ANA miles can be earned through credit cards issued in both the United States and Japan, but the earning systems are fundamentally different.
In the U.S., American Express Membership Rewards (MR) provides a flexible way to earn points through everyday spending and transfer them to ANA Mileage Club. In Japan, ANA co-branded credit cards can earn ANA miles directly, while Japanese Membership Rewards cards offer another transfer-based option.
This comparison focuses on how quickly each credit card earns ANA miles, the spending categories that matter most, and the differences between U.S. and Japanese ANA mileage strategies.
⭐ U.S. vs. Japan: ANA Miles Credit Card Comparison
| Country | Credit Card | Base Earning | Higher Earning | ANA Strategy |
| U.S. | Amex Green | 1 MR / $1 | 3X travel, transit, dining | MR → ANA |
| U.S. | Amex Gold | 1 MR / $1 | 4X eligible dining / U.S. supermarkets; 3X flights | MR → ANA |
| U.S. | Amex Platinum | 1 MR / $1 | 5X eligible flights | MR → ANA |
| Japan | ANA Visa / Mastercard | 1 mile / ¥200 | 2 miles / ¥200 with paid 2X Course | V Points → ANA |
| Japan | ANA Wide Visa / Mastercard | 1 mile / ¥200 | 2 miles / ¥200 with paid 2X Course | V Points → ANA |
| Japan | ANA Wide Gold Visa / Mastercard | 2 miles / ¥200 | Eligible ANA purchases may earn more | V Points → ANA |
| Japan | ANA VISA Platinum Premium | 3 miles / ¥200 | ANA purchase bonuses | V Points → ANA |
| Japan | ANA American Express | 1 mile / ¥100 | ANA purchase bonuses | Points → ANA |
| Japan | ANA American Express Gold | 1 mile / ¥100 | ANA purchase bonuses | Points → ANA |
| Japan | ANA American Express Premium | 1 mile / ¥100 | ANA purchase bonuses | Points → ANA |
| Japan | Amex Green | 1 MR / ¥100 | Card-specific bonuses | MR → ANA |
| Japan | Amex Gold Preferred | 1 MR / ¥100 | Card-specific bonuses | MR → ANA |
| Japan | Amex Platinum | 1 MR / ¥100 | Card-specific bonuses | MR → ANA |
Rates depend on eligibility, merchant coding, enrollment and current card terms. U.S. bonus categories can have spending caps. Japanese card transfers may require a paid course.
🇺🇸 U.S. Credit Cards: Earn ANA Miles Through Membership Rewards
The three major U.S. personal American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to ANA Mileage Club.
American Express Green Card: 3X Travel and Transit
The American Express Green Card earns 3X MR on eligible travel, transit, and restaurant purchases worldwide.
This makes it particularly useful for travelers who regularly pay for hotels, trains, taxis, public transportation, and dining.
For example, $1,000 in eligible 3X spending earns 3,000 MR points, equivalent to 3,000 ANA miles at a 1:1 transfer ratio.
American Express Gold Card: 4X Everyday Spending
The American Express Gold Card earns 4X MR at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, subject to their respective annual spending caps.
It also earns 3X on eligible flight purchases.
For someone who spends heavily on dining and groceries, Gold can accumulate ANA-transferable points substantially faster than a general 1X credit card.
American Express Platinum Card: 5X Flights
The American Express Platinum Card earns 5X MR on eligible flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, subject to the applicable annual spending cap.
A $2,000 eligible flight purchase generates 10,000 MR points, equivalent to 10,000 ANA miles at a 1:1 transfer ratio.
Platinum is therefore especially useful for airfare purchases, although its standard everyday earning rate is only 1X.
🇯🇵 Japan ANA Visa / Mastercard: Direct Mileage Earning
Japan’s ANA Visa / Mastercard lineup is issued by Sumitomo Mitsui Card and includes Standard, Wide, Wide Gold, and Premium tiers.
The major difference is the mileage conversion rate rather than the payment network.
Standard and Wide: Optional 2X Course
Both Standard and Wide normally earn the equivalent of 1 ANA mile per ¥200 through the standard transfer course.
Enrolling in the paid 2X Course increases the conversion rate to 2 ANA miles per ¥200.
The 2X Course costs ¥6,600 per year. For cardholders with substantial everyday spending, the higher transfer rate can materially improve ANA mileage accumulation.
Wide Gold: 1 ANA Mile per ¥100
ANA Wide Gold earns 2 ANA miles per ¥200 without a separate 2X Course fee.
It also provides a +25% bonus on eligible ANA flight mileage.
This combination makes Wide Gold a practical option for travelers who want both regular mileage earning and ANA flight benefits.
ANA VISA Platinum Premium: 1.5 ANA Miles per ¥100
The ANA VISA Platinum Premium Card earns 3 ANA miles per ¥200 on regular eligible purchases.
That is equivalent to:
¥100 spending = 1.5 ANA miles
For example, ¥1,000,000 in eligible regular spending generates approximately 15,000 ANA miles before any additional category or flight bonuses.
The card also provides a +50% ANA flight bonus.
For the complete card-tier comparison, see the ANA Visa / Mastercard Guide.
💳 Japan ANA American Express: Higher Rewards on ANA Purchases
Japan’s ANA American Express lineup provides three additional ways to accumulate ANA miles.
| Credit Card | Regular Spending | Eligible ANA Airfare | ANA Flight Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANA American Express | 1 mile / ¥100 | Up to 2.5 miles / ¥100 | +10% |
| ANA American Express Gold | 1 mile / ¥100 | Up to 3 miles / ¥100 | +25% |
| ANA American Express Premium | 1 mile / ¥100 | Up to 4.5 miles / ¥100 | +50% |
The basic ANA American Express Card requires enrollment in its paid Point Transfer Course to convert card points to ANA miles.
