Cash / Cards / ATMs

How much to carry, where to pull it, where it’s still required.

Cards work in cities. Cash works everywhere. ¥10–20k on hand is the rule.

How much cash to carry

¥10,000–¥20,000 in the wallet at all times. More for rural trips, less if you’re staying in central Tokyo and eating at chain restaurants.

Japan dropped most counterfeit concerns years ago. Carrying cash isn’t unsafe — it’s expected.

Where to pull it

• Seven Bank ATMs — at every 7-Eleven, plus standalone kiosks at major stations. English UI. Accepts foreign cards on most major networks.
• Japan Post ATMs — at post offices nationwide. English UI. Foreign cards work.
• Airport ATMs — same Seven Bank and Japan Post terminals, but at airport rates and exchange windows. Fine for the first ¥10k; pull the rest at a konbini once you’re in town.

Skip airport currency exchange counters. ATMs at konbini consistently beat counter exchange on rate.

Where cash is still required

• Small restaurants, tachinomi bars, family-run ramen and izakaya — often cash only. The English sign on the door sometimes mentions it; sometimes the menu does; sometimes you find out at the register.
• Shrines, temples, traditional ryokan in small towns — most are cash-only for offerings, fees, and payment.
• Local buses outside major networks — IC card works on most, but rural buses sometimes only take coins.

If you’re heading anywhere with “old town” or “village” in the description, top up cash before you go.

Where cards work fine

Major konbini chains, department stores, hotel chains, JR ticket machines, mid-to-large restaurants, taxis (in cities). Contactless tap is common in konbini and on transit.

Visa and Mastercard work nearly everywhere card-takers exist. Amex and Discover work at larger chains; less consistently at smaller spots.

Skip DCC

When a card terminal asks “Convert to USD?” or “Convert to your home currency?”, always say no. Always pay in yen. DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) is a worse rate than your card network’s rate, every time.

This applies at hotels, big restaurants, and some duty-free counters. The clerk isn’t trying to trick you — it’s the terminal default.

Coins matter

Japan still uses ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, ¥500 coins regularly. Vending machines, lockers, shrine offerings, parking — coins, not bills.

Don’t refuse coins as change at konbini. A ¥500 coin is real money.