Should I travel in Japan with cash or credit card?

The likelihood that credit cards are accepted decreases in small cities and towns, and thus it is advisable to keep cash at hand when visiting rural areas. Cash is often the only way to pay for small entrance fees at tourist sights, smaller restaurants and small shops. Many lockers also require coins.



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A Few Final Notes and Links While credit cards are become more widely accepted in Japan, cash is still king in Japan. Don't assume that you can use a credit card in small stores, restaurants and accommodations, particularly “mom and pop” places. Always carry sufficient Japanese cash as a backup.

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The likelihood that credit cards are accepted decreases in small cities and towns, and thus it is advisable to keep cash at hand when visiting rural areas. Cash is often the only way to pay for small entrance fees at tourist sights, smaller restaurants and small shops. Many lockers also require coins.

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Tipping in Japan is not expected, and attempts to leave a tip will almost certainly be turned down (a potentially awkward moment).

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Overall, a budget traveler can expect to spend around $50 to $100 per day in Japan, while a mid-range traveler can expect to spend around $150 to $250 per day. It's important to plan ahead and research activities and costs to create a budget that works for you.

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That's certainly a comfortable budget as long as you aren't expecting to eat many fancy meals or do a lot of drinking or clubbing. You can probably save some money with strategic use of transit passes (see summaries on Japan Guide or elsewhere). You should look into the Grutto Pass.

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Cash, credit and debit cards are all accepted, with credit cards and cash the most relevant. Since a credit card is your best choice for a significant amount of your spending, a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card provides lots of value.

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You may exchange U.S. dollars for Japanese yen at the airport at your time of arrival in Japan. Or you can use your bank card (debit card) to withdraw cash from an ATM. You will find some ATMs that accept foreign bank cards.

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The estimated total cost for 2 weeks in Japan is $5450 (£4530, ¥715,000) for 2 people. How much money should I bring to Japan for 2 weeks? A good rule of thumb is to have about 10,000 to 20,000 yen with you in cash at all times. For 2 weeks, 100,000 yen (£650, $780) was plenty cash for us.

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There is no limit on the amount of any currency that may be brought into or taken out of Japan. However, if you transport (any currencies, checks, securities or other monies) exceeding 1,000,000 yen worth in Japanese currency into or out of the country then you must complete a customs declaration.

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For our tours, we usually recommend $60 USD per person per day for spending money in Japan, and that'll cover meals, entertainment, and light souvenir shopping. If you're not on our tour, we recommend a little bit more per day to cover things like entrance fees.

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