Category: Shopping & Money

The hours at airports, stations, and shops and the currencies they handle were checked on October 23, 2026, using official information from each airport, railway company, convenience store, and bank. We saw the photos and notices for exchange machines in town in Tokyo on October 17, 2026. Hours and accepted currencies may change. We did not compare exchange rates (this is not financial advice).

You brought banknotes from your country in your wallet. When you arrive in Japan, where should you exchange them for yen? Should you exchange all of them at the airport, or wait until you reach town? Can you exchange your country’s banknotes in Japan in the first place?

The Short Answer — Exchange Only What You Need for the Day at the Airport. In Town, Look for Your Country’s Flag on the Machine

If you are not sure, this is what we do.

• At the arrivals lobby of your airport, exchange only what you need for that day. That means enough for transportation to your accommodation and dinner that evening (you can work out how much you need in “How Much Cash Do You Need in Japan?”).
• If you run short in town, look for your country’s flag and currency code (such as KRW, TWD, THB, or IDR) on an exchange machine or at a currency exchange counter. If you see it, exchange your money there for yen.
• If you cannot find one, withdraw yen from an ATM that accepts international cards. You can use ATMs at 7-Eleven and elsewhere.
• Do not rely on bank counters.

The reason you do not need to exchange everything at the airport is not about exchange rates. Just after you arrive, you do not yet know where exchange machines are in town. But if you run short later, you still have ways to exchange money or use an ATM.

Here Is the Reasoning

The Arrivals Lobbies at Major Airports Have Places to Exchange Money. Some Are Open Around the Clock

Can you exchange money as soon as you arrive? Here is what you will find at three major airports.

Airport	Officially Listed Place Available to Arriving Passengers
Haneda (Terminal 3)	Currency exchange counter in the arrivals lobby on the 2nd floor. Open 24 hours
Narita (Terminal 2)	Automated foreign currency exchange machine on the 1st floor of the main building. 00:00–24:00. Staffed currency exchange counter (GPA): 7:00–22:00
Narita (Terminals 1 and 3)	Staffed currency exchange counters (GPA). Terminal 1: 1st floor of the North Wing. Terminal 3: 2nd floor of the main building. Both are open 7:00–22:00
Kansai (Terminal 1)	Automated currency exchange machine on the 1st floor (open 24 hours). Staffed currency exchange counter: 6:15–23:00
Kansai (Terminal 2)	Automated currency exchange machine in the arrivals area on the 1st floor (open 24 hours)

The places available around the clock are Haneda Terminal 3, Narita Terminal 2, and the machines at Kansai. The staffed exchange counters at Narita Terminals 1 and 3 are open until around 22:00 (some counters vary by day). If you arrive later, rely on an ATM inside the airport that accepts international cards (see “How to Withdraw Cash (Yen) at a Convenience Store ATM in Japan” for which airports have them).

Haneda also says that even its 24-hour exchange counter may close for inspections late at night. Keep this one point in mind if you arrive late.

Exchange Machines Accept Different Banknotes Depending on the Machine

In town, there are machines that dispense yen when you insert foreign banknotes. These are the two machines we saw in Tokyo.

• The machine outside a convenience store in Tsukiji — Its notice showed 14 flags, including those of South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. It also said “Open 24 hours” and “No passport required.”
• The machine outside a shop in Ikebukuro — Its sign showed 12 flags. It included the flags of South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, but not those of Indonesia or the Philippines.

Even when the sign says “MONEY EXCHANGE,” the banknotes accepted differ from one machine to another. So, when you stand in front of a machine, first look for your country’s flag. If it is not there, you cannot exchange your money at that machine.

MUFG Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Have Stopped In-Branch Currency Exchange

MUFG Bank ended currency exchange at its counters in 2020 and stopped operating foreign currency vending machines in 2023. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation also ended in-branch currency exchange at the end of March 2022. Both direct customers to specialist exchange shops operated by their groups or partners. We did not check other banks. That is why, when we exchange money in town, we look for a specialist currency exchange shop or a machine rather than a bank counter.

Can You Exchange Banknotes from Your Country?

Here are the official lists and the notices we saw.

