Rakuten Card runs a monthly “Ato-Ribo” (後からリボ払い) campaign where you can earn 2,000-4,000 Rakuten points simply by converting purchases to revolving payments. With the method explained in this guide, you can earn these points while paying almost zero interest!
📅 Current Campaign (January 2026)
Campaign Period: January 9 (Fri) – January 22 (Thu), 2026
| Requirement | Reward | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ato-Ribo ¥40,000+ | 2,000 points | 5.0% |
| Ato-Ribo ¥70,000+ | 4,000 points | 5.71% |
⚠️ You must set “Ribo Payment Course” to ¥10,000 or less
This is a points hack (earn 2,000–4,000 Rakuten points) open to anyone with a Rakuten Card: register “ato-ribo” (after-the-fact revolving) on a purchase, then pay it off immediately through the Rakuten e-NAVI portal before any interest accrues.
⚠️ The whole benefit depends on repaying before the deadline. Miss it and the balance revolves at ~17.64% APR on a standard Rakuten Card, wiping out the points. The portal and deadlines are Japanese-only — if that feels risky, it’s fine to skip. See the foreigners section below.
🤔 What is “Ato-Ribo”? Is it Safe?
“Ato kara Ribo-barai” (後からリボ払い) is a Rakuten Card service that allows you to convert one-time payments, installment payments, or bonus payments into revolving payments after the purchase.
“Ribo” (revolving payment) has a scary reputation—and rightfully so. Normal revolving payments on the standard Rakuten Card and Rakuten PINK Card carry an effective annual rate of 17.64% (the 15.00% rate applies only to the Rakuten Premium Card and Rakuten Black Card), which is a major profit source for credit card companies.
⚠️ Key Point
The secret to this strategy: Make early repayment immediately after setting Ato-Ribo. This keeps interest charges near zero.
If you forget to repay early and let the balance revolve, that’s when it becomes dangerous! Always complete repayment before the deadline.
💰 Profit Calculation: Is It Worth It?
For the ¥70,000 tier:
| Item | Amount/Points |
|---|---|
| Campaign Reward | +4,000 points |
| Ribo Interest (with immediate repayment) | Approx. ¥0-100 |
| Transfer Fee (using fee-free bank) | ¥0 |
| Net Profit | Approx. 3,900-4,000 points |
📊 Interest Calculation
Daily interest rate is approximately 0.0411% (15% annual ÷ 365 days).
If you leave ¥70,000 for 5 days before repaying:
70,000 × 0.000411 × 5 = approx. ¥144
If you repay the same day, interest is nearly zero.
⭐ For foreigners in Japan: is this hack safe for you?
Anyone with a Rakuten Card can do it — with discipline
There is no nationality requirement; you just need a Rakuten Card. The technique is genuinely “almost free” points only if you repay on time. The trap is the interest: ordinary revolving payment on the Rakuten Card runs at an effective 15.00%–17.64% APR, and a fee can apply even on a small balance, so the early lump-sum repayment is the entire game.
What’s different (and riskier) for non-Japanese speakers
- Everything is done in the Rakuten e-NAVI member portal, which is Japanese-only — that is where you set ato-ribo and where you repay/cancel (available 24 hours).
- The deadline for converting a charge to ato-ribo varies by your bank; the strategy fails if you miss it. Set a calendar reminder the moment you enter the campaign.
- Some charges (the card’s annual fee, rent) cannot be converted to ribo.
This is optional. If juggling Japanese-language deadlines and the e-NAVI portal feels stressful, skip ribo entirely — a few thousand points are not worth a 17.64% interest mistake. Play it safe: pay off the ribo balance the same day you set it.
📋 5-Step Strategy
1 Entry (Register)
Log in to Rakuten e-NAVI and find the “Ato kara Ribo-barai Campaign” in the Campaigns page. Click to register.
⚠️ Note
This is an invitation-only campaign and not visible to all users. If you can’t see it, you may not be currently eligible.
💡 Tip: Visiting the “Ato kara Ribo-barai” page in e-NAVI may sometimes trigger the campaign notification.
2 Set Ribo Payment Course to ¥10,000 or Less
In e-NAVI, navigate to:
“Ribo・Bunkatsu・Cashing” → “Ribo-barai” → “Ribo Payment Course Change”
Set the monthly payment amount to ¥10,000 or less (¥10,000 recommended to minimize damage if you forget to repay).
❌ NEVER check “Jidou Ribo Service” (Auto-Ribo)!
3 Make Purchases with Your Rakuten Card
Use your Rakuten Card for purchases and wait for them to appear in your statement.
