Unlock Exclusive Benefits: JCB’s New Premium Services for Korean Travelers to Japan

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Japanese payment brand JCB is beefing up benefits that travelers from Korea can actually use in Japan, positioning itself to capture the booming market of roughly 10 million visitors.

Instead of simple checkout discounts, JCB is spotlighting hands-on “local experience” perks across theme parks, shopping, transit and airlines—designed to make the whole Japan trip feel smoother and more special.

On the 26th, JCB hosted a “JCB Premium Service Renewal Press Day” in Seoul’s Jung‑gu to unveil its renewed premium service strategy and new benefits aimed squarely at Korean customers.

This was JCB’s first event in Korea since it entered the market 20 years ago.

The event included an exhibit area that showcased card perks at a glance, traditional Japanese sweets, partner announcements, and an emphasis on a “Japan Authentic Experience” theme.

Watanabe Takahiko, CEO of JCB Card International, called Korea “one of our most important strategic markets,” noting that travel trends are shifting from buying products to seeking experiences—and JCB wants to deliver practical, authentic Japanese experiences.

Song Hoseong, head of JCB Card International Korea, said, “Korean travel to Japan and local spending have grown very quickly in recent years. We’ve prepared new premium services so JCB customers from Korea can enjoy Japan more conveniently and in more memorable ways.”

JCB cited the surge in travel demand as the main driver behind the renewal.

About 9.5 million Koreans visited Japan last year, a record, and over 1.1 million traveled there in January alone—also a monthly high.

JCB expects this trend to be sustained rather than temporary and plans to move faster in the Korean market.

The company also said Korean travelers’ preferences are shifting from price-focused discounts toward services that offer authentic, usable experiences in Japan.

Founded in Tokyo in 1961, JCB is a Japanese global payment brand with more than 175 million cardmembers and over 71 million merchant locations worldwide.

In Korea, JCB partners with seven card issuers—Shinhan, Hana, KB Kookmin, Lotte, NongHyup, Woori and Samsung—excluding BC Card.

The new benefits announced cover shopping, transit, airlines and entertainment.

The headline program is an invitation to Universal Studios Japan (USJ).

JCB will hold a monthly lottery for JCB Prestige and Platinum cardholders issued in Korea, inviting 50 winners each month and giving each a USJ 1‑day Studio Pass.

The promotion runs monthly from April 1 through March 31 next year.

Shopping perks are also stepping up. Spend ¥20,000 (approximately $134) or more at Don Quijote with a JCB card and receive a ¥1,000 (approximately $6.70) cashback—an on-the-ground benefit aimed at a core tourist shopping stop.

JCB is also introducing a 10% cashback for using JCB touch payments on buses and trains across Japan.

Both programs run from April 1 through March 31 next year.

On the airlines side, JCB unveiled the ZIPAIR Express Service in collaboration with Japanese low-cost carrier ZIPAIR.

When customers pay for Incheon–Narita tickets on ZIPAIR’s official site with a JCB card, the first 14 customers per flight will get priority check‑in, priority baggage drop and priority handling.

Reservations are available from April 1 through March 28 next year; travel must take place between April 4 and March 31 next year.

JCB said it will keep its existing premium services while adding the new offers.

Existing perks—like the JCB lounge at USJ, airport lounges across Japan, the premium dining program, and The Ginza Lounge in Tokyo’s Ginza—will continue to be available.

By layering new benefits tailored for Korean travelers on top of these services, JCB aims to strengthen its image as a Japan‑focused travel brand.

In the Q&A after the announcement, executives explained how JCB differentiates itself from global brands like Visa and Mastercard.

Song said, “Our edge isn’t just discounts—it’s offering Japan‑specific travel and entertainment services like USJ and ZIPAIR. Using payment data from Japan, we provide practical benefits that work across the country.”

On competition among domestic travel cards, Song added that fee structures or exchange conveniences alone can’t be the differentiator; JCB will emphasize tangible, on-the-ground benefits that cardholders can actually enjoy in Japan.

“Our strategy builds on our strengths in Japan,” Song said. “The benefits of using a Japan‑specialized card outweigh simple fee waivers.”

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