Welcome to Points and Miles Japan: Your Guide to Earning Travel Rewards the Local Way
Points & Miles Japan shows you how to collect frequent flier miles for its national carriers Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), using methods that are quite different from those in other countries.
Think flying earns you miles in Japan? Think again.
If you’re used to racking up frequent flyer miles through credit card spending or actual flights, Japan’s system might surprise you. Even with national carriers like Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), the usual methods won’t get you very far—at least not fast.
Instead, the real mileage magic happens through shopping points.
In Japan, everyday loyalty programs like Rakuten Point, nanaco, V-Point, and d-Point can be transferred into airline miles. These programs are tied to convenience stores, mobile carriers, and online shopping platforms—not your credit card. That means your groceries, phone bill, and weekend splurges might be more valuable than your flight to Fukuoka.
Most of the websites and apps involved in this process are in Japanese. So if you’re not fluent, installing a reliable automatic translator plug-in for your browser is going to be essential. Google Translate works well, but there are others worth exploring depending on your setup.
This blog is here to help you navigate all of it—from earning and transferring points to booking award flights and maximizing redemptions. Whether you’re a long-term resident, a digital nomad, or just travel-hungry, Points and Miles Japan will guide you through the local landscape of travel rewards.
In upcoming posts, we’ll break down:
How to link Rakuten Points to ANA Mileage Club
Which shopping apps offer the best point-to-mile conversion rates
How to avoid common traps when redeeming miles in Japan; and
How to build a travel hacking strategy that works even if you don’t speak Japanese
Ready to earn more miles without flying more? Let’s get started.