Travel money Japan 2021: How to pay & how much to bring

Whether you’re visiting the islands of Japan for business or pleasure, you can save money by using travel-friendly plastic while you’re there. Here we’ll look at the travel cards, credit cards and debit cards most suited to use in Japan.

Our picks for traveling to Japan

Our pick for travel credit card

American Express® Gold Card

★★★★★
Finder rating: 4.6/5

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Our pick for multi-currency debit card

Transferwise Multi-currency

★★★★★
Finder rating: 4.5/5

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Our pick for 0% transaction fee debit card

SoFi Money

★★★★★
Finder rating: 4.6/5

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What's in this guide?

Travel card, debit card or credit card?
These are your options for spending money in Japan
Compare travel credit cards
A guide to the Japanese Yen
ATMs
Cash pickup services in Japan
How much ¥en do I need to bring?
Get travel insurance quotes for your vacation in Japan
Our latest travel deals to Japan

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

Japan is a cash society; however, credit cards and debit cards are accepted in most places in Japanese cities. Establishments such local restaurants, markets and rural inns (ryokans) are cash only. In the places where you can use your card, you may have issues if your card doesn’t have your name on the front.

Best is a subjective term, but the travel money product you use should have one of these features:

No currency conversion fee
No foreign transaction fee

Either no international or local ATM operator fee
Travel extras: insurance, airport lounges, worldwide concierge service, etc

Next, you need to have an idea about how you plan to spend in Japan. While Japan is very much a cash society, there are times when you’ll need to use your card, for example when booking a hotel.

These are your options for spending money in Japan

Learn more about using a credit card in Japan

Using a credit card

All credit cards allow you to spend in a foreign currency and some are cheaper to use than others. It’s smart to compare credit cards that don’t charge a fee for foreign transaction so you don’t have to worry about this pesky fee when you’re on vacation – the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard does just that and offers some perks.

The majority of credit card issuers charge a fee to use international ATMs, but the are some on the market that waive the fee. Keep in mind when using your credit card that cash advances will be subject to hefty fees and interest charges.

Pros

Protected by PIN & chip
Access to funds up to your credit limit
Accepted worldwide
Perks like rewards points on spending, 0% purchases, frequent flyer program
Emergency card replacement

Cons

Can charge high withdrawal and cash advance fees
International ATM fees and currency conversion fees

Best international debit cards

Using a debit card

The majority of debit card issuers charge you a fee when you make a purchase in a foreign currency, but there are a few who will let you slide. Look for a debit card that waives the foreign transaction fee and the international ATM fee as well – like a Discover Bank debit card. If you have an account with Citibank, locate and use a Citibank ATM in Japan and you’ll pay nothing.

Pros

Comes with a secure PIN & chip protection
Ideal for managing your travel budget

Cons

Currency conversion and international ATM fees
No backup cards

Prepaid travel money cards

Using a prepaid travel card

A travel card lets you dollars and convert the funds to yen (along with a number of other currencies). The main advantage to these cards are they allow you to spend without paying extra for currency conversion.

These products require a little more management than debit and credit cards, as you’re responsible for reloading the card before you run out of money. Remember it can take up to three business days for funds clear or even longer if it’s a public holiday or weekend.

Pros

Protected by PIN & chip
Pre-load and secure your exchange rate in multiple foreign currencies
Accepted worldwide
Emergency card replacement and backup cards

Cons

Local ATM fee
Reloading time

Compare cash pickup options in Japan

Paying with cash in Japan

If you plan on indulging in Japanese culture — think tea ceremonies, guided tours in Sakura season, entry to the Emperor’s Palace and small cafeterias and eateries — you’ll need cash. The cost of ATM withdrawals should be a factor in your comparison when looking for cards.

Pros

Greater payment flexibility
Convenience

Cons

Difficult to manage expenses
Higher risk of theft

Traveler’s checks guide

Using traveler’s checks

Although traveler’s checks are becoming a dated form of travel money, they are still used by people who are looking to take a bulk of money safely to Japan. The traveler’s checks widely accepted in Japan are Visa, American Express and Thomas Cook.

To get the best rates, you can redeem them at banks and post offices. Redeeming the check at stores or hotels will attract fees and commissions. In Japan, the traveler’s checks attract a relatively better exchange rate than bank notes.

