First Day in Japan: You’ve just arrive in Japan then….!

First Day in Japan

Wherever you arrive in Japan, you are required to prepare Japanese money at least 5000 Yen(suggestion). You would be comfortable in your mind if you have more than10,000 – 20,000 Yen. JR train and Taxi were unable to accept any credit cards in the past.  Acceptance of credit cards becomes much better now.  If you don’t have any Japanese money you may feel you almost can’t get out of the arrived airport. The airport has banks (at least one) to exchange foreign currencies for the Japanese Yen. But it may be tough for an Airport Stranger to find out such a facility at an unfamiliar airport taking your heavy luggage. It is much easier for you to prepare a Japanese Yen in your country at your local bank or departing airport using your language!!!!! If you forget to get Japanese Yen, the following facility is available at each airport.

Narita International Airport

Haneda Airport (International Terminal)

Kansai International Airport

Chubu (Nagoya) International Airport

Fukuoka Airport (Fukuoka, Fukuoka)

New Chitose Airport (Sapporo, Hokkaido)

Kagoshima Airport

General

 

Yen is used in Japan.

It is still true that Japan is a cash society, generally speaking. You may have a hard time using a credit card and a debit card for paying a small amount of money. ie,. local train fare, first food and admission fee. Therefore you need to exchange your money for Yen. 

Here is the data of Cash Society. Almost 50% of the transaction is cash.

 

Exchange rate today as of 2024/04/18

The actual exchange rate from each currency to Yen is worse than this chart because of handling charges.

Cash buying base  ( reference rate when you buy Japanese Yen. )

Actual buying rates vary at dealers.

As of April 18th, 2024

Country	Unit	Value	Yen
US Dollar	1US$	151.46	Yen
Canada Dollar	1Can$	103.56	Yen
Euro	1Eur	160.73	Yen
UK	1Stg	180.32	Yen
Swiss	1Sfr	164.69	Yen
Denmark	1Dkr	—-	Yen
Norway	1Nkr	—-	Yen
Sweden	1SKr	—-	Yen
Australia	1A$	89.71	Yen
New Zealand	1NZ$	82.63	Yen
Singapore	1S$	107.72	Yen
Hong Kong	1HK$	17.30	Yen
Thai	1THB	3.75	Yen
Korea	100 KRW	9.72	Yen

Money calculator

Check how much Japanese yen you can get?

Here is the Exchange rate calculator.

Updates on 2024/04/18

How much is 10000 yen worth? value?

10000 yen is worth as follows. (It is based on the yen buying rate.)

It gives some answer about Japanese Yen.

• Is Japanese Yen 10,000 a lot of money?
• How much is 10,000 Yen in US Dollars?
• What can I buy with 10,000 Yen?
• Is 10,000 Yen big money?

Country Unit	Value	Unit
US Dollar	66.02	US$
Canada Dollar	96.56	Can$
Euro	62.22	Eur
UK	55.46	Stg
Swiss	60.72	Sfr
Denmark	#VALUE!	Dkr
Norway	#VALUE!	Nkr
Sweden	#VALUE!	SKr
Australia	111.47	A$
New Zealand	121.02	NZ$
Singapore	92.83	S$
Hong Kong	578.03	HK$
Thai	2666.67	THB
Korea	102880.66	KRW

Please see the Money sense section for more information about the cost/price in Japan .

What is the exchange rate and how much it affects your trip?

What can you buy with 10000Yen?

When travelling abroad, the most concerning matter may be the exchange rate.

Cash Buy rate and Cash Sell rate are used to exchange your money to Japanese Yen.

Cash Buy is used to convert your money into Japanese yen.

Cash Sell is the rate that is used to exchange the Japanese Yen for the money of your country.

For example, one day’s exchange rate (US dollar at Travelex) is

CASH Buy 106.10 Yen / dollar
So $100 becomes 10,610 Yen.

CASH Sell 118.28 Yen / dollar

When you want to change $500, your US $ 500 becomes 53050 yen.

If you do not use this money at all and change them to US Dollars there, the money you will get will be $ 448.51 using the rate of the above picture.

Exchange Loss

It is a good idea to check the exchange loss.

Your loss becomes 10 % without buying anything in US dollar case!

