Japan is becoming more cashless, especially in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka. However, this mainly applies to urban areas.
In rural regions, many shops, restaurants, and local services still accept cash only.
If you plan to visit places with rich nature—such as the countryside, mountains, or coastal areas—you will likely need cash.
These beautiful and less urbanized areas often have fewer cashless payment options.
For this reason, it is highly recommended to carry some Japanese yen during your trip.
Having cash will help you avoid inconvenience and allow you to enjoy your travel more smoothly.
[It’s useful to have a coin purse when traveling.]
1 yen ・ 5 yen ・ 10 yen ・ 50 yen ・ 100 yen ・ 500 yen
Japan has many types of coins.
Because people often use banknotes when paying,
coins tend to accumulate in your wallet, so having a small coin case can be very convenient.
However, if you manage your coins carefully and include them when paying,
you may start to feel more comfortable using Japanese money and enjoy Japan from a new perspective.
In a way, enjoying something that might seem “troublesome” can become part of the charm
and a small “non-ordinary” experience during your trip.
For example:
If your total is 2,860 yen, you might pay with 3,000 yen.
In that case, you would receive 140 yen in change.
But if you pay 3,360 yen instead,
you will receive just one 500-yen coin in change.
Your wallet becomes lighter and simpler,
and more importantly, you feel a small sense of achievement.
It may sound like simple math when explained in words,
but actually doing it at the register gives you a strangely satisfying feeling.
Give it a try at least once.
Withdrawing Cash from Local ATMs Using a Debit Card
With an international debit card such as Visa or Mastercard, you can withdraw local currency from ATMs abroad whenever needed.
Just like using a debit card in Japan, the amount is deducted directly from your bank account at the time of use. One advantage is that you don’t need to carry large amounts of cash, and unlike credit cards, there is no borrowing interest.
There are two types of debit cards:
Cards that withdraw funds from a yen account
Cards that withdraw directly from a foreign currency account
When using a yen account, the amount withdrawn is converted into yen at the exchange rate on the day of use and deducted from your account.
On the other hand, if you withdraw from a foreign currency account in the same currency, you do not need to worry about exchange rates.
Please note that you cannot withdraw more than your account balance, and depending on the ATM, an ATM usage fee may be charged.
Withdrawing Cash from Local ATMs Using a Credit Card
Similar to debit cards, if you have a credit card, you can withdraw local currency from ATMs at airports, banks, or in the city.
However, this is considered a cash advance, not a withdrawal from your own funds. The withdrawn amount is converted into Japanese yen at the exchange rate on the day of use and will be billed later along with your other credit card charges.
Like debit cards, you can withdraw only the amount you need when necessary, reducing the need to carry large amounts of cash and increasing safety.
In some cases, depending on the exchange rate, this method may be more cost-effective than using banks or exchange counters.
However, it is important to understand that:
Interest will be charged from the day of withdrawal until the repayment date
ATM usage fees may apply depending on the machine
For safety reasons, avoid using ATMs in unsafe or isolated areas. It is recommended to use ATMs located in well-lit and busy places such as airports or hotels.
Smart Exchange machines are multilingual, self-service foreign currency exchange machines.
They support a wide range of currencies and are very convenient, as they can be used even outside of regular business hours.
Some stores have automatic foreign currency exchange machines.
They are generally not available in rural areas, but you can find them in most major cities and popular travel destinations.
-------original text and English translation-----------
ファミリーマートの店舗内で、お手軽にお持ちの外貨を邦貨へ両替できます。※限定店舗でのお取扱いとなります
※外貨から邦貨への両替のみとなります。
You can easily exchange your foreign currency into Japanese yen at selected FamilyMart stores.
This service is available at limited locations only.
Exchange is available from foreign currency to Japanese yen only.
ファミリーマートの店頭で、お手持ちの外貨を日本円へ手軽に両替できるサービスです。
日本滞在中の外国人の方や、海外旅行で余った外貨を日本円へ両替したい時に便利にご利用いただけます。
※一部店舗でのお取扱いとなります。
This service allows you to conveniently exchange your foreign currency into Japanese yen at FamilyMart stores.
It is especially useful for foreign visitors staying in Japan or for travelers who want to convert leftover foreign currency into yen.
主な特徴
Key Features
（1）主要14通貨に対応
【対応通貨】
米ドル (USD)、ユーロ (EUR)、英ポンド (GBP)、中国元 (CNY)、韓国ウォン (KRW)、香港ドル (HKD)、台湾ドル (TWD)、豪ドル (AUD)、カナダドル (CAD)、シンガポールドル (SGD)、タイバーツ (THB)、フィリピンペソ (PHP)、マレーシアリンギット (MYR)、インドネシアルピア (IDR)
(1) Supports 14 Major Currencies
Supported currencies: US Dollar (USD),Euro (EUR),British Pound (GBP),Chinese Yuan (CNY),Korean Won (KRW),Hong Kong Dollar (HKD),Taiwan Dollar (TWD),Australian Dollar (AUD),Canadian Dollar (CAD),Singapore Dollar (SGD),Thai Baht (THB),Philippine Peso (PHP),Malaysian Ringgit (MYR),Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
（2）外貨から日本円への両替
外貨は紙幣のみの取り扱い（硬貨は利用不可）
日本円の出金は100円単位、万円札・千円札・百円硬貨のみ
※両替金額2万円以下の場合は10円切り捨て、2万円以上の場合は10円切り上げ
外貨から日本円への両替のみ可能（日本円から外貨への両替は不可）
(2) Exchange from Foreign Currency to Japanese Yen
Only banknotes are accepted (coins are not accepted)
Japanese yen is dispensed in units of 100 yen
(¥10,000 bills, ¥1,000 bills, and ¥100 coins only)
Amounts under ¥20,000 are rounded down to the nearest ¥10
Amounts of ¥20,000 or more are rounded up to the nearest ¥10
Exchange is available only from foreign currency to Japanese yen
(exchange from yen to foreign currency is not available)
