JapanSugoi

If you’re planning to visit Japan, please note the name of the Japanese currency is called the Yen which has coins and notes. Coins have smaller denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Yen and bank notes have larger denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 Yen. You’ll need to carry a combination for getting around and for shopping.

Note that the 2,000 Yen note is not quite as common having only been introduced a few years ago and taxi drivers do not like giving change for 10,000 Yen if you have a short taxi ride under 2,000 Yen.

Coins are very handy for buying train tickets and being used in vending machines though contactless re-chargeable cash cards like Suica スイカ and PASMO パスモ, are quickly making inroads into a cashless society. Many Japanese mobile phones can be used to pay for simple items and charged to your mobile phone bill.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available in large urban areas throughout Japan, however, please note that many DO NOT accept foreign credit cards or cash cards, only cards issued in Japan. There are a few machines that take foreign cards so check with your bank or credit card provider. Another thing to note is that ATMs are not necessarily available 24 hours and their service hours are very often restricted and limited like on weekends.

Two places where foreign credit, debit and cash cards can be used are at special machines at the major international airports in Japan and locally at over 26,000 Post Office ATMs in locations throughout Japan.

Cards from VISA, VISAELECTRON, PLUS, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express, Diners Club, JCB and China Unionpay are acceptable.