Best credit card to use in Japan: Top 6 UK picks

Travelling to Japan from the UK soon? Perhaps you’re planning a holiday or sightseeing tour, or maybe even staying in the country for a while.

Whatever your plans, you’ll need to find the best way to spend in Japanese yen (JPY), whether that’s cash, debit or credit card.

If you prefer the convenience of a credit card for overseas spending, but aren’t sure which UK card is best for international use - read on.

We’ve put together an essential guide to the best UK credit cards to use in Japan. This includes top picks from banks and providers like NatWest, Santander, Halifax, Barclays, Zopa and Bip.

We’ll also show you a travel-friendly alternative - the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account. You can use it for spending in 150+ countries including Japan, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Table of contents
Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in Japan Halifax Clarity Credit Card Barclaycard Rewards Card Bip Credit Card NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card Zopa Credit Card Santander All in One Credit Card How do credit cards work in Japan? Is it best to use a credit card in Japan? What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to Japan FAQ

Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in Japan

To help you find the best way to spend abroad, here’s our top picks for travel-friendly UK credit cards you can use in Japan:

Card name	FX rate	Foreign currency transaction fees	ATM fees	Interest rate (APR)	Best feature
Halifax Clarity Credit Card¹	Mastercard	None	None	Check eligibility to find out	No ATM fees
Barclaycard Rewards Card²	Visa	None	None	28.9% Interest-free for 56 days³	No ATM fees
Bip Credit Card⁴	Mastercard	None	None	29.9% Interest-free for 48 days	Cardless credit
NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card⁵	Visa	None	3% (min. £3)	27.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Cashback on travel spending
Zopa Credit Card⁶	Visa	None	£3	34.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Easy in-app management
Santander All in One Credit Card⁷	Mastercard	None	3% (min. £3)	29.8% Interest-free for 56 days	Cashback for everyday spending

Halifax Clarity Credit Card - Best for withdrawing cash in Japan

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is ideal for overseas use, as it doesn’t have any fees for either spending or withdrawing cash abroad. There’s no annual fee either.¹

You’ll need to check your eligibility on the Halifax website to see what interest rate, credit limit and interest-free period on purchases you’ll be offered.

However, like with the other credit cards we’ll look at below, there is likely to be no interest-free period on cash withdrawals - so it’ll start accruing right away.

The card will use the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency between GBP and JPY.

Barclaycard Rewards Card - Best for withdrawing cash and cashback on spending

Next up is the Barclaycard Rewards Card, which also has no fees for spending or withdrawing cash overseas. There are no annual fees to worry about either.

As an extra perk, the card offers 0.25% cashback on all everyday spending.²

The representative APR for the card is 28.9% (variable)² and you’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases.³ But remember that interest on cash transactions like ATM withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away.

The card uses Visa’s exchange rates for converting currency between GBP and JPY.

Bip Credit Card - Best for cardless credit

The Bip Credit Card is a little different to standard credit cards, as it’s digital-only. This means it only lives on your phone - in the Bip app and in your digital wallet.

If you prefer to pay on your phone rather than carry a wallet around with you, it could be worth considering.

The only potential drawback is that you may struggle to find any cardless ATMs during your trip to Japan. This may make your Bip card suitable for purchases only.

Along with no annual fees, the card charges no foreign transaction fees for spending or cash withdrawals in JPY or other currencies. It uses the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency.⁴

It has a representative APR of 29.9% (variable) and a 48-day interest-free period for purchases (none for cash withdrawals).

NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card - Best for cashback on travel spending

A card specifically designed for overseas use, the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on spending. However, there is a 3% (£3 min.) fee for cash withdrawals.⁵ It uses the Visa exchange rate for converting currency between GBP and JPY.

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases, but interest on cash withdrawals will start accruing right away. The representative APR for the card is 27.9% (variable).⁵

As an added bonus, you’ll also get cashback at the following rates on eligible travel-related purchases:⁸

• 1% on flights, trains, car rental, ferries, buses, hotel accommodation, travel agents, cruises, campsites and more.
• 1% to 15% at selected partner retailers.

Zopa Credit Card - Best for in-app money management

The Zopa Credit Card has no annual fees, and no fees for spending in Japanese yen or other foreign currencies when you use it abroad. But if you want to use it for cash withdrawals, you’ll pay £3 per transaction.⁶

The card offers a 56-day interest-free period on purchases (none for cash transactions) and a representative APR of 34.9%. Currency conversions are carried out using Visa exchange rates.⁶

You’ll manage your card in the Zopa app, where you’ll find handy money management tools including a Credit Cushion feature, instant spending notifications and real-time balance updates.