As one of the tactics, it is best to replace it with Japanese yen as you will use, to spend all of them during the trip, and not to leave the Japanese yen at the time of returning home. Even banks can’t change the change, so you should use up small changes or make them as a souvenir.

Here is some information on FAQ about Yen on this site.

Any difference in currencies?

Your one of concerns is the strength of the currency. it really depends on the relationship between Japan and your country. Please see the differences between the currencies chart.
This is the example of the US dollar, Canadian Dollars, EURO and GB Pound.
The yellow bar is the original currency (500 units) you had and the green bar is the balanced unit after exchanging.

This chart is based on the exchange rate of Travelex one day.
It is just reference data that gives you an idea about your currency loss to the Japanese Yen.

Exchange rates vary at dealers. It is important to choose a good dealer.

In the case of Great Britain Pound: I found the Web site of UK Post Office. They give a good deal to the customers. I learned that UK people have voted UK Post Office as the “best Best Foreign Exchange / Travel Money Retailer” at the British Travel Awards. 
If you live in the UK, it would be a good idea to use the UK Post office.

Read more at UK Post office

How to exchange your currency to Japanese Yen in Japan?

Airport

You can get Yen at any international airport in Japan.

There are offices of Banks.

You can exchange back your Yen for your currency at airports banks.

Currency Shops

There are various currency exchange shops.

Daikokuya

Daikokuya and other shops welcome you.
Daikokuya office hour:  10:00 – 19:00

Please check the office hour in advance.
This is Ginza shop.
They are also handling mail stamps, concert tickets, travel tickets, branded bags, watches, jewellery.
Typical re-sale shop.

Here is a sample exchange rate by Daikokuya.

Foreign Country	Currency
U.S	Dollar
EURO	Euro
British	Pound
Australian	Dollar
Hong Kong	Dollar
Canadian	Dollar
Singaporean	Dollar
Thai	Baht
South Korean	Won
New Taiwan	Dollar
Chinese	Yuan
Philippine	Peso

Travelex

Travelex is a famous exchange store in the world.
There are around 50 offices of Travelex in Japan.

Ninja Money Exchange

03-5201-3970 or 080-4523-9037 Call ahead for your transaction amount and currency to make an appointment to visit the shop.

Adores Exchange Akihabara

Address: Akihabara ex 1F, 1-13-1, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0021
Nearest Station Akihabara Station Electric Town Exit (North Side)
03-6206-8174

Hello! Exchange Akasaka Mitsuke

Address: Echigoya Bldg 1F 3-15-1 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo JAPAN

Banks

Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank

Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ  (MUFG) is the No. 1 bank dealing foreign money.

Actually, Mitsubishi Bank has two channels.

You can exchange your money for Yen at any of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Bank.

It might be a good place to exchange your money there.
But their business hour is limited.
  9 am – 3 pm

They handle 16 currencies.

Their subsidies, Tokyo Mistubishi Credit Service by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, have a specialized shop, WORLD CURRENCY $HOP.

They can exchange 21 currencies.

http://www.tokyo-card.co.jp/exchange/

Now they started to exchange Philippine Peso and Vietnamese Dong from 2017/04/11.

The list of the currencies at WORLD CURRENCY $HOP by Tokyo Mistubishi Credit Service

Foreign Country	Currency
U.S	Dollar
EURO	Euro
British	Pound
Swiss	Franc
Australian	Dollar
Hong Kong	Dollar
Canadian	Dollar
Singaporean	Dollar
New Zealand	Dollar
Swedish	Krona
Norwegian	Krone
Danish	Krone
Thai	Baht
South Korean	Won
New Taiwan	Dollar
Chinese	Yuan
Indonesian	Rupiah
Pacific	Franc
Malaysian	Ringgit
Vietnamese	Dong
Philippine	Peso

No traveller’s checks are accepted now.

Mizuho Bank

Foreign Money Exchange

Mizuho handles 18 Currencies.

