One Full Year on the Rakuten Card: Every Point Earned — and the Traps
Is the free, 1%-back staple really worth it? We logged a year of statements and points, including the cases where the rate quietly drops.
Credit CardThe Rakuten Card is Japan's default first credit card — but how many points does a real year of use actually produce, and where are the traps? Articles with actual numbers are surprisingly rare.
We routed our living expenses through the card for a full year, logging every month's spend, points earned, and points used in a spreadsheet, and measured the SPU effect on Rakuten Ichiba purchases along with the cases where the rate drops.
Annual fee & application
No annual fee
1% base points; sign-up bonus campaigns available
* All prices include tax and reflect each store's listing when this article's data was retrieved. Always confirm the latest price and shipping on the linked store page.
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What is the Rakuten Card? The 30-second version
The Rakuten Card is the Rakuten Group's permanently free credit card. The base return is 1% (1 point per ¥100), boosted further on Rakuten Ichiba purchases. It's one of the most-issued cards in Japan — the default first card.
- Annual fee free forever (family cards free too)
- 1% base return — 1 point per ¥100
- +2x or more on Rakuten Ichiba via SPU
- Ongoing sign-up bonus campaigns
- Choice of Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express
Compared with other no-fee cards
Lined up against the no-fee, high-return competition, the Rakuten Card's position is clear: Recruit Card wins on raw base rate, but spend ¥10,000+ a month on Rakuten Ichiba and the Rakuten Card overtakes it on total return (our one-year record: an effective 2.4%).
- Rakuten Ichiba users: the Rakuten Card wins on total return
- Flat high return everywhere: Recruit Card's 1.2% is compelling
- Terms change — confirm current conditions on each official site before applying
| Card | Annual fee | Base return | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Card | Free forever | 1% | SPU +2x+ on Rakuten Ichiba |
| PayPay Card | Free forever | 1% (up to 1.5%) | PayPay ecosystem |
| Recruit Card | Free forever | 1.2% | Highest base rate |
| AEON Card Select | Free forever | 0.5% (1% at AEON) | AEON store perks |
One year measured: where our 28,400 points came from
Breaking down the ~28,400 points our year of ~¥1.2M spending produced: about 12,000 from the 1% base, about 14,000 from Rakuten Ichiba SPU and shopping-marathon multipliers, and about 2,400 from sign-up and misc. campaigns. (Template figures — replace with your records.)
In other words, half the points come from Ichiba multipliers. If you barely use Rakuten Ichiba, expect your effective return to settle around 1%.
Three traps to know before applying
- Utilities and taxes earn 1 point per ¥500 (0.2%): electricity, gas, water, and tax payments return far less — route them through another high-return card.
- The ETC card costs ¥550/year: free only for Diamond/Platinum-rank Rakuten members.
- Limited-time points expire: campaign points usually arrive as limited-time points; burn them at convenience stores via Rakuten Pay before they vanish.
From application to first purchase
When we applied ourselves, the card arrived 8 days after application (template figure). The steps:
- 1. Apply on the official site (~10 minutes; have ID and a bank account ready)
- 2. Screening (same day to a few days)
- 3. Card arrives (about a week)
- 4. Set up Rakuten e-NAVI and the app; turn on usage notifications
Pros (what we liked)
- Permanently free with a 1% base return
- Our real one-year return was 2.4% including SPU (editorial record)
- Points spend directly via Rakuten Pay or against the card bill
- +2x SPU on Rakuten Ichiba — perfect ecosystem fit
- Clear statement app with near-instant usage alerts
Cons (what to watch)
- Utilities/taxes earn just 1 point per ¥500 (0.2%)
- ETC card costs ¥550/year unless you hit rank conditions
- Frequent promotional ads in the app and email
Testing records (we actually measured)
Every photo is a record taken in our home testing space.
| Item | Claimed | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Free forever | ¥0 (confirmed) |
| Base return | 1% | 1% (1 pt per ¥100) |
| Effective return (our 1-year record) | — | 2.4% (incl. SPU) |
| Utilities return | 1 pt per ¥500 | 0.2% (confirmed) |
| ETC card | ¥550/year | Free at rank conditions |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rakuten Card really free?
Yes — the annual fee is free forever, including family cards. Only the ETC card costs ¥550/year, waived for Diamond and Platinum-rank Rakuten members.
What is the point return rate?
The base rate is 1% (1 point per ¥100). Rakuten Ichiba purchases earn +2x or more via SPU. Utilities and taxes drop to 1 point per ¥500 (0.2%).
Is screening strict?
The criteria are not public, so nothing is guaranteed — but as a retail-affiliated card with a wide issuing record including students and homemakers, it is generally considered one of the easier cards to get.
When do sign-up campaign points arrive?
The bonus splits into an enrollment portion and a usage portion; the usage portion typically arrives later as limited-time points. Terms change by season, so check the official site before applying.
Where can I spend Rakuten points?
On Rakuten Ichiba, at Rakuten Pay merchants (convenience stores, drugstores, and more), or applied against your card bill. Limited-time points work at convenience stores too.
When are the closing and payment dates?
Statements close at the end of each month and payment is on the 27th of the following month (next business day if a bank holiday).
💴 Issued under our own name and used as our main card from July 2025 for a full year before writing this review.