Banknotes	Haneda Currency Exchange Counters (Terminals 2 and 3)	FamilyMart Exchange Machines	Keihan Railway Station Exchange Machines	JR Currency Exchange Centers	Machine We Saw in Tsukiji	Machine We Saw in Ikebukuro
South Korean won (KRW)	○	○	○	○	○	○
New Taiwan dollar (TWD)	○	○	○	○	○	○
Thai baht (THB)	○	○	○	○	○	○
Indonesian rupiah (IDR)	—	○	○	○	○	—
US dollar (USD)	○	○	○	○	○	○

○ = Shown on the list or notice　— = Not shown

• The Haneda information is the list attached to the currency exchange counter named “Japan Airport Terminal Foreign Currency Exchange” (Terminals 2 and 3) in the airport guide. It says that older series of banknotes and banknotes in some conditions may not be accepted. Foreign coins are not handled.
• FamilyMart exchange machines are available only at some stores (an official store list is available).
• Keihan Railway exchange machines are at 12 Keihan stations in Kyoto and Osaka. They operate daily from 5:00 to 24:00. The limit is the equivalent of ¥100,000 per transaction.
• JR Currency Exchange Centers (Viewcard Currency Exchange Centers) are staffed shops at Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Fujisawa, and Omiya stations. The list covers 35 currencies, but currencies whose handling has been suspended are listed separately, and this may change without notice. Check the official information or ask at the shop before you go.
• The Narita and Kansai airport information does not provide a list of currencies handled. Narita says that not every currency is necessarily available at every counter. Check the sign at the counter when you arrive.

For People Who Brought Indonesian Banknotes (Rupiah)

Rupiah is not on the list for the currency exchange counters in Haneda’s arrivals lobby. Be prepared for the possibility that you may not be able to exchange rupiah at the airport where you arrive.

On the other hand, there are exchange machines in town that accept rupiah (at some FamilyMart stores, at Keihan Railway stations, and the machine we saw in Tsukiji). It is also listed by JR Currency Exchange Centers. However, some machines, like the one we saw in Ikebukuro, do not show the rupiah flag.

You can also withdraw money for your arrival day from an ATM that accepts international cards. US dollars are shown everywhere in the table above.

Three Places to Exchange Money in Town

1. Exchange Machines (Insert Banknotes and Receive Yen)

The exchange machines we checked (at FamilyMart, on the Keihan Railway, and the two we saw in Tokyo) worked as follows.

• Foreign banknotes only. Coins cannot be inserted.
• One way only: foreign currency to yen. You cannot exchange yen for foreign currency.
• The screen can be switched to several languages (15 languages at FamilyMart).

FamilyMart machines dispense ¥10,000 notes, ¥1,000 notes, and ¥100 coins (they do not dispense denominations smaller than ¥100).

2. Currency Exchange Counters (A Person Exchanges Your Money at a Counter)

JR Currency Exchange Centers can exchange yen and foreign currency in either direction. They handle banknotes only, and you cannot pay by credit card. Staffed currency exchange counters at airports (such as GPA, Travelex, and KIX CURRENCY EXCHANGE) are in this category too.

3. Machines That Say “Exchange” but Do Not Dispense Yen

At airports and stations, there are also machines that exchange foreign currency for electronic money or gift cards (Pocket Change). They can be useful, but they do not provide cash in yen.

At anime shops and similar places, an “exchange machine” may simply change a ¥1,000 note into ¥100 coins. These machines have nothing to do with foreign currency.

Just Two Things Before You Exchange Money

• Take your passport. Currency exchange businesses must verify your identity for large transactions (over ¥2 million). They may also check it for smaller amounts. The machine we saw in Tsukiji said “No passport required,” but that does not mean the same is true everywhere.
• Exchange rates change every day. Keihan Railway says that “the exchange rate includes the currency exchange fee.” Do not compare services just by the word “fee.” Before exchanging, check on the screen or at the counter how much you put in and how much yen you will receive.

If You Cannot Exchange Your Money, Use an ATM

Your banknotes are not on any list. The currency exchange counter is closed. In that case, withdraw yen with an international card. You can use ATMs at 7-Eleven and elsewhere from the day you arrive. See “How to Withdraw Cash (Yen) at a Convenience Store ATM in Japan” for instructions and fees.

Before you go, just these things

• Check whether banknotes from your country appear in the table above.
• Check the airport and terminal where you will arrive and your arrival time (if you arrive late at night, find the location of a 24-hour counter or machine).
• Keep your passport somewhere easy to reach.
• Bring one card that works overseas. It is for an ATM if you cannot exchange your money. Remember your PIN too.

If You Are Unsure, Decide This Way

On the day you arrive, exchange only what you need for that day at the airport. That means enough for transportation to your accommodation and dinner that evening.

After that, pay by card and exchange more if you run short. Look for your country’s flag on the exchange machine. If it is not there, use an ATM.

Once you arrive, the next step is getting into town.

• By train from the airport to the city → “Airport to City by Train in Japan”

• For internet access on your phone → “eSIM, SIM Card or Pocket Wi-Fi for Japan?”