The ANA American Express Gold Card removes that separate transfer-course fee and offers stronger ANA Group earning.
The ANA American Express Premium Card has the highest eligible ANA airfare earning rate in this three-card lineup.
For regular non-bonus spending, however, all three earn the equivalent of 1 ANA mile per ¥100. Their biggest mileage-earning differences appear when purchasing eligible ANA flights.
🔄 U.S. vs. Japan Membership Rewards: ANA Transfer Rules
American Express Membership Rewards operates differently in the United States and Japan.
| Feature | U.S. Membership Rewards | Japan Membership Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| ANA Transfer Ratio | 1:1 | 1:1 with applicable enrollment |
| Base Earning | 1 MR / $1 | 1 MR / ¥100 |
| Main Bonus Categories | Up to 3X–5X on selected spending | Up to 3X on eligible foreign-currency purchases with Japan Platinum |
| ANA Transfer Enrollment | Eligible MR account and linked ANA account | Membership Rewards Plus and ANA Course, as applicable |
| Annual ANA Transfer Limit | No equivalent 40,000-mile annual cap | 40,000 ANA miles per calendar year |
The Japanese 40,000-Mile Transfer Limit
One important restriction applies to Japanese American Express Membership Rewards.
Transfers to ANA Mileage Club are capped at 40,000 ANA miles per calendar year, across eligible Japanese MR cards under the same account relationship.
This is a significant consideration for high spenders who want to accumulate ANA miles quickly.
By comparison, U.S. Membership Rewards offers a more scalable ANA transfer strategy without that Japanese 40,000-mile annual limit.
For a full explanation of transfer partners and earning methods, see the American Express Membership Rewards Guide.
📊 How Much Spending Does It Take to Earn ANA Miles?
The following examples show regular spending requirements before special bonuses, annual card fees, and other costs.
Japanese Credit Cards
| Card / Strategy | Spending for 10,000 ANA Miles | Spending for 40,000 ANA Miles |
|---|---|---|
| ANA Visa Standard / Wide — standard course | ¥2,000,000 | ¥8,000,000 |
| ANA Visa Standard / Wide — 2X Course | ¥1,000,000 | ¥4,000,000 |
| ANA Wide Gold | ¥1,000,000 | ¥4,000,000 |
| ANA VISA Platinum Premium | Approx. ¥666,667 | Approx. ¥2,666,667 |
| ANA American Express lineup | ¥1,000,000 | ¥4,000,000 |
| Japan Amex MR → ANA at 1:1 | ¥1,000,000 | ¥4,000,000 |
Japan Amex MR transfers remain subject to the 40,000-mile annual ANA transfer limit. The table does not assume ANA airfare bonuses, partner-merchant bonuses, or spending-based annual bonuses.
U.S. Credit Cards
| Eligible Spending Category | MR Earning Rate | Spending for 10,000 ANA Miles |
|---|---|---|
| General spending | 1X | $10,000 |
| Green: travel, transit, dining | 3X | Approx. $3,334 |
| Gold: eligible dining / U.S. supermarkets | 4X | $2,500 |
| Platinum: eligible flights | 5X | $2,000 |
U.S. dollar and Japanese yen spending figures should be evaluated separately. These tables compare the earning efficiency of each currency rather than assuming a fixed exchange rate.
👤 Which ANA Mileage Strategy Makes Sense?
Frequent U.S. Restaurant and Grocery Spending
American Express Gold offers 4X MR in its eligible bonus categories. It is a strong choice for building ANA-transferable points through recurring everyday purchases.
Frequent International Travel and Transit
American Express Green is particularly useful for eligible travel, transit, and restaurant spending, while Platinum is more specialized for eligible airfare purchases.
Everyday Spending in Japan
ANA Wide Gold provides a straightforward 1 ANA mile per ¥100 equivalent without a separate 2X Course fee.
ANA VISA Platinum Premium increases that regular earning rate to 1.5 ANA miles per ¥100, although its higher holding cost needs to be considered.
Frequent ANA Ticket Purchases
Japan-issued ANA American Express cards offer stronger rewards on eligible ANA airfare, particularly at the Gold and Premium tiers.
The value of those higher earning rates depends on how much ANA airfare you actually purchase.
Keeping Airline Options Open
Transferable Membership Rewards points provide more flexibility than earning ANA miles directly.
If ANA award availability does not match your travel plans, retaining transferable points can preserve other redemption options.
For a broader comparison of Japanese airline-mile earning strategies, see the Japan Credit Card Points to Airline Miles Guide.
🏁 Conclusion: How to Earn ANA Miles Faster
There is no single credit card that earns ANA miles fastest across every spending category and country.
In the United States, American Express Gold is particularly effective for eligible dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, Green works well for travel and transit, and Platinum earns the most MR on eligible airfare among these three cards.
In Japan, ANA VISA Platinum Premium has a strong regular earning rate of 1.5 ANA miles per ¥100, while ANA Wide Gold provides a more accessible 1-mile-per-¥100 strategy.
For frequent ANA ticket purchases, the ANA American Express Gold and Premium cards deserve closer attention because of their elevated ANA airfare rewards.
The most important distinction is whether you prefer to earn ANA miles directly or accumulate flexible points first. Earning miles quickly is valuable, but finding suitable ANA award availability remains just as important.
