Money in Japan

As Japan re-opens its doors for foreign tourists, the way to pay is something that new travelers and even veterans need to remember before booking a flight. Here are some helpful tips on money while visiting Japan.

Cash is still king – Physical cash is still king in Japan, despite the pandemic changing contact points and the technology being available. This is even more so when dealing with street vendors, small shops, and even some taxis, many still will only take cash. It is hard to determine (especially at the smaller shops or in the countryside) which places takes cash and which will take credit card, so make sure to have some paper with you when you are traveling. Japan has modernized (in respects to contactless and credit card payments), but cash is still important to have on hand.

Check on technology like Apple Pay – Cash paying apps like Apple Pay are starting to catch on in Japan more and more. Hotels, some taxis, and restaurants are now catching up on the technologies, so make sure to investigate ahead of time before traveling to see if they take take this form of payment. It may be available, so it never hurts to find out.

Exchange rates – The Yen is pretty weak these days, especially against the US dollar. This could be a huge advantage for you as you prepare to travel, getting more for your cash. It is wise to check the exchange rate before leaving your home as you may get a better rate at our local bank or airport vs. when you land in Japan.

ATMs – You can find ATMs in the local conbinis like 7-11, Lawson’s, and Family Mart. Most debit cards (I’m speaking from experience as an American) work on these machines however, most have a minimum of 10000 Yen (100 USD) to get a withdrawal, so just keep that in mind if you need to take out some cash. Just make sure you let your bank know before traveling or they may attempt to freeze your account if they think the transaction looks weird.

Carrying money – Something that you may not think about, but is important, is the amount of coins you will be carrying. A lot of Japanese cash is coin based, so you may end up carrying around a lot of change so make sure you have some kind of wallet or something to carry it all or you may end up with pockets full of heavy Yen throughout your travels. I learned this the hard way in 2017 so make sure to find something like a coin purse, it will be a life saver. And trust me, the locals do it so follow their lead.