• How much cash to bring → “How Much Cash Do You Need in Japan?”
• Withdrawing cash at an ATM → “How to Withdraw Cash (Yen) at a Convenience Store ATM in Japan”

Official sources we checked (12)

(All checked on October 23, 2026; Narita Airport rechecked on October 24, 2026)

• 羽田空港「Money Exchange」(Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.: currency exchange counters and hours in each terminal, and late-night inspections; English)
• 羽田空港「お取り扱い 通貨・紙幣」(Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.: banknotes handled at the currency exchange counters in Terminals 2 and 3; Japanese; PDF)
• 成田空港「Bank/Currency Exchange」(Narita International Airport: locations and hours of currency exchange counters and automated foreign currency exchange machines; currencies vary by counter; English)
• 関西空港「Currency Exchange」(Kansai Airports: currency exchange counters and 24-hour automated currency exchange machines; English)
• ファミリーマート「自動外貨両替機」(Convenience store: 14 currencies, banknotes only, available at some stores, and denominations dispensed; Japanese)
• 京阪電車「自動外貨両替機」(Railway company: 12 currencies, 5:00–24:00, up to ¥100,000 per transaction, and fee included in the exchange rate; Japanese)
• JR東日本「ビューカード外貨両替センター」(Railway company: five shops and their hours, 35 currencies, currencies whose handling has been suspended, and identity verification; Japanese)
• 三菱UFJ銀行「外貨両替業務に関するお知らせ」(Bank: counter currency exchange ended on June 26, 2020; Japanese; PDF)
• 三菱UFJ銀行「外貨自動販売機 取扱終了のお知らせ」(Bank: service ended on June 30, 2023; Japanese; PDF)
• 三井住友銀行「外貨両替」(Bank: in-branch currency exchange ended at the end of March 2022; Japanese)
• 財務省「外貨両替を行う方々へ」(Ministry of Finance: identity verification for currency exchanges over ¥2 million; Japanese; PDF; July 2026 edition)
• Pocket Change(Operator: exchange foreign currency for electronic money or gift cards; English)

The figures and systems described here were checked on October 22, 2026, against official information from the Japan Tourism Agency, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), railway and bus operators, and banks. The information about airport ATMs, ticket machines, and accommodations is based on the relevant articles on this site (each article states when its information was checked). This is not financial advice. Whether a card works and what fees apply depend on the card you have.

You may have heard that Japan is a cash-based country. Or perhaps you have heard that you can now pay by card everywhere. Which should you believe, and how much should you put in your wallet?

The answer is neither. And the cash you need is not determined just by how many days you will travel.

The Short Answer — Use cards for most payments. Carry cash only for the moments when your card might not work

If we were unsure, this is what we would do.

• Use a credit or debit card for everyday payments. International-brand cards are generally accepted throughout Japan
• Count the moments in your itinerary when cash may be the only way to pay, and carry enough for those moments. Then add a reserve in case your card does not work—enough to get back to your accommodation or manage until the next usable ATM
• If you run short, withdraw cash at a convenience-store ATM. You can do this from the day you arrive

As a formula:

Cash needed = fixed payments that must be made in cash (check when booking) + planned cash for your arrival day and each day + a reserve until the next usable ATM

For example, compare these two trips.

• Only visiting the cities of Tokyo and Osaka, with accommodation that accepts cards → No fixed cash-only payments. If you travel from the airport to your accommodation by tapping a contactless credit card or using Suica on your phone, you will need almost no cash for your arrival day either. What remains is cash for places such as restaurants with ticket machines, plus a reserve
• Staying one night at a rural accommodation that accepts cash only → Your fixed payment is the full accommodation charge (the amount shown on the booking screen: ¥＿＿). Add cash for your arrival day, each day, and your reserve

The number of days also changes the amount. The longer your trip, the more opportunities you may have to encounter restaurants with ticket machines or temples. But what changes the amount even more than the number of days is whether there is a large cash-only payment somewhere in your trip. A three-day trip with one night at a rural accommodation may require more cash than a seven-day city trip.

Here Is the Reasoning

91% said cards were convenient; 10.7% had trouble using cards. These were separate questions, and some people answered both

Every year, the Japan Tourism Agency asks travelers just before they leave Japan about their trip. In a survey conducted from November 2025 through January 2026 at five airports with 4,110 respondents, it found the following.

• 91% said credit/debit cards were “convenient” in at least one city. The leading reason was that cards were accepted in many places
• 10.7% listed the use of credit/debit cards as something they had trouble with during their trip. This was up from the previous two years (7.0% and 7.8%)
• The most common place where people had trouble was restaurants (32% of those who had trouble). The most common problem was that their card was not accepted (46%)

These were two separate questions. Someone who found cards convenient in one city but had trouble at another shop could be counted in both. The figures are not meant to add up to 100%, and the survey did not count how many payments could be made by card.

