Your trip is booked, but is your wallet ready?
1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 Yen bills - you’ll need plenty of each denomination (and a fistful of 500 yen coins) if you want to dine in at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant on your next visit to Tokyo. If you got a bit lost in the planning and packing and forgot to make a stop at your bank, this pocket-sized currency exchange resource is for you.
Cash is King
Your credit cards will be able to secure you everything you need before you land at the airport, including reservations for hotels, train tickets etc., and you’ll be able to use them in large department stores. Once you grab your luggage and depart, however, it’s important to keep in mind that Japan is still very much a cash-based society.
It’s easy and accessible to exchange your currency for Yen (JPY) at the airport, though you may want to pack a bag or purse for the coins you are likely to amass. Japan’s airports maintain their own online resources for currency exchange information, like in this example for Tokyo Narita.
Where to Withdraw
If you’ve run out of cash or maybe just forgot to swap at the airport, you should be able to quickly locate a bank or ATM, though the latter are not always in 24-hour service. Specifically, you can manage your money through the resources below:
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Japan Post Bank ATMs - often found in post offices, supermarkets, and train stations
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Seven Bank ATMs - found in Seven Eleven convenience stores, with service in 12 languages
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Mizuho Bank - withdraw with an international card, but note you cannot make deposits or transfers
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Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and Mitsui Sumitomo Bank - withdrawal service for Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro
For more helpful travel information about Japan, visit https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/
