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Planning to visit Japan and want to make sure you handle Japanese money correctly? In this article, I will show you the most popular payment method in Japan, how you generally get money in Japan and how the Japanese currency, the Yen, looks like.
Japanese Cash
Japan loves its cash. So, you'll get the furthest with cash here! Only a few Japanese stores even have a card terminal. That's why most Japanese people carry around a lot of cash. But luckily, Japan is a very safe country, so you don't have to worry too much about getting robbed.
By the way: Paying with large bills is no problem in Japan. You just want to buy a bottle of water, but you only have large bills? No worries. Even a bottle of water for about 100 Yen can be paid for with a 10,000 Yen note!
Coins
- 1 Yen Coin (~0,01 €)
- 5 Yen Coin (~0,04 €)
- 10 Yen Coin (~0,08 €)
- 50 Yen Coin (~0,40 €)
- 100 Yen Coin (~0,80 €)
- 500 Yen Coin (~4 €)
Notes
- 1,000 Yen Notes (approx. 8€)
- 5,000 Yen Notes (approx. 40€)
- 10,000 Yen Notes (approx. 80€)
The Credit Card in Japan
First things first: ATM cards or debit cards from abroad are usually not accepted in Japan. "Normal" credit cards are slowly becoming more popular, but they are still not as common as in other countries. Remember: Japan loves its cash! So, outside of the metropolitan region, you won't get very far with a credit card.
ATMs in Japan
Be careful: Not all ATMs in Japan accept cards from abroad! If you want to withdraw money with your credit card, ATMs at branches of the Japanese Post Office, as well as in 7-Eleven convenience stores are the best option. These shops and branches have an English menu and work with VISA, VISA Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express or JCB credit cards.
While you can withdraw cash at 7-Eleven ATMs around the clock, ATMs at post offices are not open around the clock. You have the best chances at ATMs in front of the main post offices. But be careful: These also don't work on Sundays and public holidays between 9 p.m. and midnight.
How much does withdrawing money in Japan cost?
The fees incurred when withdrawing from Japanese ATMs depend on the terms and conditions of your bank. However, some ATMs also charge a fee directly when withdrawing. It is best to check the terms and conditions of your home bank in advance – before your trip! Transaction fees at Japanese ATMs will usually be displayed before you withdraw, so you may be able to cancel.
Paying with a credit card in Japan
As already mentioned, you're more likely to have bad luck with credit cards outside of metropolitan areas. But especially in big cities, credit cards are now used much more often than a few years ago. For example, most larger hotels and expensive restaurants accept card payments. You can now also pay by credit card in large department stores, some convenience stores, and even in taxis.
Apps
Japan is a country known for innovative technologies and digital progress. All the more surprising is the cash craze, which is mainly explained by the relatively old population and the widespread ATM network. But slowly but surely, mobile payment methods are becoming increasingly popular in Japan.
PayPay
One such app is PayPay, which can also be used by travelers and is already very popular in Japan. You just need to download the app on your smartphone, register, link a credit card and you're ready to pay! The only problem: The interface is currently only in Japanese!
LinePay
This app is also very popular. You can use it to top up money to the app in convenience stores and then pay for your purchase directly.
Origami
With Origami you can pay in a total of 1.45 million stores in Japan and benefit from many good discounts at the same time!
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