JNTO says that international-brand credit, debit, and prepaid cards are generally accepted throughout Japan. Generally accepted—but occasionally declined. That is Japan today.

For reference, a domestic indicator from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry put the cashless payment ratio at 58.0% in 2025. This refers to all household payments in Japan, not the share of travelers using cashless payments.

The situations where only cash works, or cards are less likely to work, are fairly predictable

JNTO specifically notes that in rural areas, some hotels accept cash only. When traveling to rural or sparsely populated areas, it advises checking with accommodations and facilities in advance and preparing cash.

Common situations you may encounter include:

• Small restaurants and places that use ticket machines — Some ticket machines accept cash only. Some do not accept ¥10,000 notes, so having ¥1,000 notes helps (see “Restaurants with ticket machines”)
• Rural accommodations — Sometimes the accommodation charge itself must be paid in cash. In that case, the entire charge becomes a cash payment (see “Paying at your accommodation”)
• Buying or charging a transit IC card (such as Suica) at a station ticket machine — According to JNTO, ticket machines accept cash only; credit cards cannot be used
• Late-night airport buses — For example, for the last bus from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station, you go directly to the bus stop and pay on board in cash or with a transit IC card (such as Suica). Credit cards are not accepted (see “From the airport to the city”)

Shops sometimes display accepted-card logos at the entrance or register. If you do not see one, the surest approach is to show your card and ask before entering.

More trains now let you ride by tapping a credit card

For short train journeys, it is not always possible to pay the fare directly with a credit or debit card. But this has been changing in recent years.

• On some private railway and subway lines around Tokyo, you can tap a contactless-enabled credit, debit, or prepaid card (or a phone containing one) and pass directly through the ticket gate. Since March 25, 2026, the service can also be used when transferring across the lines of 11 railway operators and transportation bureaus in the Kanto region, including Tokyo Metro, the Toei Subway, Keikyu, Tokyu, Keio, and Odakyu. However, not every station is covered. JR East is not one of these 11 operators
• If you have a compatible iPhone, you can use JR East’s Welcome Suica Mobile app to create a Suica transit IC card on your phone. Charge it with an eligible card in your own name that is registered with Apple Pay. If you can charge it by card, you will not need cash at a ticket machine. Location services must be turned on, and depending on your country or region, you may be unable to create or charge it until you arrive in Japan. It cannot be used by anyone under 13. Remaining funds cannot be refunded, so add small amounts with the intention of using the full balance

From Haneda to Shinagawa, you can ride Keikyu by tapping a contactless-enabled credit card or similar payment method (both Haneda Airport stations and Shinagawa Station are among the stations where contactless boarding is available). There are now ways to reach the city without using cash from the day you arrive.

You can withdraw cash after arriving in Japan

Seven Bank ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores allow you to withdraw Japanese yen with a card issued overseas. However, some cards may not work even if they display the same logo. The limit per withdrawal is generally ¥100,000 (¥30,000 for transactions read from the magnetic stripe instead of the IC chip). Airports including Haneda, Narita, Kansai, and Naha also have ATMs that accept overseas cards.

So you do not need to bring a large amount of cash from home. At Seven Bank ATMs, fees for cards issued overseas vary by card brand. Your own card issuer may also charge a fee. For instructions and fee information, see “Withdrawing Japanese yen at a convenience-store ATM.”

Work out your own amount this way

Now apply the formula above to your own trip. There are three things to count.

1. Situations where cash may be the only way to pay

Review your itinerary and identify any days that include the following.

• A day when you will stay at a rural accommodation (→ Ask whether it accepts cards. If it is cash only, bring the full accommodation charge in cash)
• A day with many meals at small regional restaurants or places with ticket machines
• A plan to buy or charge a transit IC card at a station ticket machine (→ You do not need to count this if you can use Suica on your phone or contactless payment instead)
• A late-night arrival at an airport followed by a bus into the city
• A day visiting several castles, shrines, or temples (these were listed in the Japan Tourism Agency survey as places where people had trouble using cards. Check the displayed payment methods before entering)

Check the price of each applicable item on your accommodation booking screen or the operator’s official website, and add them together. This is the core of the cash you should carry.

2. Cash for your arrival day

Your arrival day is when it is easiest to run into trouble, so plan this part in advance.

