Rakuten Points: How to Hoard Them and Make the Most of Your Glorious Rakuten Credit Card in 2025

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Rakuten Points: How to Hoard Them and Make the Most of Your Glorious Rakuten Credit Card in 2025

So, let me start with the tea: I got my Rakuten credit card because, frankly, Japan doesn’t make it easy for foreigners to get a credit card. But Rakuten? Oh, they were different. No endless bureaucracy, no awkward phone calls in Japanese to verify my entire life story.

They just let me apply online, and boom—my shiny Rakuten Card arrived. Little did I know, this unassuming piece of plastic would turn me into a full-blown Rakuten Points hoarder. If you’re sitting on your Rakuten Card and not drowning in points yet, listen up—because it’s way easier than you think.

I’m here to spill all the details on how I’ve been gaming the system (legally, of course) and how you can too.

What’s the SPU and How Does It Work?

Rakuten points: What’s the SPU and How Does It Work?

SPU, or Super Point Up Program, is Rakuten’s way of saying, “Hey, the more you use our services, the more we’ll drown you in points.” The SPU system starts at 1x (meaning 1% back in points on purchases) and adds multipliers depending on how integrated you are into the Rakuten ecosystem.

Here’s a breakdown of the SPU multiplier system and how much each service adds to your total:

  • Rakuten Card: +2x
    Using your Rakuten Card for purchases on Rakuten Ichiba automatically boosts your point multiplier by 2x. So, if you spend ¥10,000, you get 200 points back just from this.
  • Rakuten Bank: +1x
    Link your Rakuten Bank account to your Rakuten Card for automatic payments, and you’ll add another 1x multiplier. That’s another 100 points per ¥10,000.
  • Rakuten Mobile: +1x
    Switching to Rakuten Mobile’s network adds 1x to your multiplier. Their plans start at ¥0 (yes, zero yen) if you use less than 1GB of data in a month. Even if you’re a data hog, their unlimited plan is only ¥3,278, and you still earn points every month. Basically, they’re paying you to use their service.
  • Rakuten Securities: +1x
    Invest at least ¥500 in mutual funds through Rakuten Securities, and you’ll get an extra multiplier. For ¥10,000 spent on Rakuten Ichiba, that’s another 100 points.
  • Rakuten Insurance or Rakuten Energy: +1x
    Sign up for Rakuten Insurance or pay for utilities like electricity through Rakuten Energy, and you’ll get yet another boost.
  • Rakuten Ichiba App: +0.5x
    If you shop using the Rakuten Ichiba app instead of the website, you get an extra half-point multiplier.
  • Rakuten Fashion: +0.5x
    Spend ¥3,000 or more on Rakuten Fashion, and you’ll unlock another 0.5x for the rest of the month.

In total, you can stack up to 16x SPU if you’re fully immersed in the Rakuten ecosystem. That means ¥10,000 spent on Rakuten Ichiba could net you a whopping 1,600 points, which is equivalent to ¥1,600.

Double-Dipping with Rakuten Pay and Point Card

Rakuten points: Double-Dipping with Rakuten Pay and Point Card

Your Rakuten Card is a points-generating beast, but don’t stop there. By incorporating Rakuten Pay and the Rakuten Point Card, you can double-dip on points, turning everyday purchases into even more rewards. Here’s how to make the most of these services, including tips on checking participating stores.

Rakuten Pay: Cashless and Point-Friendly

Rakuten Pay is a cashless payment service that works at a wide variety of stores in Japan. When you pay using Rakuten Pay and link it to your Rakuten Card, you earn points twice—once for using Rakuten Pay and again for the Rakuten Card transaction.

  • Where You Can Use Rakuten Pay:
    Rakuten Pay is accepted at most convenience stores (Lawson, FamilyMart, 7-Eleven), drugstores (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Tsuruha Drug), supermarkets, and even some restaurants and cafes. You can check a full list of participating stores directly in the Rakuten Pay app or on the Rakuten Pay official website.
  • How to Earn Points:
    • Rakuten Pay: Earn 1% back in Rakuten Points on your payment.
    • Rakuten Card: Earn an additional 1% back for the card transaction.
    • Combine with any store-specific point campaigns to stack more bonuses.
    Example: You spend ¥5,000 at Lawson. By using Rakuten Pay (1%) linked to your Rakuten Card (1%), you earn 100 points. If Lawson is running a Rakuten-specific point campaign, you could earn even more.

Rakuten Point Card: Points on the Spot

The Rakuten Point Card is like your regular loyalty card but better—it’s linked to your Rakuten account. Just show your Rakuten Point Card (either the physical card or the one in the Rakuten Point app) when you shop at participating stores, and you’ll earn points right away.

You can use the Rakuten Point Card at tons of popular places in Japan, like:

  • McDonald’s
  • FamilyMart
  • Mister Donut
  • Sukiya
  • Yoshinoya
  • Seiyu
  • Bic Camera
  • Joshin
  • Kohnan
  • Tsuruha Drug
  • Kappa Sushi
  • Big Echo

For the full list of stores, check Rakuten’s website—there are plenty more to choose from!

