Hi guys,

So apparently most Japanese retail websites don't accept
foreign credit cards due to concerns over fraud.

However, I found out that some sites accept the JCB interational
credit card. It is apparently the ONLY international credit card that
can be used in Japan. (according to this 2003 press release: http://www.jcbinternational.com/htm/abou...0309_1.htm)

For example, it works with Amazon Japan:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/feature.html?...3071248586

Anyway, I'd like to hear from people who have JCB. Does it work everywhere?
What has your experience been like?

Thanks.

Sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about.

I've never had a problem doing online shopping in Japan with an American credit card and I've never seen a shop that didn't accept international cards.

Maybe a really small operation would not be equipped to accept them.

I think you misread the press release, if you're referring to the initial sentence on the second paragraph.

The only places I haven't been able to buy from are PSN and iTunes. Everything else so far has taken my Visa gladly.

wccrawford Wrote:The only places I haven't been able to buy from are PSN and iTunes. Everything else so far has taken my Visa gladly.

yea, I wanted to buy a few stuff off PSN but well you have to get that online(i.e. do a work around to play Japanese ps1 games on your ps3)

Can you even shop at Japanese itunes or PSN with a Japanese credit card if you reside outside of Japan?

Never had any problems with my American Express...aside from the odd place that doesn't accept American Express, but hey, we even have those in the good ol' US of A, as well.

./Khakionion

Lol, you know, in Japan it's even worse. Good luck finding a cash machine that will take your credit card or cash card! Consider yourself lucky they haven't closed you off from the internet - pesky cash society. (Actually, I could get a Japanese credit card, but I'd never use it. The process is actually pretty easy.)

iirc Yahoo auctions doesn't work with non-JP creditcards.

The problem is not that they outright reject them, but you have to input the correct billing address and there is often no way to enter a non-Japanese address.

Cranks Wrote:(Actually, I could get a Japanese credit card, but I'd never use it. The process is actually pretty easy.)

Sure it's easy to apply. It is, however, much harder to get APPROVED in Japan compared to the west. It's even harder as a foreigner with no established credit, short in-country work history, and short visas.

Cranks Wrote:Lol, you know, in Japan it's even worse. Good luck finding a cash machine that will take your credit card or cash card! Consider yourself lucky they haven't closed you off from the internet - pesky cash society. (Actually, I could get a Japanese credit card, but I'd never use it. The process is actually pretty easy.)

The post office cash machines accept most kinds of cards and are quite easy to find.

Hehe, I guess they just don't like my home country or bank.

I hope this is sufficiently related to the topic - does anybody know if it's possible to buy a "prepaid" credit card in Japan? You buy a sort of a voucher/number of a certain value (such as "3V" in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Canada - https://www.3vprepaid.com) and use it as a regular VISA-type credit card for online shopping worldwide.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Never seen it advertised.

Most online shopping seems to be done using bank transfers or konbini-barai.

電子マネー is too damn fragmented (despite them all using the same essential felica protocol), which is why I don't use it.
I probably never will unless they partner up with the brand new Manaca IC train pass in Nagoya.

An unshielded pass case can only hold one card afterall.

My Visa was accepted everywhere in 2009 and 2010, from Tokyo to Kumamoto.