• How will you get from the airport to your accommodation? (If you can tap a credit card on the train or use Suica on your phone, you will not need cash. For the last bus from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station, you need cash or a transit IC card)
• Your meal on the night you arrive (the only nearby option may be a restaurant with a ticket machine)

Prepare this amount in yen before departure, or obtain it at the airport after you arrive. Major airports have currency-exchange counters in their arrival lobbies, and some airports have ATMs that accept overseas cards (the article about convenience-store ATMs lists which airports). The right choice depends on the cards you have and your arrival time.

3. A reserve in case your card does not work

Cards are occasionally declined. Depending on the card, an ATM may not accept it either. Carry a reserve large enough to get back to your accommodation or manage until the next usable ATM. Decide the amount based on where you will go that day.

ATMs are not open 24 hours everywhere. JNTO says that ATMs may close at night or run out of cash in busy cities. Carry a slightly larger reserve on days when you will be out late or travel to rural areas.

Three things to check about your card before departure

Whether you can reduce the cash you carry depends on your card. Before leaving home, check these points in your card issuer’s app or at its service counter.

• Can it be used overseas?
• Can it withdraw cash from overseas ATMs, and do you know the PIN? (Some cards require you to enable overseas withdrawals yourself)
• Does it support contactless payment? (Some railway lines let you ride by tapping. Check the operator’s information for eligible cards)

Some people get a debit card that is easy to use overseas or a card that can hold multiple currencies. But the countries where such cards are available are limited. Check before departure whether you can obtain one in your country.

If you plan to pay in stores with your phone, remember one thing. JNTO says that overseas mobile payment services such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay may not work in Japan. Do not rely on your phone alone; bring at least one physical card as well.

If You Are Unsure, Decide This Way

No rural accommodation or other large cash-only payment → Carry cash for your arrival day plus a reserve until the next ATM. Pay for the rest by card, and use a convenience-store ATM if you run short.

A rural accommodation or another cash-only payment is part of the trip → Count that amount in advance and carry it. Ask when booking whether the accommodation accepts cards.

On either kind of trip, carry several ¥1,000 notes, not only ¥10,000 notes. You will be less likely to have trouble at a ticket machine.

• How to withdraw cash → “Withdrawing Japanese yen at a convenience-store ATM”
• Getting from the airport to the city → “By train from the airport to the city”
• Paying at your accommodation → “Paying at your accommodation”

Official sources we checked (12)

(All checked on October 22, 2026)

• 観光庁「訪日外国人旅行者の受入環境に関する調査を実施しました」(Japan Tourism Agency: FY2025 survey; share who had trouble using cards and where, Japanese, April 28, 2026)
• 観光庁「令和7年度『訪日外国人旅行者の受入環境整備に関するアンケート』調査結果」(Japan Tourism Agency: share who said cards were convenient and why; where and how people had trouble, Japanese)
• 経済産業省「2025年のキャッシュレス決済比率を算出しました」(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: cashless payment ratio in 2025, Japanese, March 31, 2026)
• JNTO(日本政府観光局)「Cashless Payments in Japan」(Japan National Tourism Organization: some rural places are cash only; cash is required to buy and charge transit IC cards at ticket machines, English)
• JNTO(日本政府観光局)「Credit Cards in Japan」(Japan National Tourism Organization: international-brand cards are generally accepted; they may not work for short-distance fares, English)
• JNTO(日本政府観光局)「Japan Currency Exchange」(Japan National Tourism Organization: ATMs that are not open 24 hours; cash shortages; currency-exchange counters in the arrival lobbies of major airports, English)
• 東急電鉄ほか「関東の鉄道事業者11社局の路線を対象とした、クレジットカード等のタッチ決済による後払い乗車サービスの相互利用を開始します」(Railway operators: starting March 25, 2026; names of the 11 operators and bureaus; covered stations differ by operator, Japanese)
• 京急電鉄ほか「クレジットカード等のタッチ決済による乗車サービス(実証実験)を開始します」(Railway operators: Haneda Airport stations and Shinagawa Station are eligible for contactless boarding, Japanese, December 12, 2024)
• TYO-NRT「Riding the Bus」(Bus operator: on the last departure from Narita Airport, pay on board in cash or with a transit IC card; credit cards are not accepted, English)
• JR東日本「Welcome Suica Mobile」(Railway operator: iOS app; charge with a card in Apple Pay; location services and country or regional restrictions, English)
• JR東日本「Rules for the Use of Welcome Suica Mobile」(Railway operator: unavailable to anyone under 13; card must be in the user’s own name; no refunds of the balance, English)
• Seven Bank「Overseas Cards Usable at ATMs」(Bank: limit per withdrawal is ¥100,000; ¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe transactions; fees vary by brand, English)