How to Exchange Money in Japan — Best Rates, Where to Go, and What to Avoid
The best exchange rates in Japan are at 7-Eleven, Japan Post, and Japan Post Bank ATMs — not at airport exchange counters, hotel desks, or tourist-area currency exchange shops. The difference between the best and worst rates can be 5 to 8%, which on a ¥100,000 withdrawal means ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 lost to poor exchange rates alone. Here's where to get the best rate, what to avoid, and how much cash to actually carry.
Best options — ranked by exchange rate
1. 7-Eleven ATMs (Seven Bank): accepts most international cards, reasonable rates, widely available 24 hours. Best overall for convenience and rate combination.
2. Japan Post Bank ATMs: good rates, located at post offices throughout Japan including rural areas. Open during post office hours plus some 24-hour locations.
3. SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui) and other major bank ATMs: accept international cards at most branches, reasonable rates similar to Japan Post.
4. Airport ATMs (Seven Bank or Japan Post Bank inside airports): if you need cash on arrival, use these specific ATMs inside the airport — not the currency exchange counters in the arrivals hall.
5. Airport currency exchange counters: convenient but typically 3 to 5% worse rate than ATMs. Use only if no ATM is available or for emergency small amounts.
6. Hotel currency exchange: worst rate of all options. Avoid except in genuine emergencies.
Why 7-Eleven ATMs are the go-to recommendation
Seven Bank ATMs — the green ATMs inside 7-Eleven convenience stores — accept international Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, and many regional cards. The interface switches to English, the process is straightforward, and 7-Eleven stores are everywhere in Japan's major cities, often open 24 hours.
The exchange rate applied is the interbank rate with a small markup — consistently better than airport counters or hotel desks. Your home bank may charge an additional foreign transaction fee (typically 1 to 3%) on top of Seven Bank's fee — this is charged by your card issuer, not by the ATM itself.
Daily withdrawal limits: Seven Bank ATMs typically allow withdrawals of up to ¥50,000 per transaction and ¥100,000 per day for foreign cards, though this varies by the card issuer. For larger cash needs, multiple transactions over multiple days or using several ATMs is the practical solution.
Before you travel: notify your home bank that you'll be using your card in Japan to prevent fraud blocks. Check whether your bank charges foreign ATM fees (typically ¥100–300 per transaction from the ATM side, plus whatever your bank charges). Some banks (Charles Schwab in the US, Starling in the UK, Wise debit card internationally) reimburse or waive foreign ATM fees entirely — worth knowing before departure.
Should you exchange money before leaving home?
Generally no — exchange rates at home banks and airport exchange services in your home country are typically worse than what you'll get at Japanese ATMs. The exception is if your home bank offers competitive rates and you want a small amount of yen on hand for immediate expenses on arrival (train tickets, vending machines, first meal) before you locate an ATM.
A practical starting amount: ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 in hand before arrival is sufficient to cover airport transit and the first few hours without scrambling for an ATM immediately. Anything more than that is better obtained in Japan itself.
How much cash do you actually need?
Japan is more cash-oriented than most developed countries, though this has been changing steadily. As of 2026, most convenience stores, chain restaurants, and tourist-area shops accept credit and IC cards. Smaller restaurants, temples and shrines, some vending machines in rural areas, and many traditional establishments remain cash-only.
A practical daily cash budget depends on your spending style:
Budget traveler (convenience store meals, capsule hotel): ¥3,000–5,000/day in cash sufficient, assuming accommodation is pre-paid by card.
Mid-range traveler (mix of restaurants, some paid attractions): ¥5,000–10,000/day in cash covers most cash-only expenses.
Comfortable traveler (izakayas, more traditional restaurants, shopping): ¥10,000–20,000/day provides comfortable buffer for mixed cash/card environments.
Emergency reserve: keep ¥10,000–20,000 separate from daily spending as a reserve — for late-night taxis, unexpected cash-only situations, or ATM access issues.
Credit cards — where they work and where they don't
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, department stores, convenience stores, chain restaurants, and larger shops. American Express is accepted at fewer locations. JCB is the dominant Japanese credit card network and accepted everywhere domestically, but as a foreign visitor you're unlikely to have one.
Cash-only situations that still catch travelers off guard in 2026: many ramen shops and small local restaurants, most temple and shrine entrance fees, some vending machines in rural areas, traditional craft shops and smaller souvenir vendors, and most public bath (onsen/sento) admission desks.
The practical rule: carry enough cash to cover a full day's meals and local transport even if you plan to use cards for larger purchases. Running out of cash in Japan is a minor inconvenience in cities (ATMs are nearby) but more problematic in rural areas or late at night.
Wise, Revolut, and multi-currency cards
Multi-currency travel cards (Wise, Revolut) offer competitive yen exchange rates — often at or near the interbank rate — and low or zero foreign transaction fees. These are worth considering as a primary method for travelers who prefer to pre-load funds at good rates before departure, or as a backup to ensure ATM access if a primary card has issues.
Wise debit card specifically is well-regarded for Japan travel because it charges no ATM fees for the first ¥40,000–50,000 per month withdrawn, offers near-interbank exchange rates, and is accepted at Seven Bank ATMs. Setting one up before departure provides a high-quality exchange rate option without depending entirely on your home bank's rates.
What to avoid
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): when paying by card at some hotels or tourist shops, the terminal may offer to charge you in your home currency instead of yen. Always choose yen. The "convenience" of seeing your home currency on the receipt comes at a 3 to 7% exchange rate markup applied by the merchant, which is consistently worse than your card's standard rate.
Currency exchange booths near tourist attractions: the exchange rate boards outside these shops show competitive-looking rates, but often include hidden fees or apply the advertised rate only to amounts above a certain threshold. The 7-Eleven ATM two blocks away offers a better effective rate with full transparency.
Prepaid travel money cards from your home bank: some banks sell prepaid foreign currency cards for travel. These often lock in exchange rates at purchase time (which may or may not be favorable) and charge additional fees for ATM withdrawals. Compare the all-in rate against Wise or Seven Bank ATM options before committing.
Planning your first Japan trip? Browse all guides at The Travel Cartographer Japan Travel Guide.
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