The Amazon Mastercard Japan gives you 2% back on Amazon.co.jp purchases if you have Prime, and 1.5% without it. That 0.5% gap sounds small until you do the math on Prime's monthly fee.
A lot of English-language guides still list Credit Saison as the issuer. That changed back in November 2021. Mitsui Sumitomo Card (三井住友カード) issues the Amazon Mastercard now, and the old Classic and Gold tiers no longer exist.
This guide is for foreigners living in Japan who shop Amazon.co.jp regularly and want a card that earns usable points without paying an annual fee.
Amazon Mastercard vs Amazon Prime Mastercard: Which One Do You Get?
The card you receive depends entirely on your Amazon Prime membership status at the time of application. Amazon Mastercard is permanently free for all holders, with no annual fee and no minimum spending requirement to keep it active.
Prime members automatically receive the Amazon Prime Mastercard with a 2.0% return on Amazon.co.jp purchases. Non-Prime members get the standard Amazon Mastercard at 1.5%.
Does the 2% Rate Justify Getting Prime?
I would skip upgrading to Prime just for the extra 0.5% on this card. Amazon Prime costs ¥600 per month (¥7,200 per year) as of 2026.
To earn back that fee through the 0.5% difference alone, you would need to spend ¥144,000 per month on Amazon.co.jp.
If you already use Prime for shipping and video, the 2% is a nice bonus. But signing up for Prime solely because a card comparison told you to chase the higher rate? That math does not work for most people.
Points Outside Amazon.co.jp
The card earns 1.0% on all other purchases and 1.5% at major convenience stores including Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson. One Amazon Point equals one yen, redeemed directly at checkout.
Apple Pay users at Seven-Eleven get an even better deal. Mastercard contactless payments through Apple Pay at Seven-Eleven earn up to 7% back, according to Mitsui Sumitomo Card's official Amazon Mastercard page.
How Foreigners Apply for Amazon Mastercard Japan
The application runs through your Amazon.co.jp account and takes about 10 minutes if your documents are ready. The entire process is in Japanese. No English option exists.
Step 1: Log Into Amazon.co.jp
Start on the Amazon Mastercard application page while signed into your Amazon Japan account. Your name, address, and contact info pull from your Amazon profile automatically.
Step 2: Fill Out the Credit Application
You will enter employment details, income, time at your current address, and your residence status. Two things trip up foreign applicants constantly:
- Your name must match your Zairyu Card (residence card) exactly, including the order of given name and surname
- Your registered address on your Zairyu Card, your Amazon account, and the application form all need to match character for character
- Any mismatch between these documents triggers a manual review or outright rejection
Step 3: Submit ID Verification
Accepted documents include your My Number Card or Zairyu Card. A health insurance card may work but typically requires a second form of ID alongside it. Photo uploads need to be clear and unobstructed.
Step 4: Wait for the Screening Result
Mitsui Sumitomo Card offers an instant screening service (即時審査) between 9:00 and 19:00 JST.
If approved through this service, you get a temporary card number called an "Amazon Temporary Card" within minutes. That number registers to your Amazon account immediately, so you can start shopping before the physical card arrives.
Full approvals outside instant screening can take a few business days. The physical card ships by registered mail.
The Residency and Language Problem Nobody Mentions
English-language blogs tend to frame the Amazon Mastercard as "foreigner-friendly." That framing needs a qualifier.
Minimum Residency Period
Mitsui Sumitomo Card's guide for foreign applicants states that applicants need a mid-to-long-term residency status of at least three months in Japan. Short-term visa holders, tourists, and people on 90-day stays do not qualify.
Japanese Credit History Matters
Foreigners who have lived in Japan for years but never held a Japanese credit card face a paradox.
No credit history in Japan's CIC (Credit Information Center) database makes you look like a risk, even with stable employment.
A prepaid card or a phone contract on installment payments can start building that history, but it takes six months to a year before it matters to an issuer.
The Application Is Japanese-Only
The online form, the Vpass management app, and customer support all run in Japanese.
I think this is the single biggest barrier for foreign applicants who read about this card in English guides and assume the process will match. Have a Japanese-speaking friend nearby, or use your phone's built-in translation on each screen before submitting.
Managing the Card After Approval
Card management happens through Vpass, Mitsui Sumitomo Card's app and web portal. Statements, point tracking, payment date adjustments, and limit increase requests all live there.
A few things to know about the billing cycle:
- Purchases close at the end of each month
- Payment pulls from your bank account on the 26th of the following month
- The initial credit limit typically falls between ¥100,000 and ¥300,000 based on online applicant reports, with a maximum of ¥2,000,000 after increases through Vpass
The ETC card add-on is permanently free with no usage requirement. Family cards are also free, up to three per account.
When a Different Card Makes More Sense
The Amazon Mastercard is strong for Amazon.co.jp spending, but it is not the best general-purpose card in Japan.
| Feature | Amazon Mastercard | JCB Card W | Rakuten Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ¥0 | ¥0 (ages 18-39 to apply) | ¥0 |
| Amazon.co.jp Return | 1.5% (2.0% with Prime) | Up to 2.0% via JCB mall | 1.0% |
| Base Return Rate | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% (3.0%+ at Rakuten) |
| International Use | Mastercard network | JCB network (limited abroad) | Visa/Mastercard/JCB |
JCB Card W matches or beats the Amazon rate for users under 40 who route purchases through JCB's partner mall.
Rakuten Card wins if you split shopping between Amazon and Rakuten Ichiba. The Amazon Mastercard wins only when Amazon.co.jp is where most of your spending goes.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Kill Your Application
Avoid these specific errors that foreign applicants hit repeatedly:
- Address mismatch: Your Zairyu Card address, Amazon account address, and application address must be identical. Moving recently without updating your Zairyu Card at city hall is the most common rejection cause.
- Phone number format: Enter your Japanese mobile number. An overseas number will likely fail the instant screening.
- Income reporting: Freelancers and part-time workers should list all income sources. Leaving the income field low or blank signals instability to the issuer.
- Multiple recent applications: Applying for several Japanese credit cards within a short window flags you in CIC. Space applications at least six months apart.
Questions People Ask About Amazon Mastercard Japan
These are the questions that keep coming up for foreign applicants in Japan.
- Q: Can I use the Amazon Mastercard outside Japan?
The card works anywhere Mastercard is accepted internationally. Foreign currency transactions carry a fee of about 2%. Check your current rate on Vpass before traveling, since Mitsui Sumitomo Card adjusts this periodically. - Q: Do Amazon Points expire on the Mastercard?
Amazon Points earned through the card follow Amazon.co.jp's standard expiration policy. Points reset their expiration date with every new Amazon purchase or point-earning activity, so they effectively stay alive as long as you keep using your account. - Q: What happens to my card if I cancel Amazon Prime?
Your Amazon Prime Mastercard automatically converts to the standard Amazon Mastercard. You keep the card and your existing points. The return rate on Amazon.co.jp drops from 2.0% to 1.5%, but the card remains free and active.
Conclusion
The Amazon Mastercard is the simplest Amazon.co.jp rewards card in Japan with zero annual fee. Foreign applicants who match their documents and have at least three months of residency can apply directly.
The 1.5% base Amazon rate already beats most general cards for Amazon spending. And if Prime membership is already part of your life, the 2.0% return makes it hard to justify carrying a separate card for Amazon purchases.
Last updated on September 23rd, 2026 at 02:32 pm