📌 Recommended Methods:
| Method | Statement Reflection | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Cash Charge | 5-7 days | ⭐⭐⭐ Most Practical |
| JAL Pay Charge | 3-4 days | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Amazon Gift Card | 2-3 days | ⭐⭐ |
| Regular Shopping | 2-4 days | ⭐⭐⭐ |
⏰ Time is Tight! Act Early!
After charging, it takes time for transactions to appear in your statement. Rakuten Cash charges take 5-7 days.
If you don’t have enough spending, charge Rakuten Cash immediately. Start early and don’t wait until the last few days!
💡 Tip
If unsure whether transactions will appear in time, test with a small amount (¥1,000) first, then proceed with larger charges.
4 Convert Statement Items to “Ato-Ribo”
Once items appear in your statement, go to the “Ato kara Ribo-barai” page in e-NAVI, check the items you want to convert, and confirm.
Deadline: Up to the 24th of the payment month (varies by bank)
❌ Cannot Convert to Ato-Ribo:
- Rakuten Securities credit card investment purchases
- Items already on installment or ribo payment
5 Make Early Repayment Immediately ⭐Most Important
This is the most crucial step! After setting Ato-Ribo, make early repayment the same day to minimize interest.
📅 Early Repayment Deadline for the January 2026 round (already past): February 10 (Tue), 2026
The official rule is the 10th of the month following your ato-ribo setting (the previous business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday), with funds cleared by 14:45. Check the date that applies to your own round in e-NAVI.
Method A: e-NAVI Full Repayment (Recommended)
As of July 2025, you can make full early repayment directly through e-NAVI.
- Log in to e-NAVI → “Payment Related Services” → “Payment Before Due Date”
- Select your preferred repayment date
- Confirm the amount and apply
- Transfer to the specified Rakuten Bank account
- Complete transfer by 14:45 on the selected date
⚠️ This method only supports full repayment. Partial repayment is not available.
Method B: Chat Repayment (Partial Amount OK)
If you only want to repay the Ribo portion, use Chat Support:
- Go to “Chat Support” in e-NAVI
- Type “あとからリボを先に返済したい” (I want to repay Ato-Ribo early)
- Follow the instructions
- Get the transfer account details and complete payment
📞 Operating Hours: from 9:30 (the 25:30 closing time applied only through June 30, 2026; the closing time was changed on July 1, 2026, so check the official Rakuten Card site for the current hours)
💡 Transfer Tips
The transfer destination is Rakuten Bank. Use fee-free transfer methods:
- ✅ Rakuten Bank to Rakuten Bank (free)
- ✅ SBI Sumishin Net Bank (several free transfers/month)
- ✅ MUFG Bank (Platinum status)
- ✅ Sony Bank (several free transfers/month)
📅 Timeline Reference
Entry + Set Ribo Payment Course + Start spending
Wait for the charges to appear on your statement (Rakuten Cash: ~5-7 days)
Confirm statement + Convert to Ato-Ribo
Complete Ato-Ribo settings
Make early repayment (sooner is better!)
❓ FAQ
A: Yes! Based on past experience, as long as you meet the campaign conditions (Entry + Ribo payment course setting + Ato-Ribo conversion), you’ll receive the campaign points even with early full repayment.
A: The Ato-Ribo campaign is invitation-only. If you can’t see it:
- Use your Rakuten Card regularly and pay on time
- Visit the “Ato kara Ribo-barai” page in e-NAVI (may trigger notification)
- Be patient—new cardholders typically receive invitations after 3-4 months
A: No. According to financial regulations, investment trust purchases must be one-time payments and cannot be converted to revolving payments.
A: Yes! While regular points may not be earned on e-money charges, campaign points are still eligible.
A: Typically 1-2 times per month. You can participate repeatedly to accumulate points!
⚠️ Important Reminders
- ❌ NEVER check “Auto-Ribo Service”—all purchases will become revolving payments!
- ⏰ Plan ahead—statement reflection and Ato-Ribo conversion take time
- 💳 Ribo interest starts from the day you set it—repay as soon as possible
- 🏦 Complete transfer by 14:45 on your chosen repayment date
- 📱 Campaign points are limited-time points—use them before expiration (Rakuten Pay recommended)
- 🔄 This campaign runs monthly—participate repeatedly to earn more points
🎁 Don’t Have a Rakuten Card Yet?
If you don’t have a Rakuten Card yet, now is a great time to apply! Use the link below: new cardholders can currently get up to 8,000 points for signing up and using the card three times if they choose the JCB brand (campaign period July 13, 2026 10:00 – August 10, 2026 10:00). Other brands come with the year-round 5,000-point offer. Sign-up bonuses change often, so check the official Rakuten Card site for the latest amount.
The Rakuten Card has no annual fee, and you get SPU benefits when shopping on Rakuten Ichiba. We recommend JCB brand (allows JAL Pay and FamiPay charges).