Japan
Cards, ATMs and cash in Japan: what to expect
Cards work in hotels, chain stores, konbini and big-city restaurants, but cash still decides small shops, shrines, rural buses and many taxis. Carry ¥10,000–20,000 in notes, withdraw from 7-Eleven, Japan Post or major-bank ATMs, and always choose to pay in yen, not your home currency.
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Key facts
- Cash still needed
- Small shops, temples, rural buses, some taxis, market stalls
- Reliable foreign-card ATMs
- 7-Eleven, Japan Post (Yucho), major bank ATMs in cities
- Best withdrawal window
- Konbini ATMs run 24 h; bank branches keep office hours
- Typical ATM feecheck
- ¥110–220 per withdrawal, plus your own bank's fee (2026 estimate)
- Daily withdrawal limitcheck
- Often ¥50,000–100,000 per transaction; varies by bank and card (check)
- Currency choice at the terminal
- Always pay in JPY; decline 'pay in your home currency'
- IC cards
- Suica, ICOCA, PASMO tap for trains, buses and konbini; top up with cash
- Card acceptance
- High in cities, patchy in rural areas and small family businesses
Details
Japan is not a cash-only country, but it is not card-first either. Hotels, department stores, convenience stores, chain restaurants and most city transport take Visa and Mastercard without trouble. Step into a family-run noodle shop, a rural bus, a temple ticket window or a morning market and the answer can flip to cash only. The practical rule: keep enough notes on you to cover a day of small purchases, and treat the card as the backup rather than the default.
ATMs are the other half of the problem. Not every machine accepts foreign cards. The ones that reliably do are inside 7-Eleven stores, Japan Post (Yucho) branches and post offices, and major-bank ATMs in larger cities. Konbini ATMs are open 24 hours, which makes them the simplest option after a late arrival. Bank branch ATMs usually keep office hours and may close on weekends and holidays.
Set up before you fly. Tell your bank you are travelling so the first withdrawal is not flagged, and check what it charges for foreign use. A card with no foreign transaction fee saves roughly 3% on every purchase. Carry a second card from a different network in case one is blocked, and keep the emergency phone number somewhere offline.
At the terminal, you will often be asked whether to pay in yen or in your home currency. Choose yen. The conversion offered at the machine is done at a rate set by the operator and almost always costs more than letting your own bank convert. The same rule applies at shop card readers and online checkouts.
IC cards are the quiet workhorse of a Japan trip. A Suica, ICOCA or PASMO taps you through city trains, buses and many konbini, and mobile versions work on iPhone and some Android phones. Top-ups are usually done with cash at station machines, so you still need coins or notes on hand. Physical cards can be refunded at the end of a trip, though a small deposit and fee may apply.
Keep a few ¥1,000 notes and a pocket of coins. Coin lockers, shrine offerings, some vending machines and small rural buses still expect exact change, and a ¥10,000 note at a tiny stall can be awkward. If you run short, the nearest konbini ATM is usually within a few minutes' walk in any city.
Summary table
| Situation | Best payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, chain stores, konbini | Credit card | Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; Amex less so |
| Small restaurants and shops | Cash | Many take cards now, but not all |
| Temples, shrines, small museums | Cash | Ticket windows often cash only |
| City trains and buses | IC card | Tap in and out; top up with cash |
| Rural buses and some taxis | Cash | Exact change helps |
| ATM withdrawal | Debit card | 7-Eleven, Japan Post, major banks |
| Online or in-store card payment | Yen | Decline home-currency conversion |
Acceptance changes by neighbourhood and business size; treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Tips
- Withdraw larger amounts less often to cut per-transaction fees.
- Use 7-Eleven ATMs after hours; they are the most reliable for foreign cards.
- Keep ¥10,000–20,000 in cash as a daily buffer.
- Choose yen at every card terminal and ATM conversion screen.
- Carry a second card on a different network.
- Top up your IC card before the morning rush.
- Keep coins for lockers, buses and small purchases.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Japan?
In cities, yes: hotels, department stores, konbini and chain restaurants take Visa and Mastercard. Smaller shops, temples, rural buses and some taxis still prefer cash, so carry notes as a backup.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Japan?
7-Eleven, Japan Post and major-bank ATMs generally charge ¥110–220 per withdrawal (2026 estimate), plus your own bank's fee. 7-Eleven machines are the most reliable for foreign cards and run 24 hours.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always choose yen. The conversion offered at the terminal is set by the operator and usually costs more than letting your bank convert. The same applies at shop card readers and online checkouts.
Can I use my phone to pay in Japan?
Mobile Suica and some Android IC cards work on phones and tap through trains, buses and konbini. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at many card terminals, but cash remains useful for small businesses.
How much cash should I carry?
Aim for ¥10,000–20,000 as a daily buffer. That covers small meals, temple entries, a rural bus and a taxi, with enough left over if a card is declined.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialJapan National Tourism Organization
- officialJapan Post Bank (Yucho) ATM information
- officialSeven Bank ATM information
- secondaryWikivoyage – Japan