Pros

Secure and can be easily replaced if lost or stolen
Photo ID needed to cash checks

Cons

Initial purchase charges
Not accepted everywhere

Compare travel credit cards

Name	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee
American Express® Gold Card	60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months	4x at restaurants including delivery and Uber Eats; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points) and 3x points on directly-booked flights	$250	Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries.	5x points on Lyft, 2x points on up to $1,000 on groceries until April 30, 2021, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases	$95	Earn a signup bonus worth $750 plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries with this popular travel card.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® from American Express	75,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe	10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on directly-booked flights on up to $500,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on other purchases	$550	One of the most valuable premium travel cards, featuring two welcome offers worth up to $4,500, multiple travel credits and unrivaled lounge access. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

Compare up to 4 providers

A guide to the Japanese Yen

Since the introduction of the yen, the denominations have ranged from 10 yen to 10,000 yen. The following is a brief description of the ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥5000, and ¥10,000.

1,000 Yen note. This note has been in use since 1945 and it is currently the lowest value Yen banknote. The front side of the note bears the image of the legendary regent and politician under Empress Suiko, Prince Shōtoku. The reverse side bears a drawing of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms.
2,000 Yen note. This banknote was issued in July 19, 2000. The front side of the note bears a serial number and portrays Shureimon, a 16th-century gate at Shuri Castle in Naha, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The reverse side portrays a scene from “The Tale of Genji’” and a portrait of Murasaki Shikibu, the noblewoman to whom this work of literature has been attributed.
5,000 Yen note. The front side of the 5,000 note has a portrait of Ichiyo Higuchi, a Meiji era writer and poet. The reverse side depicts “Kakitsubata Flowers”, from a folding screen by Korin Ogata.
10,000 Yen note. The front side of this note has a portrait of Yukichi Fukuzawa, a Meiji era philosopher and founder of Keio University. The reverse side has a drawing of the hoo (Chinese phoenix) in the Hall of the Phoenix, Byodoin temple.

Refreshing in: 60s | Sun, Mar 07, 07:45PM GMT

The main banks in Japan are:

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Japan Post Bank
Mizuho Financial Group
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Norinchukin Bank

Resona Holdings
Concordia Financial Group
Fukuoka Financial Group
Chiba Bank
Hokuhoku Financial Group

ATMs

Most ATMs in Japan do not accept international cards. Look for ATMs inside Japanese Post Bank and Seven Bank. Citibank have a presence in major cities and airports. Visa and Mastercard have ATM location tools on their website you can find the closest ATM.

This may change in the future. Tokyo is host the 2020 Olympic Games. The government is pushing Japan’s national banks to connect to the international ATM network. As the Olympics approach, expect more and more Japanese banks begin to accept international credit, debit and travel cards.

Find ATMs in Japan

Cash pickup services in Japan

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
$1	Within an hour	N/A	N/A	N/A	WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
$10	Within an hour	USD 1.99	106.188	JPY 105,977	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 10.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ALL, AMD, ARS, AZN, BAM, BDT, BGN, BIF, BOB, BRL, BSD, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KZT, LKR, LRD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MWK, MXN, MYR, NIO, NPR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SLL, SRD, SVC, THB, TJS, TND, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
$1	Within an hour	USD 8.00	105.917	JPY 105,070	MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.		Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Agent, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer, International Money Order Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BZD, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, IQD, IRR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, LYD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SDG, SEK, SGD, SLL, SRD, STD, SVC, SZL, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, YER, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Read the full review
$1	3 - 5 days	USD 20.00	105.646	JPY 103,533	Western Union sends money online to friends and family in 200+ countries around the world.		Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Agent, Bank Account to Bank Account, International Money Order Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email, Branch Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CUP, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, FKP, GBP, GEL, GGP, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, IMP, INR, IQD, IRR, ISK, JEP, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KPW, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, LYD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SDG, SEK, SGD, SHP, SLL, SOS, SPL, SRD, STD, SYP, SZL, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TVD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XDR, XOF, XPF, YER, ZAR, ZMW Read the full review

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Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

How much ¥en do I need to bring?

All prices are in US dollars.

	Budget (Cheap)	Midrange	Luxury (High-end)
Meals	Set meal at casual restaurant $8	Dinner at an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) $40	Meal at a good sushi restaurant $150
Activities	One temple or museum entry $10	Half day sightseeing tour $45	Private seven day tour of Japan: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka $10,300
Accomodation	Dorm bed $25	Double room at a business hotel $110	Double room at an upscale hotel $600+

_{Prices are approximate and are subject to change.}

Case study: Roslyn’s experience

Roslyn McKenna
Assistant Publisher

I visited Japan with my husband in October 2017. We brought ourCapital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card credit card, because it offers no foreign transaction fees and a flat cashback rewards rate on everything. We also brought several hundred dollars in cash to exchange at the Tokyo airport at a fair exchange rate.

