This guide will help you decide which Japanese point cards are right for you, from the basics to in-depth insight into the most popular cards. If you have spent any amount of time in Japan, you will quickly notice that point card culture here is on another level. Japanese point cards are a big deal—almost every shop has its own point card! Whether at the convenience store, department store or the local neighborhood cafe, the first question you will likely be asked by the cashier is ポイントカードはおもちですか? ( ; “Do you have a point card?”) You may wonder if you need a Japanese point card for every shop you visit.

While it is tempting to collect them all for those “just in case” moments, there are a few popular point cards that will be your key to . Don’t worry if you are unsure how to sign up, we will cover everything you need to know about Japanese point cards. In essence, a point card is a rewards system that allows customers to earn points for every yen they spend at a particular store or list of retailers.

To understand Japan’s love of point cards, we need to look back at past promotions. Japanese point cards clothier in 1916. The popular stamp cards that we know today were introduced in the 1960s, but point cards began to gain momentum after the rise of cash cards and credit cards promoted rewards programs in the 1980s.

Soon after, department stores, convenience stores and service providers entered the point card market. Point car.