an identity check for web shopping and card theft insurance that covers unauthorised use after a loss or theft. It also lists overseas travel accident insurance with up to ¥20 million for death or permanent disability, but the standard Rakuten Card has no automatic cover. The insurance page says it applies only if, before you leave Japan, you paid the price of a package tour with the card. Airfare alone does not qualify. It needs no advance application and runs for the trip, up to 24:00 on the day three months after you leave Japan. Rakuten says other card types carry different cover and conditions, so read its guide for your card before you rely on any of it. For the wider picture, see card travel protections and insurance.
Is it right for you?
Fits you
- You want a card with no annual fee and no spending condition to keep it.
- You shop at Rakuten Ichiba or other Rakuten Group services, where the card adds a bonus.
- You like using points against the bill at a fixed ¥1 each.
Think twice
- You want lounge access or richer travel cover, which the page does not list.
- You expect travel insurance that applies without conditions, which this card gives only when a package tour is paid with it.
- You want a higher flat rate than 1% on your biggest category.
- You would rather have cash back than points, some of which are limited-time.
Check eligibility on Rakuten's page
The page this guide was written from does not state who can apply. Read the application page, including the identity documents it asks for.
Choose a brand and design
There are 8 designs, and Rakuten says every brand supports contactless payment.
Read the sign-up offer's conditions
Rakuten lists an offer tied to registering for e-NAVI, setting up the debit account and a number of purchases. The amounts change, so this guide does not quote them.
Decide on the add-ons
Add an ETC card or the Edy function only if you will use them.
See also SMBC Gold (NL), another yen card with a different way to earn.
Questions people ask
What does it cost to hold?
Rakuten lists the annual fee as free for life and says there is no condition such as a minimum yearly spend. Family cards are available. An ETC card costs ¥550 a year including tax unless you are a Diamond or Platinum Rakuten member, and adding the Edy function costs a ¥330 issuance fee.
What does it earn?
One Rakuten point per ¥100, which Rakuten shows as a 1% return, including outside the Rakuten Group. Some purchases are excluded, and Rakuten points to a page that lists them. At Rakuten Ichiba the card adds one more times the base points, paid as limited-time points, with a cap and conditions.
How do I use the points?
Rakuten values one point at ¥1 against the monthly bill for purchases made on the card, in units of 1 point between 50 and 500,000. Points also work at Rakuten Group services and at shops that show the Rakuten Point mark, though some shops, products and services are excluded.
What protection does it come with?
Rakuten lists card theft insurance, notification emails on every use, round-the-clock fraud monitoring and an online identity check for web shopping. It also lists overseas travel accident insurance of up to ¥20 million for death or permanent disability, but not automatically: the cover applies only if you paid a package tour's fee with the card before leaving Japan, airfare alone does not count, and it runs for the trip up to three months from the day you leave.
Can I choose the brand and design?
Yes. Rakuten offers 8 designs and says every card brand supports contactless payment. A second Rakuten Card lets you pick another brand or design and use a separate debit account.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 9, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
Cards in this guide
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.