I love that I don’t need to notify Capital One before I go abroad. The last time I visited Japan, my Bank of America account was flagged and locked for fraud, even after notifying my bank before I left for my trip. With Capital One, I get an email asking if I recognize suspected purchases, but I can still access my money.

At one point I needed more cash, so I used my card to get a cash advance, despite the fees and high conversion costs. The problem is that most ATMs require a PIN to access cash, so I spent an hour on the phone with Capital One’s customer support. It would have been easier to access cash if we’d called our bank before we left to set up the PIN.

Cash is still the most convenient and widely accepted payment method in Japan. (Plus, you’ll need lots of change for public transit and all the fabulous vending machines.) You might also want a backup method of getting money, like a debit card. And if you need a 24/7 ATM that accepts American credit cards, look for a 7-Eleven.

Case study: Luke's experience

Luke

Luke’s Tokyo Trip

Were there any places where you had trouble using your card?

Luke says it should be pretty obvious whether a place takes plastic or not. Most places he could tell by the look of the establishment, but he always made sure to ask. Luke points out in Tokyo there are a lot of good “hole-in-the-wall” places to eat, and these establishments were mostly cash only.

Get travel insurance quotes for your vacation in Japan

There are many types of travel insurance out there, ranging from basic to comprehensive and additional coverage options such as winter sports insurance – which if you’re planning on taking on the powder in Japan, it’s a must.

Japan travel insurance cover situations such as:

Cancellations
Emergency medical and dental
Personal liability

Lost or damaged luggage
Lost or stolen travel documents

Find travel insurance for Japan

Our latest travel deals to Japan

Orbitz

Cheap flights to Japan from $308 round trip

Book flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo and other cities in Japan with ANA, Air Canada, China Airlines, China Eastern, Xiamen Air, Singapore Airlines, Air China and other airlines.

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Hotels.com

Japan hotel deals

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StudentUniverse

$20 discount on (1) flight departing from China (including Hong Kong), South Korea, Japan, Vietnam or India and arriving in the United States or Canada. New users only.

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Contiki

Up to 15% off ski vacations and snowboarding trips

Enjoy the thrills of the best skiing worldwide plus exploring new locations with group ski trips to destinations like Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Japan and more. Duration: 7-16 days.

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Expedia.com

Compare flights to Japan from just $449 return

Take off to Tokyo, Kobe, Fukuoka, Osaka and other cities in Japan with China Eastern, Air China, Air Canada, Japan Airlines or ANA.

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Trafalgar Tours

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Orbitz

Cheap hotels in Japan from $38

Book hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama and other cities in Japan. Earn $1 Orbucks on every $1 spent. T&Cs apply.

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Orbitz

Save up to 30% off activities in Kyoto, Japan

Book day tours to temples, cultural tours, cycling tours, cooking classes and more in Kyoto. Most with free cancellation available.

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Top Japan food tour deals

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Megan Horner

Megan Horner is the credit cards publisher at Finder. She's passionate about helping you find the best credit cards to meet your financial needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score. Megan's expertise has been spotlighted on Lifehacker, CreditCards.com, American Banker and featured on news broadcasts across the country.

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Travel money guide: Japan

Despite living in a world where everyone is paying with credit or debit cards, Japan is still very much a cash society.

Travel Money Type

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Locations

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Our picks for traveling to Japan

What's in this guide?

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

These are your options for spending money in Japan

Using a credit card

Pros

Cons

Using a debit card

Pros

Cons

Using a prepaid travel card

Pros

Cons

Paying with cash in Japan

Pros

Cons

Using traveler’s checks

Pros

Cons

Compare travel credit cards

Compare up to 4 providers

A guide to the Japanese Yen

The main banks in Japan are:

ATMs

Find ATMs in Japan

Cash pickup services in Japan

Compare up to 4 providers

How much ¥en do I need to bring?

Case study: Roslyn’s experience

Case study: Luke's experience

Luke’s Tokyo Trip

Get travel insurance quotes for your vacation in Japan

Read more on this topic:

Our latest travel deals to Japan

Megan Horner

More guides on Finder

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