> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rc.cleverhub.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Japanese Card Schemes: JCB and Beyond

> Understand the card schemes Japanese customers use (the domestic JCB network alongside Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) and why accepting JCB matters.

Cards are a growing share of payments in Japan, and the mix of schemes is a little different from other markets. Alongside the international networks (**Visa**, **Mastercard**, and **American Express**), Japan has its own major domestic scheme, **JCB (Japan Credit Bureau)**. For merchants selling to Japanese customers, accepting JCB is often as important as accepting Visa and Mastercard. This page explains the schemes and why the local favourite matters.

<Note>
  For the general steps every card payment goes through (authorization, capture, and settlement), see [how card payments work](/platform-overview/payment-concepts/how-cards-work). This page focuses on the schemes specific to Japan.
</Note>

## The main schemes in Japan

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="JCB" icon="credit-card">
    Japan’s home-grown scheme and a local favourite. JCB is one of the country’s largest issuers, with tens of millions of cardholders, and is often preferred over international brands by Japanese shoppers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Visa" icon="credit-card">
    A global scheme with very broad acceptance in Japan, handling a large share of the country’s card transactions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mastercard" icon="credit-card">
    A second global scheme, also widely accepted across Japan on both debit and credit cards.
  </Card>

  <Card title="American Express" icon="credit-card">
    Recognised by many major businesses, hotels, and restaurants, though not as universally accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Why JCB matters for merchants

JCB is a genuinely local preference, not just an also-ran. It holds a substantial share of Japanese card transactions and tends to carry a higher average transaction value than other cards. Many Japanese shoppers reach for JCB first, so a checkout that only accepts Visa and Mastercard can quietly lose sales.

<Tip>
  If you sell to Japanese customers, treat JCB acceptance as a priority alongside Visa and Mastercard, not an optional extra. It is often the card your Japanese customers most want to use.
</Tip>

## Online card payments and 3D Secure

For online payments, Japan follows the wider pattern of using **3D Secure (3DS)** to reduce fraud. JCB’s own version is branded **J/Secure**. When a customer pays online, 3DS may ask them to confirm their identity (for example, with a one-time password) before the payment is approved. Recurring card payments in Japan are supported but generally require explicit customer consent, with 3DS often enforced.

<Note>
  A localised checkout matters in Japan: yen pricing, Japanese-language support, and clear instructions all help customers complete payment. Strong fraud controls, including 3DS, are especially important for international cards.
</Note>

## Cards among Japan’s wider payment mix

Cards sit alongside cash, convenience-store payments, and popular QR wallets such as PayPay, Rakuten Pay, and LINE Pay. Cash is still widely used, so cards are one important option rather than the only one.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Offer the local favourites" icon="star">
    Accepting JCB alongside Visa and Mastercard covers the cards most Japanese customers carry.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Consider wallets and konbini" icon="wallet">
    QR wallets and convenience-store payments are meaningful in Japan; supporting them can lift conversion further.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  Hello Clever’s card processing supports Visa and Mastercard along with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Check the current [Card API overview](/api/card/overview) for the latest supported schemes before planning a Japan launch, as coverage can change.
</Note>


## Related topics

- [US Card Schemes: Visa, Mastercard, and Amex](/platform-overview/payment-concepts/us/card-schemes.md)
- [Hello Clever Platform Overview](/platform-overview/overview.md)
- [Overview](/platform-overview/payment-concepts/overview.md)