Current status of “Gold with virtually no annual fee”: 1 million yen training trend
Gold cards used to be a symbol of status, but in recent years, cards that are virtually free of charge have become mainstream, with ``if you spend 1 million yen a year, the annual fee from the following year onward is waived forever.’’ It is a must-have card for cashless people as it allows you to enjoy free airport lounge access, generous travel accident insurance, and maintain a high return rate at no cost.
4 major ticket types specifications & achievement condition matrix
This is a comparison table of 4 types of representative virtually free gold cards.
| Card name | Achievement conditions | Basic return rate | Main unique benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Mitsui Card Gold (NL) | Spend 1 million yen annually | 0.5% (up to 7%+ at eligible stores) | Overwhelmingly high returns at eligible convenience stores and restaurants, investment trust savings |
| Epos Gold Card | 1 million yen per year (free when invited) | 0.5% (1.5% from 3 stores to choose from) | Unlimited points, 3 specialty stores to choose from |
| AEON Gold Card | Annual usage of 500,000 yen (invitation only) | 0.5% (AEON 1.0%) | AEON Lounge access available, low hurdles to achieve |
| SAISON GOLD Premium | 1 million yen spent annually | 0.5% (maximum 5.0%) | 1,000 yen movie theater viewing, cafe/convenience store benefits |
[3-second diagnosis] Favorite cards to choose by lifestyle
- Those who frequently use convenience stores and family restaurants and are currently using the new NISA → Sumitomo Mitsui Card Gold (NL) One choice. The synergy between daily settlement and securities accumulation is outstanding.
- Those who spend a lot on utility bills, commuter passes, and specific stores → Epos Gold Card. You can always get a 1.5% return by registering as a “selectable point up shop”.
- For those who mainly do their daily shopping at Aeon stores → Aeon Gold Card. The appeal is that it is easy to achieve with just 500,000 yen per year.
Behind-the-scenes techniques to “surely achieve 1 million yen” without giving up on your training
This is a realistic approach that allows you to easily achieve an average monthly income of approximately 83,000 yen.
- Bulk purchase of Amazon gift cards: The expiry date is 10 years, so it is perfect for adjusting the shortage.
- Intensive payment of taxes and hometown tax: Payment of automobile tax and property tax by card (please check the terms and conditions to see if they are eligible for calculation).
- Use of electronic money charge: Temporarily transfer to the balance subject to calculation.
*Note: In many cases, investment trust reserves, annual membership fees, and transportation IC charges are not included in the 1 million yen training plan, so please be sure to check in advance. Once you have achieved this goal, you can also use your family card for free forever.