When to Shop (Hint: Super SALEs Are Everything)

Rakuten points: When to Shop (Hint: Super SALEs Are Everything)

Timing is crucial when shopping on Rakuten Ichiba. Events like Super SALE and Shopping Marathons can multiply your points even further.

Rakuten Super SALE

These happen four times a year—typically in March, June, September, and December. During these events, items across the site are heavily discounted, and you can stack your SPU with store-specific bonuses. Some shops offer up to 10x points on top of your base multiplier.

Example: If you spend ¥10,000 during a Super SALE with a 10x store bonus and your SPU is 5x, you’ll earn 1,500 points from SPU + 1,000 points from the store bonus = 2,500 points.

Shopping Marathons

These are more frequent—happening roughly once a month. The idea is simple: shop at multiple stores, and your point multiplier increases with each new store (up to 10x). For example, if you buy snacks from Store A, clothes from Store B, and electronics from Store C, you’re racking up bonus points for every additional store.

Free Points (Because Why Not?)

Rakuten points: Free Points (Because Why Not?)

Even if you’re not planning to spend any money, Rakuten has plenty of ways for you to rack up points with minimal effort. Whether it’s searching the web, clicking ads, or just visiting a store, you can turn everyday activities into extra points. Here’s how to make the most of these opportunities, with all the details you’ll need to get started.

Rakuten Web Search: Earning Points by Browsing the Internet

Rakuten Web Search rewards you for doing something you probably already do daily: searching the web. By using Rakuten’s search engine, you can earn up to 5 points per day. It doesn’t matter what you search for—whether it’s “how to make okonomiyaki” or “cutest dog breeds,” every search contributes to your point total.

To get started, simply log in to Rakuten Web Search with your Rakuten ID. You can access it via Rakuten’s website or install the search toolbar on your browser. Each search earns a small fraction of a point, adding up to your daily maximum of five. If you’re consistent, you could easily earn an extra 150 points every month just by googling random things.

Rakuten Point Screen: Ads That Pay You

The Rakuten Point Screen app is another easy way to earn points. You interact with promotional banners, advertisements, and videos, and in return, Rakuten gives you points. It’s a simple process: download the app, log in with your Rakuten ID, and start exploring the available content. Points per interaction usually range from 1 to 3 points, and new ads are added daily.

What’s great about Rakuten Point Screen is that it takes almost no time. You can do it while you’re waiting for a train, during a coffee break, or even while binge-watching your favorite series. Some promotions offer higher rewards if you sign up for newsletters, participate in surveys, or follow certain links. It’s an effortless way to squeeze out a little extra value every day.

Rakuten Check: Free Points for Just Showing Up

Rakuten Check is one of the most creative ways to earn points. The idea is simple: visit participating stores, scan a QR code, and get rewarded. You don’t even need to make a purchase—just physically being there is enough. Stores often partner with Rakuten to encourage foot traffic, so you’re essentially getting paid to browse.

To find participating stores, download the Rakuten Check app and log in. The app includes a map that highlights nearby locations offering points. Common participants include popular chains like Life, Don Quijote, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and Bic Camera. Once you arrive at the store, the app will guide you to where the QR code is located. This might be near the entrance, at a checkout counter, or on a promotional display. Scanning the code with the app earns you points, typically 5 to 10 points per visit.

Some stores also run special campaigns that increase the rewards for visiting. For example, during a recent Rakuten Check event, certain supermarkets offered 30 points per visit, making it even more worthwhile. Be sure to check the app regularly to find out if higher rewards are available near you.

Making the Most of Free Points

Here’s how you can incorporate these methods into your daily routine. Start your day by using Rakuten Web Search for a few inquiries to max out your 5 points. During your commute or downtime, open Rakuten Point Screen and interact with ads to collect another 5 to 10 points. Finally, plan your errands around Rakuten Check locations—if you’re heading to a drugstore or supermarket anyway, check the app to see if it’s offering rewards. A quick stop at a participating store could add another 10 to 30 points to your total.

These small, everyday actions might seem trivial, but the points add up quickly. Over time, you’ll be surprised at how much value you’ve accumulated—just by taking advantage of what Rakuten already offers.

Points, Glorious Points

Rakuten Points are surprisingly easy to accumulate once you dive into the ecosystem. By using services like Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten Bank, and Rakuten Securities—and timing your purchases during Super SALEs or Shopping Marathons—you can rake in serious rewards. The best part? You’re not really spending extra money; you’re just being smart about the spending you’re already doing.

So if you’ve got a Rakuten Card and haven’t tapped into its full potential yet, what are you waiting for? Start stacking those SPUs, shop during the big sales, and enjoy the satisfaction of turning everyday purchases into free trips, groceries, or a splurge-worthy treat. Trust me, once you start, you won’t look back!

I am Jill, a Filipina mom living in Yokohama, Japan. After almost five years of dating, I married my Japanese boyfriend in 2016 and left everything behind to start a new life in Japan. What I thought would be nothing but an effortless adventure filled with sushi feasts and Shibuya nights turned out to be a bit more difficult than I expected. I created this YouTube channel to help out other clueless gaijins out there tackle the more challenging aspects of life in Japan — such as learning the language, being a foreign parent and, well, choosing the best sanitary napkin.

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