Cards are a growing share of payments in Japan, and the mix of schemes is a little different from other markets. Alongside the international networks (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express), Japan has its own major domestic scheme, JCB (Japan Credit Bureau). For merchants selling to Japanese customers, accepting JCB is often as important as accepting Visa and Mastercard. This page explains the schemes and why the local favourite matters.
For the general steps every card payment goes through (authorization, capture, and settlement), see how card payments work. This page focuses on the schemes specific to Japan.

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The main schemes in Japan

JCB

Japan’s home-grown scheme and a local favourite. JCB is one of the country’s largest issuers, with tens of millions of cardholders, and is often preferred over international brands by Japanese shoppers.

Visa

A global scheme with very broad acceptance in Japan, handling a large share of the country’s card transactions.

Mastercard

A second global scheme, also widely accepted across Japan on both debit and credit cards.

American Express

Recognised by many major businesses, hotels, and restaurants, though not as universally accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

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Why JCB matters for merchants

JCB is a genuinely local preference, not just an also-ran. It holds a substantial share of Japanese card transactions and tends to carry a higher average transaction value than other cards. Many Japanese shoppers reach for JCB first, so a checkout that only accepts Visa and Mastercard can quietly lose sales.
If you sell to Japanese customers, treat JCB acceptance as a priority alongside Visa and Mastercard, not an optional extra. It is often the card your Japanese customers most want to use.

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Online card payments and 3D Secure

For online payments, Japan follows the wider pattern of using 3D Secure (3DS) to reduce fraud. JCB’s own version is branded J/Secure. When a customer pays online, 3DS may ask them to confirm their identity (for example, with a one-time password) before the payment is approved. Recurring card payments in Japan are supported but generally require explicit customer consent, with 3DS often enforced.
A localised checkout matters in Japan: yen pricing, Japanese-language support, and clear instructions all help customers complete payment. Strong fraud controls, including 3DS, are especially important for international cards.

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Cards among Japan’s wider payment mix

Cards sit alongside cash, convenience-store payments, and popular QR wallets such as PayPay, Rakuten Pay, and LINE Pay. Cash is still widely used, so cards are one important option rather than the only one.

Offer the local favourites

Accepting JCB alongside Visa and Mastercard covers the cards most Japanese customers carry.

Consider wallets and konbini

QR wallets and convenience-store payments are meaningful in Japan; supporting them can lift conversion further.
Hello Clever’s card processing supports Visa and Mastercard along with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Check the current Card API overview for the latest supported schemes before planning a Japan launch, as coverage can change.