What is the best way to carry money in Japan?

Bills come in denominations of 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 yen, and coins come in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 yen. Even though Japan is considered a very safe place for travelers, it is still a good idea to use a money belt or similar travel pouch.



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Credit/Debit Cards Although Japan is still predominantly a cash-based society, credit and debit cards have become increasingly accepted, especially in urban areas. Even if you decide to use a credit card, it is still better to carry more cash than you are used to.

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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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BRINGING MONEY INTO JAPAN You may bring Japanese yen from your country and there is no upper limit on the amount you are allowed to bring into Japan. If the amount exceeds 1,000,000 yen, you must complete a customs declaration. This is also the case if you carry more than this amount when leaving Japan.

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Luckily, it's a very safe country (one of our favorite things about Japan), and the biggest risk is probably losing or misplacing your cash. Regardless, of course, be smart and take reasonable precautions if carrying large sums of money.

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So roughly 2,000 USD per person for lodging, transportation in Japan, food, and souvenirs. You can do it for less, but that was fun for the whole trip. I highly recommend ordering about 50,000 yen in cash from your bank before going.

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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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Credit, debit and prepaid cards of international brands are generally accepted throughout the country. There will be instances where stores may not display the symbols of the cards they accept, so ask the salesperson if you can use your card.

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Total Spending Money in Japan So, for an 8-day trip, we recommend $640 dollars of spending money, which breaks down to about $80 dollars per person per day. Keep in mind that this does not include your airfare, hotels, land transportation, travel insurance, luggage transfers, or pocket Wi-Fi.

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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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For instance, some hotels and other vendors that frequently have non-Japanese customers may accept USD. However, they will set their exchange rates on purchases, which can be unfavorable for travelers. It's typically better to pay in the local currency (JPY) to avoid any additional fees or unfavorable exchange rates.

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