You may also find it useful to know that Zopa was also named Best Credit Card Provider at the British Bank Awards 2024.⁹

Santander All in One Credit Card - best for cashback on everyday spending

So far, we’ve looked at credit cards with no annual fee. The Santander All in One Credit Card does have a fee of £3 a month, but you may make this back in cashback - as the card offers 0.5% cashback (up to £10 a month) on all your purchases.¹⁰

You’ll also benefit from fee-free overseas spending, with a 56-day interest-free period. Cash withdrawals in Japan or other countries are charged at 3% (min. £3) per transaction, and interest on these will start accruing right away.⁷

The Santander All in One Credit Card has a representative APR of 29.8% (variable).⁷ It uses Mastercard’s exchange rates for currency conversions.

How do credit cards work in Japan?

You’ll find that credit cards in Japan work in pretty much the same way as in the UK.

You can use yours for spending and cash withdrawals (although this usually comes with a fee, so is best avoided) anywhere that accepts Visa/Mastercard. In some places, you can make a contactless payment with your credit card.

Anything you spend will be added to your balance, and you need to pay off the minimum amount required before the interest-free period ends or you’ll be charged interest.

Can I use my UK credit card in Japan?

Yes, you should be fine to use your UK credit card in Japan.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express credit cards may not be accepted in many places except for hotels, luxury shops, big chains and fine dining restaurants.

As you’ll be spending in Japanese yen during your trip, you’ll just need to check whether your UK credit card charges any foreign currency transaction fees (also known as non-sterling transaction fees).

If it does, you may be best switching to a travel-friendly credit card, or even a debit card which has no foreign currency transaction fees.

Another option is a prepaid travel card which you top up with your chosen currency before you travel.

Is it best to use a credit card in Japan?

Debit and credit cards are widely used and accepted in Japan, especially in bigger towns and cities. But whether a credit card is the best choice depends on what fees your card charges for spending and cash withdrawals in foreign currencies.

Cash is also preferred (or the only accepted payment method) in some places, especially in smaller shops, or more remote or rural parts of the country. You may also need some yen in cash for tips, taxis and shopping at markets.

So, it could be best to take both cash and cards to Japan with you.

What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to Japan

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for when choosing a credit card for your trip to Japan:

• No foreign transaction fees
• No overseas cash withdrawal fees
• A generous interest-free period for purchases - this gives you plenty of time to make repayments after your trip
• Cashback or rewards on travel or everyday spending
• Decent currency exchange rates - most credit cards use Visa or Mastercard rates, which are known to be pretty good.

FAQ

Do you get charged for using a credit card in Japan?

Your credit card provider may charge you for spending or withdrawing cash in Japanese yen during your trip. You’ll need to check the list of fees for your specific card.

The vendor may also add a credit card surcharge or service fee - it’s best to ask before you pay.

How do I avoid credit card foreign transaction fees?

To avoid or minimise fees when using a credit card abroad, follow these tips:

• Choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees
• Avoid cash withdrawals overseas - these usually come with fees
• Always pay in the local currency
• Remember to make minimum repayments before the interest-free period ends.

Is it better to pay in local or foreign currency on a credit card?

It’s always best to pay in the local currency when spending overseas. This will mean that Visa or Mastercard exchange rates will be used, which are usually much better than those applied by the vendor, retailer or ATM.

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That concludes our guide to the best credit card for spending in Japan. Hopefully, this helps you find the one that suits your needs best.

And if you want another option for spending abroad without worrying about exchange rate markups and hidden fees, the Wise card could be a great solution.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including Japan. It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

You also get two free ATM withdrawals for up to 200 GBP (or currency equivalent) each month. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

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Sources used:

1. Halifax - Clarity Card
2. Barclays - Barclays Rewards
3. Barclaycard Rewards - Summary Box
4. Bip - Summary box
5. NatWest - Summary box for Travel Reward credit card
6. Zopa - Summary box
7. Santander - Summary Box - All in One Credit Card
8. NatWest - Travel Reward Credit Card
9. Zopa - Credit card
10. Santander - All in One Credit Card

Sources last checked on date: 25-Feb-2024