© PA Wire
Experts crunched the numbers on a range of investment options to see how they have performed since 2010
© Getty/iStock
Barclays and HSBC are among those lowering rates on existing deals
© Getty/iStock
© PA Archive
1. Exchange money at the bank!
2. Currency exchange shops are convenient
3. Automatic foreign exchange machines — no Japanese required
4. International ATMs are lifesavers when you’re short on cash
5. The simplest option when you have no cash: use a card
6. iPhone only! Use QUICPay contactless payments
7. Mobile QR payments can also be used across borders in Japan
8. Money stored on transit IC cards can be used for rides and shopping
If you miscalculate your travel budget or get carried away with shopping and find yourself short on Japanese cash during your trip, what should you do?
MATCHA's editors have compiled the following eight ways to handle the situation when you're short on cash. Hopefully, they’ll come in handy like a little emergency toolkit!
Just like when we exchange yen before traveling abroad, if you really find yourself short of yen, it’s recommended to go to a bank in Japan that offers currency exchange services, fill out an exchange application form, and take a number to wait to be called for the exchange.
Japanese bank hours are usually from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and they are closed on holidays, so those who need to exchange yen should pay attention to the time!
If you find the banks are closed for holidays or you urgently need to exchange yen after 3:00 p.m., roadside currency exchange shops are your best friends!
Just go to a shop that has “Money Exchange” written, tell the counter staff that you want to exchange foreign currency, and they will assist you. Sometimes their rates can even be better than banks.
In addition to exchanging foreign currencies, these shops also sell discounted transportation tickets, theme park and attraction tickets, and meal vouchers—useful money-saving tips for travelers! It’s also recommended to use established chain stores such as Daikokuya (大黒屋) for more reliability.
If you don’t speak Japanese and tend to be shy, automatic currency exchange machines are your lifesavers!
After Japan reopened its borders and began welcoming travelers from around the world, many major cities now have multilingual automatic currency exchange machines.
Besides occasionally appearing in busy shopping streets, they are usually installed in convenience stores or large department stores (for example, Takashimaya).
If your yen is about to run out, just put your home-country bills into the machine to exchange them.
What if you want to exchange cash but don’t even have any of your home currency on hand?
It’s recommended that you use an international ATM with a debit or credit card that has international withdrawal enabled to withdraw local cash directly from your home account.
The ATMs at Japan Post offices or Japan Post Banks (Yucho Ginko) are usually international and allow cash withdrawals from Mastercard or VISA cards.
However, an important point is that this service is limited to cards that have international withdrawal enabled. If you didn’t have this feature activated with your bank before traveling, you won’t be able to withdraw money.
So add this to your pre-trip checklist — enable international withdrawals for peace of mind, and also check your bank’s fee structure in advance.
Yes — the simplest option is to pay by card! Card acceptance is increasingly widespread in Japan. If you find your yen running low, try to use your card when shopping in shopping streets, convenience stores, and department stores whenever possible.
With card rewards, paying by card can even be more economical than exchanging cash. Reserve your remaining cash for things that only accept cash, such as meals, transportation, and admission fees.
Picture courtesy of E.SUN Bank
E.SUN Bank’s “Kumamon Card Dual-Currency JPY Card” offers up to 8.5% cashback at designated stores in Japan. For a list of designated stores, please refer to the official website: https://www.esunbank.com/en/personal/credit-card/intro/bank-card/kumamon_card.
Other purchases made in Japan earn 2% cashback.
QUICPay, a contactless payment service developed by JCB, is supported by over a million card terminals in Japan. iPhone users can add certain JCB credit cards to Apple Pay and use QUICPay at participating stores and vending machines that display the QUICPay logo!
If you urgently need cash, you can pay by card and then use the department store’s cash tax-refund service afterward — the more you buy, the more cash you can get back.
However, note that some department stores charge a handling fee for cash refunds, so you’ll need to weigh whether it’s worth it or choose stores that don’t charge a fee!
Super-convenient mobile QR-code payments are now available in Japan! Japan’s largest QR payment service, PayPay, can be used at 4.1 million partner stores in Japan.
However, note that many department stores and shopping malls limit tax-refund payment methods to cash or card, so it’s better to use QR payments at convenience stores, restaurants, or small shops that don’t offer tax refunds.
Frequent travelers to Japan often buy a contactless transit IC card (such as Suica or PASMO). But did you know that the balance loaded onto the card can also be used directly for shopping?
Using transit IC cards for payments is very common in Japan — in addition to department stores, restaurants, and convenience stores, many vending machines and even crane (UFO catcher) game machines accept them! No need to search for or exchange small change — very convenient.
Today, we introduced various solutions for when you don’t have enough Japanese cash. On your next trip to Japan, you can mix and match these cash alternatives to travel with more peace of mind — and maybe even save money!
We also recommend estimating basic cash needs for transportation and meals before you go, keeping that money in a separate wallet, or loading it onto a transit IC card in advance. For larger purchases (such as accommodation or electronics), it’s still best to pay by card to avoid the embarrassment of suddenly running out of cash while traveling.
There is no limit on the amount of cash you may carry, but if you bring more than 1,000,000 yen or the equivalent in other currencies, you must complete a declaration form upon entering Japan. Carrying a lot of money around is not illegal; declaring it is intended to prevent money laundering and other illicit activities.
The appropriate amount of cash to bring depends on your travel habits, itinerary, and how often you use credit cards or electronic payments. Here is a reference based on moderate spending:
5-day trip:
Recommended cash to bring: about 30,000 to 50,000 yen.
Reason: This money is mainly for transportation (subway tickets, buses, etc.), small meals (street food, convenience store purchases), admission fees (some small attractions), and shops that accept cash only. Large purchases and hotel stays can usually be paid by card, so you don’t need to bring too much cash.
7-day trip:
Recommended cash to bring: about 40,000 to 70,000 yen.
Reason: With more days, average daily expenses increase slightly. The extra cash can cover additional transportation, souvenir purchases, or meals at more small shops.
It’s not recommended to exchange large amounts of yen at the airport because rates are usually less favorable.
Pros: convenient and immediate — you can get yen right after landing, which is useful for emergencies.
Cons: exchange rates are often worse than those at banks in your home country, and fees may be higher.
Recommendation:
Exchange the cash you need at your local bank before departure. If you need additional cash upon arrival, exchange only a small amount at the airport’s bank or exchange counter.
In Japan, you can withdraw yen from ATMs using the "international withdrawal" service.
Where to withdraw:
Japan Post ATMs (Japan Post Bank / ゆうちょ銀行): support many international bank cards and often offer an English language option.
7-Eleven ATMs: ATMs in 7-Eleven convenience stores are the most commonly used and convenient option for foreign travelers; most accept international bank cards.
Withdrawal steps:
1. Find an ATM that supports international withdrawals (look for logos such as PLUS, Cirrus, or UnionPay).
2. Insert your debit/ATM card.
3. Select the option for "International Card" or "Card issued overseas."
4. Choose "Withdrawal."
5. Enter your PIN (usually four digits).
6. Enter the amount you want to withdraw.
7. Complete the transaction and take your card and cash.
Notes:
Fees: Each withdrawal may incur fees charged by both your home bank and the Japanese ATM operator. It’s recommended to withdraw a larger amount at once to reduce the number of withdrawals.
Check before you travel: Before departure, confirm with your card issuer that international withdrawals are enabled, and ask about daily withdrawal limits and fees so you can withdraw smoothly in Japan.
Login