Nintendo Japan eShop Now Rejects Foreign Credit Cards And PayPal Accounts

Payments using foreign-issued credit cards and PayPal accounts are no longer accepted by Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store in Japan. This article delves into Nintendo's new policy and its impact on 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 have ceased accepting credit cards and PayPal accounts issued overseas, aiming to "prevent fraudulent use." This policy was announced on January 30, 2025, via Nintendo's website and Twitter (X), with the changes set to take effect on March 25, 2025.

Nintendo encourages its foreign customers to utilize Japan-issued credit cards or other local payment methods to continue shopping on 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 stated.

While Nintendo has not detailed what constitutes "fraudulent use" or the reasoning behind this decision, the policy does not affect games previously purchased from Nintendo’s Japanese eShop. This means fans can continue to enjoy their existing physical and downloaded games from Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store Japan.

Perks When Buying From Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store Japan

The Japanese eShop is a popular choice for customers looking to purchase Japanese-exclusive Switch games that are not available in other regions. Additionally, overseas consumers often find better prices on the Japan eShop, thanks to favorable exchange rates.

Exclusive titles available only on 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, and a variety of retro titles from the SNES and NES eras. With the new policy in place, customers from other regions will no longer be able to access these games through the Japanese eShop.

Alternative Payment Methods For Overseas Customers

Despite the new restrictions, there are still ways for overseas customers to purchase products from the Nintendo Japanese eShop. The most direct method suggested by Nintendo is to obtain a Japanese-issued credit card, though this can be challenging for non-residents due to the requirement of a residence card.

An alternative solution is to purchase Japanese Nintendo eShop cards from online retailers such as Amazon JP and PlayAsia. These cards allow customers to redeem codes and add funds to their eShop account without revealing their location.

As Nintendo prepares for its Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, which will focus on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, fans are eager for more details on this new policy and any other forthcoming changes from the company.