American Express Business Platinum Card（アメリカン・エキスプレス®・ビジネス・プラチナ・カード） is the top-tier business card in the American Express Japan lineup. It combines Membership Rewards with premium hotel benefits, airport lounge access, business travel services, and employee card management.
Compared with the personal Platinum Card, the Business Platinum is more focused on business spending, employee cards, expense management, and business travel. Its supplementary card structure is particularly useful for companies that want multiple employees to charge business expenses to the same account.
👉 Apply for the American Express Business Platinum Card
American Express Business Platinum Card Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ¥165,000 (tax included) |
| Supplementary Cards | First 4 benefit-enabled cards complimentary; ¥13,200 each from the 5th card; supplementary cards without benefits are complimentary |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3.5% |
| Base MR Earning | 1 Membership Rewards Point per ¥100 |
| Bonus Points Program | Earn additional MR Points at eligible merchants after enrollment |
| Membership Rewards Plus | Complimentary enrollment |
| ANA Mileage Club Transfers | Complimentary enrollment |
| Premium Free Stay Gift | Receive 1 complimentary night for two at participating hotels upon annual renewal |
| Hotel Elite Status | Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Seibu Prince Global Rewards Platinum, Radisson Rewards Premium; ALL Accor Gold scheduled for fall 2026 |
| Fine Hotels + Resorts | Access to FHR properties with premium hotel benefits |
| The Hotel Collection | Additional benefits at participating hotels |
| Centurion Lounge | Cardmember + 1 guest complimentary |
| Priority Pass | Cardmember + 1 guest complimentary |
| Japan Airport Lounges | Participating airport lounges in Japan; cardmember + 1 guest complimentary |
| Platinum Secretary Service | 24/7, 365-day dedicated Business Platinum assistance |
| Pocket Concierge | 10% cashback at eligible restaurants |
| Business Backing Program | Cashback on qualifying purchases with participating business merchants |
| Business Services | Expense management, accounting integrations, supplementary card management, and other business services |
👉 American Express Business Platinum Card Benefits
Supplementary Cards: First 4 Benefit-Enabled Cards Are Complimentary
One of the most useful differences between the Business Platinum and the personal Platinum is the supplementary card policy.
The first four supplementary cards with Platinum benefits are complimentary. Starting with the fifth card, additional benefit-enabled cards can still be issued for a fee.
American Express also offers complimentary supplementary cards without the additional Platinum benefits. These can be useful when employees simply need a company card for business expenses without requiring the full set of travel benefits.
This makes the Business Platinum much more scalable than the personal Platinum for companies with multiple employees.
Premium Free Stay Gift
Cardmembers receive a Premium Free Stay Gift upon annual renewal, valid for a one-night stay for two at participating hotels in Japan.
There is no additional annual spending requirement to receive this renewal benefit.
An important distinction is that the Business Platinum does not follow the same 2026 free-night structure as the personal Platinum Card.
The personal Platinum can earn an additional Premium Free Stay Gift after meeting its annual spending requirement. The Business Platinum currently provides one renewal Free Stay Gift, so the personal card’s second-night benefit should not be applied to the Business Platinum.
👉 Premium Free Stay Gift Details
Hotel Benefits
Premium hotel benefits are one of the strongest parts of the Business Platinum.
Cardmembers can enroll in several hotel loyalty programs and receive elevated status without meeting the normal stay requirements.
| Hotel Program | Status |
|---|---|
| Hilton Honors | Gold |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Gold Elite |
| Seibu Prince Global Rewards | Platinum |
| Radisson Rewards | Premium |
| ALL Accor | Gold — scheduled for fall 2026 |
The card also provides access to Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection, adding another layer of benefits for travelers who regularly stay at upscale and luxury hotels.
There is also an important difference from the personal Platinum Card: the personal version offers six hotel statuses, while the Business Platinum does not include One Harmony Exclusive.
For travelers who care primarily about hotel status, that distinction is worth keeping in mind.
Airport Lounge Access
The Business Platinum offers several different airport lounge benefits.
Centurion Lounge: Cardmember + 1 guest complimentary.
Priority Pass: Cardmember + 1 guest complimentary.
Participating airport lounges in Japan: Cardmember + 1 guest complimentary.
This combination makes the card particularly useful for frequent business travelers, especially those traveling internationally from Japan.
Platinum Secretary Service
The Platinum Secretary Service is a dedicated 24/7 service for Business Platinum cardmembers.
It can assist with arrangements such as flights, trains, hotels, restaurants, tickets, business travel, and entertainment.
This is one of the benefits that more clearly separates the Business Platinum from lower-tier Japanese American Express Business Cards, particularly for business owners who frequently arrange travel or client meetings.
Dining Benefits
Business Platinum also includes dining benefits, although its dining package is different from the personal Platinum Card.
One notable benefit is Pocket Concierge, which offers 10% cashback at eligible restaurants.
The personal Platinum Card’s Global Dining Cashback should therefore not be treated as a Business Platinum benefit—the two cards have different dining structures.
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 key 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 include it at no additional cost.
👉 Membership Rewards Plus Details
Transfers to ANA Mileage Club
ANA is one of the most valuable airline transfer options for Japanese American Express MR points.
Without MR Plus:
2,000 MR = 1,000 ANA miles
With MR Plus:
1,000 MR = 1,000 ANA miles
In addition to MR Plus, most cards 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 include the ANA Course at no additional cost.
ANA transfers are limited to 40,000 miles per calendar year (January 1–December 31). If you hold multiple eligible Japanese American Express MR cards, the 40,000-mile annual limit applies across all eligible cards combined, rather than separately to each card.
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 | Complimentary | 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 | Complimentary | 1,000 MR = 1,000 miles | 40,000 miles | ¥0 |
👉 Membership Rewards Airline Transfer Details
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 Business Platinum Card makes the most sense for business owners who have significant company expenses and can also take advantage of premium hotel and business travel benefits.
Its strongest features are the supplementary card structure, Premium Free Stay Gift, hotel elite status, FHR, airport lounge access, and 24/7 Platinum Secretary Service.
The ability to issue more than four benefit-enabled supplementary cards—and complimentary supplementary cards without benefits—also makes it much better suited to employee expense management than the personal Platinum Card.
On the other hand, travelers primarily interested in personal hotel, dining, and lifestyle benefits may find the personal Platinum more compelling. The two cards may share the Platinum name, but their benefits and target users are meaningfully different.
👉 Apply for the American Express Business Platinum Card
Can Foreign Residents in Japan Apply?
Yes. Foreign residents in Japan can apply for the American Express Business Platinum Card, provided they meet American Express Japan’s eligibility and underwriting requirements for its Business Cards.
Because this is a business product, applicants generally need to qualify as an eligible business owner, sole proprietor, or corporate representative in addition to satisfying the usual residency and credit requirements.
Existing American Express cardmembers in another country may also want to check whether American Express Global Card Transfer is available for their situation. Final approval remains subject to American Express Japan’s underwriting.
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