When you book a place to stay in Japan through a booking site, you may be able to choose when to pay and which currency to use on the final booking screen.
Even with the same place and room, that choice can change the amount on your card statement. The room price has not changed. The payment rules can add a charge or an exchange rate difference.
This article draws on the terms of use for people booking from outside Japan (the version effective October 21, 2026) and the FAQ of Agoda, the booking site we use to introduce places to stay. Other booking sites and accommodation websites have different rules.
For now, just this
- There are three ways to pay: when you book, later to Agoda, or at the accommodation. Which are available depends on the property and room, among other things
- Set the display currency, charge currency, and your card’s currency to the same one. When all three match, Agoda’s currency conversion surcharge of up to 5% does not apply
- Even with pay at the hotel, the property may place a hold on your card or charge it in advance
- For pay later, the amount is set using the exchange rate on the payment date. It may go up or down
- Check the confirmation email for taxes and fees to be paid separately at the property
Three ways to pay: to whom, and when
| Payment method | Who receives payment | When | Agoda’s currency conversion surcharge (up to 5%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Now | Agoda | The full amount when you submit the booking | When the charge currency differs from the display currency |
| Book Now, Pay Later | Agoda | On the payment date in the confirmation email | When the charge currency differs from the display currency or the property’s currency. It does not apply if the display, charge, and card currencies all match |
| Pay at Hotel | The property | At the property on the day you stay | Does not apply |
Most Agoda bookings are Pay Now. Book Now, Pay Later and Pay at Hotel can be chosen for properties and rooms that offer them (availability also varies by location and other factors).
Whichever way you pay, your booking is with the property. The terms of use say Agoda acts as an intermediary for the booking with the property.
Pay Now: the full amount when you submit the booking
With Pay Now, the full amount is charged to your card when you submit the booking. The amount Agoda receives counts as payment to the property. You do not pay that same amount again at the property.
You may, however, pay taxes or fees excluded from the booking amount at check-in (see “What you pay at the property” below).
Book Now, Pay Later: payment on the stated date
With Book Now, Pay Later, you do not make the main payment when you book. Agoda charges your card on the payment date stated in the confirmation email. A small verification charge or a hold may be placed on your card when you book.
The amount is set using the exchange rate on the payment date. The booking screen and confirmation email show the price in the property’s currency. What changes is the amount converted into the charge currency. It may be higher or lower than the amount you saw on the booking date.
If the card charge fails on the payment date, the booking may be canceled. Agoda says to contact customer service immediately if the charge fails and the booking is still active.
Pay at Hotel: at the property on the day you stay
With Pay at Hotel, you pay at the property on the day you stay, in the currency shown on the booking screen or another currency the property accepts. The property decides which payment methods it accepts. Agoda’s FAQ lists credit cards, debit cards, cash, and local digital payments.
Agoda’s currency conversion surcharge does not apply to Pay at Hotel. The amount on the booking screen is an estimate converted at the exchange rate at that time. If you pay at the property in another currency or use a card in another currency, the actual amount depends on the property’s and card issuer’s exchange rates.
Even with Pay at Hotel, the property may hold your card
Pay at Hotel does not necessarily mean nothing happens to your card when you book. The terms of use say that, depending on the property, it may:
- Place a hold on your card
- Take a deposit
- Charge the full amount in advance
- Ask for card details to guarantee the booking
The FAQ also says a credit card is often needed to secure a Pay at Hotel booking.
A hold is not a charge. It temporarily reserves part of your card’s available credit. It is not deducted from your balance.
Agoda says some rooms can be booked without entering card details. That applies only to rooms where this option is offered.
If you choose Pay at Hotel, leave a little room on your card. It can save you a scramble when buying something during the trip.
Which currency to pay in: line up three currencies
At the end of the booking, three currencies come into play.
- Display currency: The currency used for prices on screen. It is initially set by your IP address or account settings, and you can change it
- Charge currency: The currency charged to your card. You choose it on the payment screen
- Card currency: The card’s underlying currency, set by the bank that issued it
For Pay Now and Book Now, Pay Later, if you choose a charge currency different from the display currency, Agoda adds up to 5% to the price. With Pay Now, choosing the same charge and display currency avoids it. With Book Now, Pay Later, it does not apply when the display, charge, and card currencies all match.
The terms of use say this surcharge does not apply when paying with a US-issued card denominated in US dollars, or when booking from a US, Canadian, or UK IP address.
For example, on a price equivalent to ¥30,000, it could be up to the equivalent of ¥1,500. The property and room are the same; only the currency choice changes this amount.
Card issuer fees are separate. If the charge currency differs from the card currency, the card issuer may convert it at its own rate and add a fee. It may also charge a foreign transaction fee for payments made outside your country. The amount depends on your agreement with the card issuer. Agoda’s FAQ says matching the charge currency to your card currency may reduce these fees.
So there is one thing to do.
- Set the display currency to your card’s currency, and choose that same currency for the charge
When all three match, Agoda’s surcharge does not apply and your card issuer does not have to convert the currency. Only a possible foreign transaction fee from the card issuer remains. You can book the same place without the extra surcharge.
If you cancel: how much comes back, and when
If you cancel a cancellable booking within its cancellation period, Agoda refunds the amount you paid, using the amount at the time of payment rather than the exchange rate on the refund date. The surcharge is refunded too.
If an Agoda booking fee was added, however, the terms of use say that fee is not refundable unless the law prohibits this.
Refunds to cards take time: about 30–45 business days at most, depending on the country and card issuer. PayPal takes about 3–5 business days, according to the FAQ. A hold on a booking canceled for free may also take up to about 30 business days to be released.
Whether you can cancel and until when it is free varies by property and room. See the cancellation fees section of “Paying for Your Stay” for how the date when cancellation fees begin varies by property.
What you pay at the property
You may pay taxes or fees excluded from the booking amount at check-in. The confirmation email says what is and is not included.
In Japan, some cities charge Accommodation Tax, and onsen towns charge bathing tax. Amounts differ by city. See “Paying for Your Stay” for where and how much.
If a national or local tax is newly imposed or increased after you book, you must pay the difference (unless prohibited by law).
Once you have settled the payment method and currency, all that remains is choosing where to stay.
