Nintendo Japan eShop Now Rejects Foreign Credit Cards And PayPal Accounts

Nintendo's Japan eShop and My Nintendo Store have implemented a new policy, effective March 25, 2025, prohibiting the use of foreign-issued credit cards and PayPal accounts. This change, announced on January 30, 2025, aims to prevent fraudulent activity.

Nintendo's New Policy: Blocking Foreign Payments

To combat fraudulent use, Nintendo has ceased accepting overseas credit cards and PayPal accounts on its Japanese eShop. The company encourages users who previously relied on these methods to transition to Japanese-issued credit cards or alternative payment options. While Nintendo hasn't detailed the specifics of the fraudulent activity, this policy change will not affect previously purchased games.

The Appeal of the Japanese eShop

The Japanese eShop offers several advantages for international gamers, including access to region-exclusive titles and potentially lower prices due to favorable exchange rates. Many sought-after games, such as Yo-kai Watch 1 (Switch port), Famicom Wars, Super Robot Wars T, Mother 3, various Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem titles, and numerous retro releases, are only available on the Japanese eShop. This new policy directly impacts access to these games for international players.

Alternative Payment Options

While obtaining a Japanese credit card is challenging for non-residents, alternative methods exist. Purchasing Japanese eShop cards from online retailers like Amazon JP and Play-Asia allows users to add funds to their accounts without disclosing their location, circumventing the new payment restrictions.

With the upcoming Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, focusing on the Nintendo Switch 2, further clarification on this policy and potential future changes may be provided.