Japan travel money: yen, cash, cards and ATMs
Prepare for your first payment in Japan, keep cash available when you need it and turn your own yen budget into a home-currency estimate.
Sources checked: 8 September 2026. Recheck the linked guidance before travel.
Cash or card in Japan?
Card payments are available, but a card-only plan can fail. JNTO recommends cash as a backup when overseas cards do not work. Before a small purchase or a trip away from major visitor areas, check the payment methods.
JNTO · cashless payments →Finding an ATM that accepts your card
Look for the network logo on both your card and the machine. JNTO identifies Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank ATMs as options for overseas cards. Check operating hours, your withdrawal limit and the fees displayed before confirming.
JNTO · currency and ATMs →An IC card is a separate travel balance
Prepaid IC cards can simplify eligible transport journeys and some purchases. Check the particular card’s purchase, top-up and refund rules before loading a large balance. Do not assume every visitor card has the same conditions.
JNTO · cashless payments →Build a yen budget from your itinerary
List accommodation that is still unpaid, transport, meals and activities separately. Subtract bookings you have already paid for. Divide only the remaining day-to-day costs by the number of days; this gives you a daily amount to enter below.
At the payment screen
If offered conversion into your home currency, compare its rate and markup with your card terms. Choosing local currency avoids that particular conversion service.
Visa · currency-conversion choices →Before you leave
- Check that your card is enabled for overseas purchases and withdrawals.
- Plan a way to pay for arrival transport if your first card payment fails.
- Check the exact IC card product before loading it.
- Keep a second payment method separate from your main wallet.
Your own travel budget
Enter your planned daily spending in the destination currency. The total is daily spending × days; it is not a recommended allowance. Add unpaid accommodation and transport if they are not included. Fees and inflation are excluded.
Enter daily spending from 0 to 1,000,000, using a decimal point, and 1 to 365 whole days. Choose a supported home currency.
Enter your own daily amount to calculate a total.
live · 2026-09-09 11:33:07 UTC · Amounts use the service’s reference rate. They may differ from your card statement or cash-exchange quote.
The exchange-offer tool opens with example rate and fee values. Replace them with the actual provider offer.
Japan · Pocket conversion card
Reference amounts, not shop prices or a guaranteed exchange offer. Save or print the card for your trip and note the observation time.
live · 2026-09-09 11:33:07 UTC
| JPY | USD |
|---|---|
| 100 | 0.65 |
| 500 | 3.26 |
| 1,000 | 6.52 |
| 5,000 | 32.61 |
| 10,000 | 65.23 |
Page prepared: 2026-09-09 11:33:09 UTC · currency-converter.live/en/travel-money/japan
Practical questions
Should I take only cash?
Plan both a usable card and some cash backup. Choose your cash amount from your actual itinerary and confirmed payment options, not a universal daily allowance.
Is a Suica or PASMO balance the same as my bank balance?
No. Treat a prepaid travel-card balance as a separate part of your budget and check the product’s rules before topping up.
How do I recognise the new yen banknotes?
Open the JPY profile for the 2024 denominations, earlier designs and links to the Bank of Japan.
Official sources
Sources checked: 8 September 2026. Recheck the linked guidance before travel.