Payments using foreign-issued credit cards and PayPal accounts are no longer accepted by Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store in Japan. Read to learn more about Nintendo's new policy and how this affects foreign consumers.
Nintendo’s New Policy On Overseas Customers Purchasing On Nintendo eShop And My Nintendo Store Japan
Termination Of Foreign Payments To “Prevent Fraudulent Use”
Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store Japan no longer accept credit cards and PayPal accounts issued overseas to "prevent fraudulent use." In a post on its website and Twitter (X) on January 30, 2025, Nintendo announced that its new policy on purchasing using foreign payment methods on its Japanese eShop will take effect on March 25, 2025.
Nintendo urges its foreign customers to use Japan-issued credit cards or payment methods to continue to support their Japanese eShop. "For customers who have previously used overseas-issued credit cards or PayPal accounts opened overseas, we ask that you please use other payment methods, such as credit cards issued in Japan", Nintendo said.
Nintendo has yet to specify what "fraudulent use" entails, and how this decision came to be. The new policy will not affect previously purchased games using Nintendo’s Japanese eShop, so fans would still be able to play their physical and downloaded games from Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store Japan.
Perks When Buying From Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store Japan
Customers use the Japanese eShop to buy Japanese-exclusive Switch games that are otherwise locked in other regions. Overseas Nintendo consumers also prefer buying in the Japan eShop to get discounted prices on their games, especially since sometimes, the exchange rate is cheaper in Japan.
Exclusive Switch games that can only be purchased from the Nintendo Japanese eShop include Yo-kai Watch 1's port for the Nintendo Switch, Famicom Wars, Super Robot Wars T, Mother 3, exclusive Shin Megami Tensei games, exclusive Fire Emblem games, other retro titles from SNES, NES, and more. Because of the new policy, customers from other regions will be unable to get these games.
Alternative Payment Methods For Overseas Customers
There are other ways for overseas customers to buy products on the Nintendo Japanese eShop. The primary method that Nintendo urges its consumers would be to apply for a Japanese-issued credit card, which is going to be difficult for people not residing in Japan since it would require the applicant to have a residence card.
Currently, an alternative way would be buying Japanese Nintendo eShop cards from online stores like Amazon JP and PlayAsia. Customers can redeem a code from these eShop cards and top-up their eShop funds without needing to disclose their location.
Nintendo is gearing up for its Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, which will focus on the upcoming release of Nintendo Switch 2. The next Nintendo Direct could give fans more information regarding this new policy and other future changes that the company may make.
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Nintendo’s New Policy on Foreign Payment Methods for Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store in Japan
Japanese Exclusive Games on Nintendo Switch Online
