Travel topics
Money
How to get money in Japan
Yen is the currency of Japan. For cash, there are three types of bank notes (10,000, 5,000, 1,000) and six types of coins (500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 1). Larger notes (10,000 yen) are accepted at most shops without hesitation.
To get cash, you can exchange your own currency into yen at hotels, banks, and post offices. To withdraw yen from ATMs from directly your account, you should go to ATMs in post offices. ATMs in at most banks do not accept foreign ATM cards.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Tokyo and in major cities, but less so outside of cities. Japanese generally carry large amount of cash (several tens of thousands) for this reason. In Tokyo even taxis accept credit cards.
Electronic money on an IC chip card is widely used in major cities. Nanako, Edy and Suica, and Pasmo are the three predominant brands. Suica and Pasmo are equivalent and Suica is issued by Japan Rail while Pasmo is issued by a consortium of other transport companies. Travellers should consider getting either of them. Because you can take almost all trains and many busses using Suica/Pasmo card, you do not have to buy tickets every time. Suica/Pasmo cards are sold at major train stations including at the airport. There is a 500 yen deposit for the card.
Handpicked links
Withdraw cash from an ATM
ATMs operated by Shinsei Bank and their partners also accept internatonal cash cards.
Japan Postal Savings
The largest number of ATMs that accept international cash cards are operated by Japan Post.