Points and miles collection in Japan for the non-Japanese.
Discovering Rakuten: How Everyday Life in Japan Can Earn You Miles (Part 3 of 4)
Emily’s envy of ANA miles sparks a warm journey into Rakuten’s world, guided by Maria, a Filipina resident in Japan. From groceries and beauty bookings to travel, energy bills, insurance, and investments, Maria shows how Rakuten Points weave into everyday life. The story reveals how points transform into JAL miles, making daily routines more rewarding. This blog captures the integration of Rakuten into Japanese living, inspiring foreign residents to see loyalty programs as bridges to both savings and adventures.
Emily, a Canadian expat in Tokyo, had always been proud of her loyalty to Japan Airlines. She meticulously tracked her JAL mileage, carefully booking flights and swiping her co-branded card. But one evening over coffee, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Her colleague Raj, who flew ANA, seemed to rack up miles at twice her pace.
“How are you earning so fast?” she asked, half-joking, half-serious.
Raj grinned. “It’s not just flying. It’s Rakuten. Every time I shop, pay bills, even book a haircut—I’m earning points. And those points? They can turn into ANA miles.”
Emily leaned back, intrigued. She had heard of Rakuten Ichiba, the giant online marketplace, but she hadn’t realized it was an entire ecosystem. That night, she left with a new curiosity: could Rakuten help her boost her JAL miles too?
A Southeast Asian resident’s Rakuten journey
Enter Maria, a Filipina who had moved to Japan a few years earlier. In her first months, Maria was overwhelmed by the cost of settling in—rent deposits, groceries, utilities. She wanted every yen to stretch further. That’s when she discovered Rakuten Point.
At first, it was simple: she signed up for Rakuten Card and started shopping on Rakuten Ichiba. Each purchase earned points, and she quickly realized those points weren’t just discounts—they could be converted into airline miles.
But Maria was ambitious. She wanted to maximize every opportunity.
Everyday life, every point
Groceries: Maria switched to Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper, ordering her weekly essentials online. Each bag of rice, each carton of milk earned her points.
Beauty & lifestyle: Booking a haircut through Rakuten Beauty? More points. Trying new recipes on Rakuten Recipe? She earned points by sharing her own cooking tips.
Fashion: Seasonal sales on Rakuten Fashion became her go-to for affordable style, with points stacking up on every purchase.
Rakuten Rebates: Maria discovered she could earn points even when shopping at other global brands online, simply by starting her purchase through Rakuten Rebates. Suddenly, her favorite overseas retailers were part of her points journey too.
Travel & exploration
Maria’s love for exploring Japan found a new partner in Rakuten Travel. Whether it was a weekend getaway to Kyoto or a family trip to Okinawa, every booking earned her points. She realized that Rakuten wasn’t just about shopping—it was about making her adventures more rewarding.
Utilities & Beyond
As Maria settled into her apartment, she discovered Rakuten Energy. Paying her electricity bill through Rakuten meant she wasn’t just keeping the lights on—she was earning points every month.
She laughed when she realized even her Rakuten Mobile plan contributed. Her phone bill was now a source of miles.
Entertainment & community
Maria’s evenings were filled with Rakuten too. Streaming dramas on Rakuten Viki, downloading e-books from Rakuten Kobo, or listening to music on Rakuten Music—all tied back into the same points ecosystem.
And when she cheered for Vissel Kobe or the Rakuten Eagles, she felt part of a community that was more than just sports—it was Rakuten’s way of weaving culture into everyday life.
Thinking long-term: Insurance & investments
As the years passed, Maria realized Japan was no longer just a temporary stop—it was home. With that shift came new responsibilities.
She signed up for Rakuten Life Insurance, ensuring her family’s security while continuing to earn points.
She began exploring Rakuten Investments, using Rakuten Securities and Rakuten Investment Management to grow her savings. Each trade, each fund purchase, even her insurance premiums—all fed back into her Rakuten Points balance.
For Maria, Rakuten had evolved from a shopping tool into a financial partner, supporting her longer-term life in Japan.
From points to miles
The turning point came when Maria showed Emily how easy it was to convert Rakuten points into JAL miles.
“Think of it this way,” Maria explained. “Every time you shop, pay bills, book a trip, or even invest for the future, you’re not just living—you’re earning. Rakuten makes daily life in Japan a loyalty program.”
Emily’s eyes widened. Suddenly, her JAL mileage strategy had a new dimension. She wasn’t limited to flights and credit card spend. With Rakuten, her everyday life could fuel her next adventure.
🌸 Closing Reflection
For foreign residents like Emily and Maria, Rakuten isn’t just a company—it’s a bridge into Japanese life. It rewards the mundane: groceries, haircuts, electricity bills. It celebrates the joyful: fashion finds, travel bookings, baseball games, streaming nights. And it supports the serious: insurance, investments, long-term planning.
Most importantly, it transforms those moments into something bigger—points that become miles, miles that become journeys, journeys that become stories.
Emily smiled as she realized: in Japan, living well and earning miles aren’t separate goals. With Rakuten, they’re one and the same.