
For example, the US dollar is a highly traded foreign currency in Japan, and partly for this reason you might get a favorable rate if you change US dollars into yen in Japan. Whether or not it is better to change for yen before coming into Japan depends on the currency that you hold.

In Japan, currency exchange is usually handled by banks, post offices, some larger hotels and a handful of licensed money changers found especially at international airports. Theft and robberies are very rare in Japan, so with regards to keeping large amounts of cash with you, security is less of a concern than your propensity to lose money by accident.
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Google Pay won't work on most phones sold outside of Japan because they don't support the global FeliCa standard needed for making payments at most stores.Ģ000 yen bills exist in very small numbers in the market How to get your yenĬash is handy because it is accepted under all situations, but credit cards can be a convenient alternative at appropriate locations. Most come in form of mobile phone apps that allow for payments at selected stores by tapping an NFC reader or scanning a QR code.Īmong them are a large number of domestic services, such as Edy, Rakuten Pay, Paypay and Line Pay, which target residents of Japan and tend to be difficult or impossible to use by foreign tourists.Īpart from the domestic services, Alipay, WeChat Pay and Apple Pay are some of the services enjoying increasing acceptance but note that at many stores Apple Pay will only work if you have an iphone 8 or later and a Suica card registered with it. The last few years have seen a big increase in other mobile payment options available besides the IC cards mentioned above. Primarily a tool for convenient payment of train and bus fares, IC cards now double as a means of payment at large numbers of shops and restaurants, most convenience stores, many chain restaurants, numerous vending machines and coin lockers. IC cards, such as Suica and Icoca, are stored-value cards which can be recharged. In addition, many train stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, chain restaurants and boutiques also accept them. Most hotels accept payment by credit cards, as do most department stores, mid to high end restaurants, outlet malls and large retail shops. Newer machines typically also accept 5,000 and 10,000 yen bills.Ĭredit and debit cards are now widely accepted, especially in big cities. Vending machines typically accept 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen coins and 1,000 yen bills.
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Most buses and trams accept payment by IC cards these days if you pay by cash, note that bills above 1,000 yen may not be accepted and that drivers may not carry enough change. The likelihood that credit cards are accepted decreases in small cities and towns, and thus it is advisable to keep cash at hand when visiting rural areas.Ĭash is often the only way to pay for small entrance fees at tourist sights, smaller restaurants and small shops. Big bills are readily used and accepted in Japan you are unlikely to be frowned upon for using a 10,000 yen bill to pay even for low-cost items, although smaller denominations are appreciated for payments made in taxis, smaller shops, temples and shrines.

Below are the modes of payment that you might use when visiting Japan:Ĭash is still a very popular payment method, especially for small amounts.

Japan has a reputation of being a cash-based society, but trends have been changing, and there has been a significant increase in the acceptance of other payment methods.
