📌 Key takeaways
- New “Eraberu Gift” POSA cards launched April 7, 2026 at FamilyMart and MiniStop across Japan
- Exchanging to au PAY at par value enables the WAON infinite loop and Rakuten Pay up to 5.1% cashback
- Par value exchange to au PAY ended April 12 — it has lost 3% since April 13
- Requires iPhone (Apple Pay WAON) + MiniStop
⏰ Update (September 2026): Par value exchange to au PAY Gift Card ended April 12. Since April 13 it loses 3% (1,000 points → ¥970 worth). The WAON loop and Rakuten Pay route below are kept as a record of how they worked while exchange was at par.
What is “Eraberu Gift”?
“Eraberu Gift” (えらべるギフト, “choosable gift”) is a multi-choice gift card (POSA card) by Incomm Japan. Launched April 7, 2026 at FamilyMart and MiniStop nationwide. Scan the QR code on the back to exchange for Amazon, au PAY, Visa e-Gift, and more.
| Launch date | April 7, 2026 (Tuesday) |
|---|---|
| Available at | FamilyMart & MiniStop nationwide (some stores excluded) |
| Denominations | ¥3,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥10,000 / ¥30,000 (tax-free) |
| Minimum exchange | From 50 points |
| Validity | 180 days from purchase |
⚠️ Watch out for bad exchange rates
❌ Rakuten Points: 30% loss (¥1,000 → only 700 points)
❌ QUO Card Pay: 2% loss
❌ au PAY: 3% loss from April 13, 2026 (1,000 pts → ¥970 worth; par value exchange ended April 12)
✅ Amazon, Visa e-Gift: par value exchange (check the official site for the latest rates)
WAON × au PAY infinite loop
The biggest draw of Eraberu Gift: buy it with WAON at MiniStop for 1% cashback, then exchange to au PAY at par value. Charge the balance back to WAON via au PAY Prepaid Card, and you’ve got an infinite loop earning 1% on every cycle.
⚠️ au PAY Money Lite restrictions
❌ Cannot withdraw to bank ｜ ❌ Cannot use on Amazon
✅ Can pay at au PAY merchants ｜ ✅ Can charge to WAON via Prepaid Card
Rakuten Pay up to 5.1% cashback route
Eraberu Gift has revived the high-cashback Rakuten Pay route. By chaining multiple payment services, you can achieve approximately 4.6% total cashback when paying with Rakuten Pay.
Note: ANA Pay awards 1 mile per ¥200 of spending (0.5%); miles for charging are earned only when you charge from an ANA Card. Rakuten Pay code payment with Rakuten Cash is 1.0% — the often-quoted 1.5% includes the extra 0.5% from charging Rakuten Cash with a Rakuten Card, which does not apply to Rakuten Cash routed via Rakuten Edy.
💡 Route breakdown
First half: High-cashback credit card → JAL Pay → WAON. The classic WAON charge route.
Middle (new!): Buy Eraberu Gift at MiniStop with WAON (+1% cashback) → exchange to au PAY at par.
Second half: au PAY → ANA Pay (0.5% miles: 1 mile per ¥200 spent — charging itself only earns miles when funded by an ANA card) → Rakuten Edy → Rakuten Cash → Rakuten Pay (1.0% Rakuten points for code payment with Rakuten Cash; the commonly quoted 1.5% includes the 0.5% earned when charging from a Rakuten Card, which does not apply to Rakuten Cash funded via Edy).
* Rakuten Edy → Rakuten Cash requires an Android device or physical Rakuten Edy card.
What you need before starting
| iPhone | Required. Apple Pay WAON for MiniStop purchases + au PAY Prepaid → WAON charging |
|---|---|
| WAON registration | Required. Must register in the WAON app to receive 1% cashback |
| au PAY account | Required. Open an au Jibun Bank account to get an au ID |
| au PAY Prepaid | Needed to charge au PAY balance back to WAON |
| Nearby MiniStop | Eraberu Gift + WAON 1% cashback combo is MiniStop-exclusive |
Important notes
⚠️ Read before you start
Rate cut since Apr 13: au PAY exchange now loses 3% (1,000 points → ¥970 worth)
Limited store inventory: Cards may be sold out or not yet stocked. Check in advance
Money Lite restrictions: Cannot use on Amazon or withdraw to bank
Rakuten Points exchange = 30% loss: Never choose this option
Best exchange options: Amazon / Visa e-Gift (still exchanged at par). au PAY was at par only through April 12, 2026 — since April 13, 2026 it converts with a 3% loss (1,000P → ¥970 worth). Check the official site for the latest rates
Summary
Eraberu Gift has created a new route for point stacking in Japan. The au PAY exchange was shut down on day one due to the infinite loop exploit, but has since been restored. Par value exchange to au PAY ended April 12, and it has lost 3% since April 13. The 3% loss outweighs the 1% WAON reward, so the loop no longer pays, and the Rakuten Pay route now returns 3 percentage points less.
FAQ
Q: Where can I buy Eraberu Gift cards?
A: FamilyMart and MiniStop nationwide in Japan. Four denominations from ¥3,000 to ¥30,000. Valid 180 days.
Q: Are there limits on exchanging to au PAY?
A: ¥10,000 per charge, ¥300,000 per month. Balance is Money Lite — no bank withdrawal, no Amazon.
Q: How does the WAON infinite loop work?
A: Buy Eraberu Gift at MiniStop with registered WAON (+1%) → exchange to au PAY → charge back to WAON via Prepaid Card → repeat.
Q: What changes after April 13?
A: Par value exchange to au PAY Gift Card ended April 12, 2026. Since April 13 it converts with a 3% loss (1,000 points → ¥970 worth). Check the official site for the latest rates.
Q: What do I need for the 5.1% route?
A: iPhone + registered WAON + au PAY + MiniStop. The Rakuten Edy → Rakuten Cash step also needs Android or a physical Edy card.
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