MUFG Card Platinum American Express Card in Japan - Fee and Benefits Explained
Cards that carry the American Express brand in Japan are not all issued by American Express itself. The MUFG Card Platinum American Express Card (the MUFG Platinum Amex below), issued by Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS, is one of them. The annual fee is 22,000 yen (tax included), a restrained price for a platinum card.
American Express was founded in 1850 and launched its Platinum Card in the United States and Canada in 1984. The Japanese card in this article carries that brand name, but it is issued by Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS, with its own fee and its own privileges. Using only facts confirmed on the official pages, this article asks whether the card earns its fee.
Annual fee
22,000 yen (tax included) for the main member. One family member is free; from the second, 3,300 yen (tax included) each.
Airports
Free airport lounge use in Japan and overseas. From December 2026, free visits are capped at 10 a year.
Concierge
By phone or email, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Insurance
Overseas travel accident insurance of up to 100 million yen: up to 50 million yen automatic and up to 50 million yen conditional on using the card.
What to know before you apply
A restrained fee comes with conditions on some benefits. Start there.
The details below follow the official Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS website as of October 30, 2026 (parts of the page are dated as of September 28, 2026 and earlier). Benefits can change, and the terms shown at application are the final reference.
Free Priority Pass visits will be capped at 10 a year from December 2026
According to the official page, from December 2026 the number of free visits to airport lounges through Priority Pass will be limited to 10 per year. No cap is described before that date. If you use airport lounges many times a year, plan around this change. The treatment of guests is not stated on the page that was checked.
Half of the overseas travel insurance is conditional
Overseas travel accident insurance is up to 100 million yen. The breakdown is up to 50 million yen automatic and up to 50 million yen conditional on use. The conditional part requires that you pay the trip cost with this card before departure. If you do not, cover stays at up to 50 million yen. Domestic travel accident insurance is up to 50 million yen, automatic.
Point return is modest
Points are earned at 1 point per 1,000 yen. One point can be used as up to 5 yen. So the base return is at most 0.5%. Cash back is 4 yen per point, which is 0.4%. Recovering 22,000 yen from base points would take 4,400,000 yen of spending a year if points are used at 5 yen each, or 5,500,000 yen if used as cash back. This is not a card that wins back its fee through points.
The family member range is limited
Eligible family members are the main member's spouse, parents and children aged 18 or over (excluding high school students). Check the range before deciding how to hold family cards.
Counting the benefits against 22,000 yen
The annual fee of 22,000 yen (tax included) is about 1,833 yen a month. The main benefits confirmed on the official page are below.
| Benefit | What the page states | What to ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Pass | Free airport lounges in Japan and overseas; up to 10 visits a year from December 2026 | How often do I use lounges? |
| Concierge | By phone or email, 24 hours, 365 days | Do I have things to ask for? |
| Dining | At high-class restaurants in Japan, one person's course free when two or more book | How often do I eat out, and with whom? |
| Hotels | At luxury hotels, for example a room upgrade, breakfast for up to two, early check-in, late check-out and a credit worth 100 US dollars | Do I have stays planned? |
| Reloclub | Up to 90% off hotels and inns, up to 75% off theme parks, up to 84% off restaurants | Do I use these facilities? |
| Travel insurance | Overseas up to 100 million yen (50 million automatic plus 50 million conditional); domestic up to 50 million yen | Will I pay for trips with the card? |
| Shopping insurance | 3 million yen a year; 90 days from purchase | Some goods are excluded |
Few of these can be compared with the fee in yen. They create value only when used, so count what you will actually use in a year, one by one.
The brand and the Japanese card
American Express began in 1850 when businesses came together, and the Platinum Card was born in 1984 in the United States and Canada as an invitation-only product. In Japan, American Express itself issues a platinum card, covered in another article on this site.
The MUFG Platinum Amex shares the brand name but has a different issuer, and its fee, privileges and insurance terms differ. A similar name does not mean the same privileges. When comparing, check each official page as a separate card.
Travel benefits
The travel benefits are these.
Priority Pass
Airport lounges in Japan and overseas are free to use. Only lounges are covered. From December 2026 the number of free visits is 10 per year.
Concierge
Available by phone and email, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for arranging restaurants, hotels, flights, overseas entertainment tickets and more.
