In fast-moving daily life, the Japan Post Credit Card helps centralize payments, rewards, and security under one bank.
The program, marketed as the JP BANK Card, is issued on Visa, Mastercard, and JCB, including options that combine the ATM cash card and credit in a single plastic card.
Early planning matters because annual fees, statement options, and billing dates differ slightly by brand.
What the JP BANK Card Is
Across the lineup, JP BANK Card aims for broad acceptance and predictable rules rather than gimmicks.
Visa and Mastercard variants are available as stand-alone credit cards or as an integrated cash card plus credit version; the JCB variant is integrated with the cash card.
Baseline earnings typically start at 1 point per 1,000 yen on standard cards, while the Gold card posts 2 points per 1,000 yen, and all list a clear end-of-month closing with an automatic debit on the 26th for Visa/Mastercard or the 10th for JCB. Airport lounge access, enhanced insurance, and annual-fee reductions sit on the Gold tier.
Eligibility and Documents
Applying successfully starts with basic residency and identity alignment, then moves through bank account and income checks.
Requirements differ slightly by brand and tier, so verifying the fine print against official pages prevents avoidable rework.
Stable income increases approval odds, and a valid residence card with current address details is expected for foreign residents. Early rejections often trace to thin local credit files rather than a single missing document.
Residency Status and Bank Account
For integrated cards, opening a JP BANK account first is standard practice; the Yucho Tetsuzuki app supports account opening and identity steps on a phone. Address records must be current before card application to avoid delivery or activation delays.
Identification and Address Consistency
During onboarding, Japan Post Bank accepts government-issued photo IDs such as a residence card, driver’s license, passport, or My Number card, along with proof of address when needed.
Keeping the residence card updated and aligned with the mailing address reduces follow-ups.
Age and Income Guidance
Standard cards list eligibility starting at 18 years old, excluding high school students; the Gold card lists those 25 and above with a stable income. Students and spouses with stable household income can qualify on the JCB integrated track, per program notes.
Credit History Expectations
Because Japanese issuers underwrite conservatively, a few months of local banking activity and on-time payments elsewhere usually improve screening outcomes. Statement registration and accurate contact details also help keep processing clean.
Card Lineup and Core Features
Picking the right variant means matching annual fees, earn structure, and brand extras to planned spend. Each option below includes a quick read on earn rates, fee relief rules, and billing specifics, plus where the card fits.
Small rule differences around statements and bonus programs matter at year-end, so lock those down early.
JP BANK Card General (JCB, Visa, Mastercard)
First year is free; afterward, 1,375 yen is waived again when at least one shopping transaction posts in the prior year.
Earn is 1 point per 1,000 yen; Visa/Mastercard close at month-end and debit on the 26th, JCB closes on the 15th and debits on the 10th. Paper statements incur 165 yen per mailing unless web statements are enabled. Best for simple, low-maintenance use.
ALente (Visa)
Structured for younger cardholders, ALente mirrors the general card’s annual fee rule: first year free, then 1,375 yen waived with at least one use per year. Earn is 1 point per 1,000 yen, and contactless is supported where the mark appears.
EXTAGE (JCB)
EXTAGE waives the annual fee for five years after new enrollment and provides program-specific point boosts at selected merchants.
On the JCB track, the integrated form is standard, and bonus rules may update over time, so confirm live rates in MyJCB.
Gold (JCB, Visa, Mastercard)
Annual fee is 11,000 yen, with a 20 percent reduction at 1 million yen annual spend and 50 percent at 3 million yen.
Gold doubles base earnings to 2 points per 1,000 yen, bundles domestic airport lounge access, and publishes the same billing date logic for Visa/Mastercard variants.
Fees, Rates, and Billing
For predictable cash flow, Visa/Mastercard statements close at month-end and draw on the 26th of the following month; JCB variants close on the 15th and draw on the 10th.
- Mailing a paper statement costs 165 yen per cycle for non-Gold cards, while web statements are free. Cardholders who prefer paper can still avoid the fee on Gold, which remains exempt under the current notice.
- Foreign usage on Visa/Mastercard posts at the network rate plus a 2.00 percent issuer charge for overseas processing, so budgeting for that spread prevents surprises at reconciliation. JCB terms are published separately in MyJCB and JCB’s own guides and may differ.
- JP BANK material shows typical revolving and installment options, and program pages detail insurance and statement protections that sit around the card rather than the APR itself.
Points and Redemptions
Across standard cards, base accrual equals 1 point per 1,000 yen of billed shopping, while Gold earns 2 points per 1,000 yen.
Points post after statement close and redeem to gift cards, catalogs, and other options; program portals for Visa/Mastercard and MyJCB outline current partners and any campaign-based multipliers.
Expiry appears in the portal alongside balances, so higher-value redemptions should be prioritized first.
How to Apply
Selecting a path first avoids double work later, especially when deciding between integrated cash-card-plus-credit and stand-alone credit.
Online starts are common, though branch applications remain available for those who prefer in-person identity verification.
The bank highlights specific ID requirements and encourages web statements during setup to prevent fees. A short screening period is typical, then cards are mailed to the registered Japanese address.
1. Confirm JP BANK Card Eligibility
Age rules start at 18 years old for standard cards, excluding high school students; Gold requires 25 years old and above. Foreign residents rely on a valid residence card and current address records across documents.
2. Prepare Documents
Gather an accepted photo ID such as a residence card, driver’s license, passport, or My Number card, plus any address proof requested at application. Integrated cards tie to a JP BANK account, so keep account details handy.
3. Submit Online or in Branch
Applications route through the JP BANK site and card desk flows, or through staffed windows at eligible post offices and bank branches. Web registration for statements and member portals follows activation.
4. Screening, Issuance, and Delivery
When approved, the issuer mails the card to the address on file. Statement timing and payment method preferences should be confirmed immediately, along with portal enrollment to enable alerts and web access.
Security and Digital Wallets
Program pages underline 24-hour monitoring, 3-D Secure for online purchases, a 60-day member liability window after loss or theft reporting, and purchase protections on Gold.
Apple Pay and contactless are available where supported; additional wallet options vary by brand and platform. Registering the web portal enables rapid card lock and spending checks.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- An integrated cash card and credit option reduces wallet clutter and consolidates ATM access.
- First-year fee relief and simple one-purchase rule keep JP BANK Card annual fee manageable on standard lines.
- Clear billing dates and reliable, brand-level acceptance improve day-to-day usability.
- Gold upgrades deliver airport lounges, insurance, and spend-based fee reductions.
Cons:
- Paper statement fees of 165 yen per cycle apply unless web statements are active on non-Gold cards.
- JP BANK Card foreign transaction fees apply on Visa/Mastercard at a 2.00 percent issuer charge over the network rate.
- Point multipliers and partner perks change over time, requiring periodic checks.
Contact and Support
For Japan Post Bank customer service on Visa/Mastercard cards, the JP BANK Card Desk lists 0120-933-000, with Tokyo 03-6627-4045 and Osaka 06-6445-3206 for mobile callers.
JCB inquiries list 0120-051-088 and 0570-064-108 for mobiles, operating 9:00 to 17:00 except Sundays, holidays, and year-end.
The head office address is 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8793, and the Japan Post Group main number is 03-3477-0111.
Conclusion
For an everyday, bank-issued card that can also serve as your ATM cash card, the JP BANK Card fits cleanly.
Paying in full, enabling web statements, and aligning the brand to your travel and wallet preferences keep costs down and value consistent.
Those seeking richer perks should weigh Gold’s ongoing lounge and insurance package against the spend-based annual-fee reductions already published.
