Although it is certainly not impossible to receive a credit card as a foreigner living in Japan, chances are that unless you're working for a major Japanese company that is prepared to provide you with a family card, you're probably going to be rejected far more often than you might be at home.
"I've heard anecdotes of card companies actually just categorically denying credit cards to foreigners," said Daniel Lintz, director of corporate communications for Visa International, Japan.
One of the factors making it tough for foreigners in Japan is their lack of credit history, as privacy regulations implemented in countries such as the U.S and U.K. make it impossible to obtain a foreign customer's credit rating in their home country.