Travel insurance and travel delay cover
Overseas travel accident insurance is up to 100 million yen (50 million automatic, 50 million conditional) and domestic is up to 50 million yen (automatic). Cover for delays to flights in Japan and overseas is also mentioned, with no amount stated.
Dining and hotel privileges
Dining and stays are a major pillar of the card.
Dining
At high-class restaurants in Japan, one person's course is free when two or more book a set course. The page notes that service charges and the like may be charged separately. The restaurants listed are as of August 2026.
Hotels
At luxury hotels the page gives, as examples, a room upgrade, breakfast for up to two, early check-in, late check-out and a credit worth 100 US dollars. When you plan a stay, check the booking route and conditions.
Reloclub, cinema and video
The Reloclub benefits service offers up to 90% off hotels and inns, up to 75% off amusement parks and theme parks, and up to 84% off restaurants. Special prices for cinemas and video streaming are also offered.
How the points work
Here is how the points work.
- Earning: 1 point per 1,000 yen. Up to 20% return at partner shops (conditions apply).
- Fund instalments: up to 7.0% equivalent at Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart Securities. 1.0% for WealthNavi for Mitsubishi UFJ Bank.
- Using: one point is worth up to 5 yen, for example toward a Global Point Wallet top-up. Cash back is 4 yen per point. Exchange rates differ by item.
Basic information
The main member's annual fee is 22,000 yen (tax included). The page says there is a fee reduction if you use the registered revolving plan "Raku Pay". One family member is free, and from the second each costs 3,300 yen (tax included).
To apply you must be aged 20 or over with a stable income of your own, and not a student. The spending limit is 500,000 to 5,000,000 yen (including revolving and instalments), set by screening at the time of joining. Payment is due on the 10th of the month after a closing date on the 15th. Methods are one payment, instalments and bonus lump sum.
Among added cards, the ETC card has no annual fee but a 1,650 yen (tax included) issue charge. The UnionPay card has a 1,100 yen (tax included) issue charge. Mailed statements are free for six months after joining, and the page says the free conditions will change for charges from 10 November 2026.
Different kinds of users
The result depends on how you use the card. Three scenes follow, all assumptions.
Someone who uses the dining and hotel privileges
The more often you use the benefit that frees one course for two or more guests, the closer you get to the fee. If a course costs 10,000 yen per person and you use it three times a year, that is 30,000 yen. Check real restaurants and prices at booking.
Someone who travels abroad often
If you pay for the trip with this card, overseas travel accident insurance reaches up to 100 million yen. Priority Pass is also available, but from December 2026 it is capped at 10 visits a year.
Someone who values point return
The base return is at most 0.5%. The card does not suit those who put building and spending points first.
First steps after joining
Many benefits need registration or a check of conditions.
- Register for Priority Pass, bearing in mind the cap of 10 visits a year from December 2026.
- Check the conditional part of the travel insurance. Decide before departure whether you will pay the trip cost with the card.
- Save the concierge contact details.
- Look up the dining and hotel privileges for places you want to visit.
Comparing with other platinum cards
| Axis | What can be confirmed for the MUFG Platinum Amex |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | 22,000 yen (tax included); one family member free |
| Points | 1 point per 1,000 yen; base return at most 0.5% |
| Travel benefits | Lounges capped at 10 visits a year from December 2026; half of the insurance is conditional |
| Privileges | Dining, hotels and Reloclub come first |
Even under the same American Express brand, the design changes when the issuer differs. Set it beside the other cards on this site and see which matches your life.
Reviewing it every year
There will be years when you use the privileges and years when you do not. Once a year, write down the benefits you used and the ones you did not, and compare with the 22,000 yen fee. Lounge visit limits, the family range and insurance conditions can change. Check the latest official page at each renewal.
Who the card suits
The MUFG Platinum Amex gathers Priority Pass, a 24-hour concierge, dining and hotel privileges and travel accident insurance for 22,000 yen (tax included). Point return is modest, and from December 2026 free lounge visits are capped at 10 a year.
Three checks help the decision:
- How many times a year can you use the dining and hotel privileges?
- Can you pay for overseas trips with this card?
- Are 10 lounge visits a year enough?
If you can answer yes to two or more, you can use the fee well. If point return matters to you, compare other cards first.
This article follows the official Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS website as of October 30, 2026. The terms and screens shown at application are the final reference.