Rakuten Card vs Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL)
Net value is estimated on a sample monthly spend, ranked by value not commission.
Verdict
On our reference spend profile, Rakuten Card comes out ahead on estimated net value — about ￥5,500/yr more than the Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL). Your own spending pattern can change this — run the numbers in the rewards calculator.
| Attribute | Rakuten Card Best valuePopular | Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL) |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Rakuten Card Co. | SMBC |
| Annual fee | No annual fee | ￥5,500 / year |
| Welcome bonus | 5,000 Rakuten Points on first use | — |
| Min. income (monthly) | JPY 2,400,000 | JPY 3,000,000 |
| Reward type | points | points |
| Headline rate | — | — |
| Bonus categories | rakuten, everyday | seminas, everyday |
| Lounge access | No | Yes |
| Foreign tx fee | 2% | 2.2% |
| Est. net value / yr | ￥42,480 | ￥36,980 |
| Apply | Apply |
Frequently asked questions
- Rakuten Card vs Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL): which is better?
- On our reference spend profile the Rakuten Card delivers higher estimated net value than the Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL) in Japan, so it wins on value. Your own spending pattern may change the result — run both through the rewards calculator.
- What is the annual fee difference between Rakuten Card and Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL)?
- Rakuten Card: No annual fee. Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL): ￥5,500 / year.
- Which earns more rewards, Rakuten Card or Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL)?
- Rakuten Card earns points; Mitsui Sumitomo Card Gold (NL) earns points. We rank by net value after fees, not headline rate alone.