What is the best credit card for traveling to Japan?

The best credit card for traveling to Japan is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It has a $0 foreign transaction fee, offers high rewards rates on travel and dining, and allows you to transfer points to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank and other participating loyalty programs, usually at a 1:1 ratio. Chase Sapphire Preferred is also on the Visa credit card network, meaning you can use the card anywhere in Japan where credit cards are accepted.

Chase Sapphire Preferred’s rewards include 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases, plus an initial bonus of 75,000 points for spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That will easily cover the cost of the card’s $95 annual fee.

Best Cards for Traveling to Japan

Another card worth considering is the JAL USA card. It offers 5,000 bonus miles after your first international flight on Japan Airlines, 1 mile per $2 spent on all purchases, and a $20 annual fee. But overall, the JAL USA card lacks the perks and value that many of the top travel rewards cards provide.

When shopping for the best credit card for your next trip to Japan, you should seek out a card with the best rewards and travel benefits for the lowest possible annual fee. No foreign transaction fee is also a must. You can check out our editors’ picks for the best credit cards for international travel and no foreign transaction fee to see more options.