Quick Answer
The honest Japanese verdict first
Japan has one of the richest Amex ecosystems in the world, and the Platinum’s ¥165,000 fee to match. Prestige runs deep here, which is exactly why people overbuy. So I’ll say it: unless you genuinely fly often and use the Centurion Lounges, unlimited Priority Pass and hotel status, the Gold Preferred gives you real lounge access and hotel status too, for a quarter of the fee. Here’s the full Japanese lineup, honestly ranked, with the numbers that most comparison sites still get wrong.
The Japanese Amex lineup compared
| Card | Annual fee (JP) | Lounge access | Hotel status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | ¥165,000 | Centurion Lounges + unlimited Priority Pass | Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold Elite | Frequent flyers |
| Gold Preferred | ¥39,600 | Domestic lounges (+1 guest) + Priority Pass, 2 free visits/yr | Seibu Prince Gold, Okura Nikko Royal | All-round value, dining & travel |
| Green | ¥1,100/mo (~¥13,200/yr) | Domestic lounges, cardholder only | None | Lower-commitment entry |
Fees change, so confirm current terms on the application page. All three charge a 3.5% foreign currency fee and none supports cash advances.
What changed in 2026
Two things most older comparisons still get wrong. The Gold Preferred is not lounge-less or status-less. It gives the cardholder and one companion free access to domestic airport lounges, and its Priority Pass membership fee (US$99) is waived with 2 free visits a year (US$35 each after). It also carries Seibu Prince Global Rewards Gold and Okura Nikko One Harmony Royal hotel status, just not Hilton or Marriott. The foreign currency handling fee jumped from 2.0% to 3.5% on August 1, 2025, on every personal and business card, making it one of the priciest FX loadings among major Japanese cards and the strongest argument for pairing any Japanese Amex with a fee-free card like Revolut.
Platinum: for frequent flyers
The American Express Global Lounge Collection (1,200+ lounges worldwide, including Centurion Lounges at Haneda and abroad), Priority Pass with unlimited free visits, Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, and real annual credits: a ¥100,000 airline credit (from year 2, requires ¥5 million in annual spend), Global Dining Cashback (50% back at 2,000+ restaurants, up to ¥40,000/year) and a Premium Free Stay Gift (one free night for two at a partner hotel on renewal). Up to 4 free supplementary cards. At ¥165,000/year it only pays off if you’ll use them, though Japanese Amex perks here are unusually generous. See the Amex Platinum review.
Gold Preferred: the value sweet spot
¥39,600/year, and it punches well above its fee: domestic airport lounge access for the cardholder and a companion, a Priority Pass with 2 free visits a year, Seibu Prince Global Rewards Gold and Okura Nikko One Harmony Royal hotel status, a free and automatic Membership Rewards Plus (¥3,300/year on every other card), plus real credits: a ¥10,000 travel credit on renewal (needs a ¥20,000+ hotel booking), 20% cashback on Pocket Concierge dining (up to ¥10,000/year) and 20% back on Starbucks Card reloads (up to ¥5,000/year). For most people in Japan this is the smartest card. See the Amex Gold review.
Green: the lower-commitment entry
¥1,100/month gets you into the Membership Rewards ecosystem with a monthly (not annual) commitment, 28 domestic airport lounges plus 1 overseas (cardholder only, no companion), and a Priority Pass whose membership fee is waived but every visit still costs US$35. Its Membership Rewards Plus is not free here (¥3,300/year, unlike Gold Preferred and Platinum). It’s the lightest paid option, since there’s no truly free proprietary Amex in Japan.
Beyond the big three: co-branded cards
If you fly one airline or stay with one hotel group often, Japan’s co-branded Amex cards can beat the proprietary lineup: ANA (¥7,700 / Gold ¥34,100 / Premium ¥165,000), Delta SkyMiles (¥13,200 / Gold ¥28,600), Marriott Bonvoy (¥34,100 / Premium ¥82,500) and Hilton Honors (¥16,500 / Premium ¥66,000). The ANA cards in particular are the default choice for many Japan-based flyers. Confirm current welcome offers on the application page, since these change often.
The one-question test
Count last year’s airport visits. Double digits, and you’ll use the Centurion Lounges and credits → Platinum. You want a generous all-rounder with real (if lighter) lounge access and hotel status → Gold Preferred. You want the lightest commitment → Green. You’re loyal to one airline or hotel group → check the co-branded cards above. Torn between the top two? Amex Platinum vs Gold.
Don’t forget the acceptance gap
Amex acceptance in Japan is good at hotels and department stores but thinner at small restaurants and rural shops, and cash is still king in many places. Remember too that no Japanese Amex can do a cash advance (discontinued in 2012), so it’s not a backup for foreign cash. Pair any Amex with a free Revolut card for fee-free spending (Amex charges 3.5% on foreign currency) and real-rate cash withdrawals. See Amex vs Revolut. For the full lineup across every market, browse our credit cards guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Amex card is best in Japan?
The Platinum (¥165,000/year) for frequent flyers who use the Centurion Lounges, unlimited Priority Pass and Hilton/Marriott hotel status, the Gold Preferred (¥39,600/year) as the strong all-rounder with limited lounge access and Seibu Prince/Okura Nikko status, and the Green (¥1,100/month) as the lower-commitment entry. Japan also has ANA, Delta and Marriott Bonvoy/Hilton Honors co-branded Amex cards worth comparing if you’re loyal to one airline or hotel group.
Is there a free American Express card in Japan?
Not among the proprietary cards; even the entry-level Green carries a monthly fee (¥1,100/month, about ¥13,200/year). Note that the plain ゴールド・カード (Gold Card) is no longer sold to new applicants; the Gold Preferred replaced it.
How much does the Amex Platinum cost in Japan?
¥165,000 a year (tax included), with up to 4 free supplementary cards. The Gold Preferred is ¥39,600/year (2 free supplementary cards) and the Green is ¥1,100/month. Confirm current figures and welcome campaigns on the application page.
Does the Gold Preferred have lounge access and hotel status?
Yes, though it’s lighter than the Platinum’s. Domestic airport lounges are free for the cardholder plus one companion, and Priority Pass membership (normally US$99) is waived with 2 free lounge visits a year (US$35 each after that). Hotel status is Seibu Prince Global Rewards Gold and Okura Nikko One Harmony Royal; it does not include Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy status, which are Platinum-only.
What’s the foreign transaction fee on a Japanese Amex, and can I get cash advances?
3.5% on every card, raised from 2.0% on August 1, 2025, it’s one of the highest foreign currency loadings among major Japanese cards. Japanese Amex cards also cannot do cash advances at all; the service was discontinued in June 2012. Pair any Japanese Amex with a fee-free card like Revolut for overseas spending and cash.
Verdict
In Japan: frequent flyer who’ll use the Centurion Lounges and big credits → Platinum; value-seeker who still wants real (lighter) lounge access and hotel status → Gold Preferred; light commitment → Green; loyal to one airline or hotel group → check the co-branded cards. Whichever you pick, budget for the 3.5% foreign currency fee and carry a fee-free card for cash. Compare the current offers below.