Japanese Yen, Cash & ATMs: A First-Timer’s Money Guide

Japan is far more card-friendly than it used to be, but cash still solves the awkward moments: a temple box, a rural bus, a tiny restaurant or an older ticket machine. The best setup is not “cash or card.” It is a modest yen reserve, one reliable card and a backup.

TL;DR: Arrive with or withdraw roughly ¥10,000–¥20,000 per adult, use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card for larger purchases, and keep ¥1,000 notes and coins for small operators. Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank ATMs are the most useful first stops for many overseas cards.

01Know the notes and coins

The currency code is JPY and the symbol is ¥. Notes commonly seen are ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000; ¥2,000 notes exist but are uncommon. Coins are ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500.

Do not worry about paying for a small purchase with a ¥10,000 note at a staffed shop. It is ordinary in Japan. A small coin purse is genuinely useful: coins accumulate quickly, and ¥500 coins are worth enough not to lose at the bottom of a bag.

02How much cash should you carry?

For a city day, ¥10,000 per adult is a comfortable emergency reserve rather than a spending target. Carry more before a rural stay, festival, mountain route or cash-only ryokan. Split the reserve between two places and avoid keeping every card in the same wallet.

03Where to withdraw yen

Seven Bank ATMs inside many 7-Eleven stores and Japan Post Bank ATMs are reliable starting points for international cards. Airport ATMs are useful when you land, but you do not need to exchange your full trip budget at the airport.

1. Choose English and select “withdrawal”.
2. If asked about conversion, choose to be charged in Japanese yen, not your home currency.
3. Withdraw enough to make your bank’s fixed fee worthwhile, without carrying your whole budget.
4. Keep the receipt until the transaction appears correctly in your banking app.

Your home bank, the ATM operator or both may charge fees. Daily limits can also come from your own bank. Tell your bank about the trip if it still requires travel notices, and know the PIN before departure.

04Exchange desk or ATM?

An ATM is usually simpler, while a cash exchange desk is useful if your card fails or you arrive with foreign cash. Compare the final yen received, not a “zero commission” sign. Hotel desks are convenient but may offer a weaker rate.

Avoid dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card terminals. When a screen offers a guaranteed total in dollars, pounds or euros, decline that conversion and pay in yen; your own card network will then handle the exchange.

05Cards, contactless and cash-only surprises

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in cities; American Express and JCB acceptance is also strong at larger businesses. Contactless cards work at many chain stores, but a terminal may still require chip-and-PIN. Foreign mobile wallets can be inconsistent, so carry the physical card.

Cash remains useful at some independent restaurants, clinics, temples, coin lockers and local buses. Look for card logos at the entrance and ask before ordering if you are unsure.

06A simple arrival plan

Withdraw ¥10,000–¥20,000 after immigration, buy or set up an IC transport card, and break one ¥1,000 note at a convenience store. Keep one backup card separate. That covers the airport-to-hotel journey and the first evening without overthinking exchange rates.

07FAQ

Next reads: IC cards, tax-free shopping and tipping etiquette.