Autumn is the season when a slightly cooler wind begins to blow and the leaves begin to change color in various places. Just planning a trip to see hot springs, gourmet food, and spectacular views can be exciting. This time, I will talk about specific ways to use credit cards, including my own experiences, that have made my autumn travels even richer and smarter from the perspective of points.

Last month, I went on a three-day, two-night trip to Kyoto, which is famous for its autumn leaves. For this trip, I was able to receive tens of thousands of yen worth of refunds and discounts by making full use of my credit card, from preparations in advance to how I spent my time there.

Start your journey by “via the reservation site” When planning my trip, I accessed the reservation site through the ``dedicated travel mall’’ (point benefit site) of my main credit card company, rather than going directly to the hotel or airline sites. With just this effort, you can earn several times the bonus points in addition to the regular card payment points. Since lodging is a large expense, this step can dramatically increase the return rate.

Earn points for every means of transportation I used a specialized transportation credit card to purchase the Shinkansen ticket to the destination. By combining member-only services such as express reservations, you can purchase tickets at a discounted price that is lower than usual, while also accumulating points unique to train travel. The accumulated points can also be used to upgrade to a green car the next time you use the Shinkansen, so there is no waste.

Local meals and experiences will be piggybacked on the “campaign” At cafes, long-established restaurants, and souvenir shops in Kyoto, payments were made by linking the QR code payment on smartphones that had been entered in advance to the campaign with a credit card. During the autumn tourist season, various payment companies and local governments are all running ``Region-Limited Refund Campaigns for Travelers.’’ By walking around town while looking at a map of participating stores, I was able to enjoy the feeling of accumulating Zaku Zaku points.

Once you get home, calculate all the points you’ve accumulated and you’ll end up with enough money to cover your next weekend hot spring trip. Autumn travel is a great opportunity to save up plenty of points along with making beautiful memories. Please be sure to thoroughly check the campaign information and benefit sites for your card before you travel.