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Japan's new tax refund system from November 1, 2026
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Getting yen in Japan: exchange, ATM or card?

Bring a little cash and take out the rest at 7-Eleven: Seven Bank ATMs take Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB and American Express cards, 24 hours a day for Visa and Mastercard, with menus in English, Chinese and Korean. Cards are taken in most chains, but keep some cash with you. Details are from Seven Bank, Japan Post Bank and the airports, checked on 29 October 2026.

By Mikako Yoshida ·Published 29 October 2026

Getting yen in Japan: exchange, ATM or card?
Tax-free sign, Okinawa · Photo: Naha Mama Pavilionz (CC0)

Ways to get yen

WayGood forWatch out for
Exchange at home before you flyCash for the first dayThe rate and fees depend on your bank
Airport exchange counterCash on arrival; Haneda Terminal 3 is open 24 hoursRates differ by counter
Seven Bank ATM (7-Eleven)Most foreign cards, all over JapanYour bank’s fees, plus a Seven Bank fee that depends on the card brand
Japan Post Bank ATMPost offices and FamilyMart stores¥220 per withdrawal for some foreign cards; no American Express
Pay by card or phoneChains, stations and department storesKeep some cash for places that do not take cards
A Seven Bank ATM in Tokyo
A Seven Bank ATM in Tokyo · Photo: Nori Norisa (CC BY 4.0)

ATMs that take foreign cards

Seven Bank (7-Eleven)Japan Post Bank
CardsVisa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB, American Express, Discover, DinersVisa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB, Discover
HoursVisa and Mastercard 24 hours; UnionPay, JCB and Discover 0:10–23:50Post offices 7:00–23:00 (Sundays to 21:00); FamilyMart nearly 24 hours
Limit per withdrawal¥100,000¥50,000
ATM feeDepends on the card brand¥220 for some foreign cards

Using an ATM

Seven Bank ATMs have menus in 10 languages, including English, Chinese and Korean. With a Visa or Mastercard the screen may offer to charge you in your home currency; choose yen, and your card issuer does the conversion instead of the ATM.

Your bank may add its own withdrawal and foreign-transaction fees, so a few larger withdrawals usually cost less than many small ones.

If you live in the US, the UK or Europe, a Wise card can hold yen and take it out: US customers get US$250 a month free at ATMs, then pay US$1.95 plus 1.95% per withdrawal. Wise does not issue cards to residents of Taiwan, Hong Kong or South Korea.

Useful before you fly

eSIM for Japan, installed before you leave home

Airalo Saily Yesim

JR Pass and Shinkansen tickets

Klook KKday

Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags

Klook Trip.com Welcome Pickups

Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight

Radical Storage

Hotels in Japan

Klook Trip.com

Coupons

Card or cash?

By the government’s measure, 42.8% of consumer spending in Japan was cashless in 2024: cards, phone payments and IC cards such as Suica work in most chains, stations and department stores. Japan’s tourism organisation still advises carrying some cash.

For tax-free shopping from 1 November 2026, you can pay in cash or by card; the tax comes back after the customs check when you leave, by the method the refund company offers.

Questions

Should I exchange money at home or in Japan?
It depends on your bank’s rate and fees. Many travellers bring some yen for the first day and use ATMs or cards after that.
Which convenience stores have ATMs for foreign cards?
7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and FamilyMart (Japan Post Bank machines). Seven Bank takes the widest range of cards.
Can I withdraw at night?
Yes. Seven Bank ATMs work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for Visa and Mastercard.

Related guides

Getting your refundTo a card, in cash or to an e-wallet, and how long each takes.Japan trip checklistEntry steps and costs in the order you meet them.Tax-free shoppingHow the refund works from 1 November 2026 and what to keep.

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