American Express Green Card（アメリカン・エキスプレス®・グリーン・カード） is the most affordable personal Membership Rewards card in the Japanese American Express lineup.
Unlike most credit cards in Japan, the Green Card uses a monthly-fee model. Its core value comes from Membership Rewards, Green Offers, 2 for 1 Dining, and essential travel benefits, making it a straightforward entry point into the Japanese Amex MR ecosystem.
👉 Apply for the American Express Green Card
American Express Green Card Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | ¥1,100/month (tax included) |
| Family Card | ¥550/month per card (tax included) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3.5% |
| Base MR Earning | ¥100 = 1 Membership Rewards Point |
| Membership Rewards Plus | ¥3,300/year; enrollment removes the expiration date on MR points and improves selected airline, hotel, and redemption rates |
| ANA Mileage Club Transfers | Requires Membership Rewards ANA Course: ¥5,500/year; with MR Plus, 1,000 MR = 1,000 ANA miles |
| Bonus Points Program | Available after enrolling in MR Plus; eligible merchants earn up to 3 MR per ¥100 |
| Green Offers | Exclusive dining, hotel, and lifestyle offers |
| 2 for 1 Dining by 招待日和 | At around 100 participating restaurants in Japan, book an eligible course for two or more and receive one course complimentary |
| Restaurant Benefit | 15% discount at participating restaurants |
| Cafe Benefit | Special offers at participating cafes |
| Lifestyle Hotel Benefit | Special offers at participating lifestyle hotels |
| Travel Booking | Selected benefits with American Express Travel Online, Expedia, Ikyu.com, and other travel services |
Green Offers｜Exclusive Green Card Benefits
Green Offers are one of the defining features of the American Express Green Card, covering dining, hotels, and lifestyle benefits.
One of the most useful benefits is 2 for 1 Dining by 招待日和.
At around 100 participating restaurants in Japan, when two or more people book an eligible course:
One person’s course fee is complimentary.
Other Green Offers include 15% discounts at participating restaurants, cafe benefits, and selected lifestyle hotel offers.
👉 American Express Green Card Benefits
Membership Rewards｜¥100 = 1 MR
Japanese American Express Membership Rewards cards generally earn:
¥100 = 1 Membership Rewards Point
Enrolling in Membership Rewards Plus (MR Plus) provides several additional benefits:
- MR points no longer expire
- Improved transfer and redemption rates with selected airline, hotel, and other partners
- Access to the Bonus Points Program, where eligible merchants can earn up to 3 MR per ¥100
MR Plus normally costs ¥3,300 per year (tax included), while selected premium American Express cards offer complimentary enrollment.
👉 Membership Rewards Plus Details
Transfers to ANA Mileage Club
Without Membership Rewards Plus:
2,000 MR = 1,000 ANA miles
With Membership Rewards Plus:
1,000 MR = 1,000 ANA miles
In addition to MR Plus, transfers to ANA require enrollment in the Membership Rewards ANA Course for ¥5,500 per year (tax included).
The American Express Platinum Card and American Express Business Platinum Card offer complimentary enrollment in both Membership Rewards Plus and the Membership Rewards ANA Course.
ANA transfers are limited to 40,000 miles per calendar year, from January 1 through December 31. If you hold multiple eligible Japanese American Express MR cards, the 40,000-mile annual limit applies across all eligible cards combined.
ANA Transfer Cost Comparison
| Card | MR Plus | ANA Course | ANA Transfer Rate* | Annual ANA Limit | Annual Cost for 1:1 ANA Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green Card | ¥3,300 | ¥5,500 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥8,800 |
| American Express Gold Preferred Card | Complimentary | ¥5,500 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥5,500 |
| American Express Platinum Card | Complimentary (enrollment required) | Complimentary (enrollment required) | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥0 |
| American Express Business Green Card | ¥3,300 | ¥5,500 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥8,800 |
| American Express Business Gold Card | ¥3,300 | ¥5,500 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥8,800 |
| American Express Business Platinum Card | Complimentary (enrollment required) | Complimentary (enrollment required) | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥0 |
👉 Membership Rewards Airline Transfer Details
Travel Benefits
The American Express Green Card provides access to American Express Travel Online, along with selected travel booking benefits through Expedia, Ikyu.com, and other services.
Green Offers also include benefits at selected lifestyle hotels, adding some useful domestic travel value without positioning the Green Card as a premium travel card.
Japan American Express Card Comparison
Personal Cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Base MR Earning | Key Difference | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Green Card | ¥13,200 | 1 MR / ¥100 | Basic travel benefits | 3.5% |
| American Express Gold Preferred Card | ¥49,500 | 1 MR / ¥100 | Hotels + dining + travel | 3.5% |
| American Express Platinum Card | ¥165,000 | 1 MR / ¥100 | Hotel elite status + FHR + premium travel | 3.5% |
Business Cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Base MR Earning | Key Difference | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Business Green Card | ¥13,200 | 1 MR / ¥100 | Essential business benefits | 3.5% |
| American Express Business Gold Card | ¥39,600 | 1 MR / ¥100 | Business spending + business benefits | 3.5% |
| American Express Business Platinum Card | ¥165,000 | 1 MR / ¥100 | Premium business + travel benefits | 3.5% |
Conclusion
The American Express Green Card is best suited to those who want access to Membership Rewards, Green Offers, and dining benefits without moving into the more premium Japanese Amex cards.
For ANA mileage collectors, however, the additional transfer costs are important. To transfer at the 1:1 ANA ratio, Green Card members need both MR Plus for ¥3,300 per year and the ANA Course for ¥5,500 per year, for a combined annual cost of ¥8,800.
Those who can take advantage of free hotel nights, hotel benefits, and more extensive dining benefits may prefer the American Express Gold Preferred Card, while travelers looking for premium hotel status, FHR, and airport lounge benefits should consider the American Express Platinum Card.
👉 Apply for the American Express Green Card
Can Foreign Residents Apply?
Foreign residents who legally reside in Japan can apply for the American Express Green Card if they meet American Express Japan’s eligibility requirements.
Approval is subject to American Express Japan’s underwriting criteria, including factors such as income, employment, and credit history in Japan.
Existing American Express cardmembers in another country may also be eligible to use American Express Global Card Transfer when establishing an American Express relationship in Japan.
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