Foreign Country	Currency
U.S	Dollar
EURO	Euro
British	Pound
Swiss	Franc
Australian	Dollar
Hong Kong	Dollar
Canadian	Dollar
Singaporean	Dollar
New Zealand	Dollar
Swedish	Krona
Norwegian	Krone
Danish	Krone
Thai	Baht
South Korean	Won
New Taiwan	Dollar
Chinese	Yuan
Indonesian	Rupiah
Malaysian	Ringgit

The branches, Ootemori(Ootemachi), Ginza, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Shinjyuku west have special better exchange rate than other branches.
Ootemori(Ootemachi): Monday – Friday  11 – 19 o’clock
Ginza:                 Monday-Saturday 11 – 19 o’clock  Sunday 10 – 18 o’clock Tokyo Plaza Ginza b2F
Ikebukuro:          Monday-Saturday 11 – 19 o’clock  Sunday 10 – 18 o’clock
Shibuya:            Monday-Saturday 11 – 19 o’clock  Sunday 10 – 18 o’clock
Shinjuku:         Monday-Saturday 11 – 19 o’clock  Sunday 10 – 18 o’clock
Shinjuku west:  Monday-Saturday 11 – 19 o’clock  Sunday 10 – 18 o’clock


Example of the special better rate at above currencies shops than other Mizuho Bank Branches.

Foreign Currency	Yen	Sell	Buy
U.S	Dollar	30cent	30 cent
EURO	Euro	2 yen	2 yen
New Zealand	Dollar	1.50yen	1.50yen

International ATMs are also available at Mizuho Bank branches.

★No Travelers check at any foreign exchange shops unless it is issued by itself.

Other Japanese banks are also doing the foreign exchange service.

 

But the service is limited only at the Headquarters of the Bank and Major branches.

How to sell Japanese Yen before you leave Japan?

After the best and most pleasant trip in Japan, you may think “Where can I change the remaining Yen?”
You can sell it at the international airport. And more, for example, banks, foreign currency shops and post offices

You can keep your Yen while you are in Japan all the end of your trip.
Only thing is to keep time for exchanging it at the departing airport.

Bills can be changed but coins.

How much yen should you bring to Japan?

How much yen do you need a day?

These are the real questions everyone wants to know before any action.
It is really tough to find the right budget in general. Are you on business or pleasure? A trip on business may need a lot of money.
Here is information about food/item/service and it will help you to understand how much yen you need in Japan.

Money Sense

Here is a price table of various items. (excluding Consumption TAX))
You can get some idea about the prices in Japan.
These prices is just reference and there is no limit of price on the most expensive item.

Various Price	Description	Yen
Transportation
Train Fare	Tokyo – Kyoto One way by Shinkansen* Non-reserved seat	13,320
Train Fare	Tokyo – Kyoto One way by Shinkansen* Reserved seat	14,170 +200 for peek season -200 for the offseason
Train Fare	Tokyo – Kyoto One way by Shinkansen* Green car (First class)	19,040
Train Fare	Narita Express Narita – Tokyo One way*	3,070
Train Fare	Keisei Skyliner Narita – Nippori – Tokyo One way*	2,630
Train Fare	Chubu Airport Airport – Nagoya station*	1,430
JR Train Fare	Minimum (Ticket)	140
JR Train Fare	Minimum (IC card, Suica, Pasmo )	136
Subway Fare	Tokyo Metro Minimum*	170
Subway Fare	Tokyo Metro Minimum* (IC card, Suica, Pasmo )	168
Subway Fare	Toei Subway	180
Subway Fare	Toei Subway (IC card, Suica, Pasmo )	178
Bus Fare	Airport Limousine Tokyo one way	3,200
Taxi	Minimum (Tokyo)	420
Taxi	Minimum*	500
Taxi	From Narita Airport to Tokyo including highway Advanced reservation required	19,000 – 26,000
Foods
Food	Hamburger McDonald*	150
Food	Filet-O-Fish McDonald*	370
Food	Lunch	600-1,200
Food	Lunch Sushi	1,000-2,000
Food	Yoshinoya Beef Bowl	388 + 8% or 10%tax
Food	Ramen	600-1000
Food	Denny’s daily special lunch	800+8% or 10%tax
Food	Price of Bento(lunch box)	500-1000
Food	Dinner??	1000 – 10,000
Food	Dinner Sushi	3000 – 10.000
Drink
Cola	Vending machine	100 – 150
Cola	At convenience store	130 – 140
Mineral Water	At convenience store	100 – 140
Coffee	McDonald’s	100
Coffee	Starbucks (short)	350
Milk	500ml (about a pint)	150
Milk	200ml  (about half pint) at McDonald’s	190
Coffee	Convenience Store(7-Eleven)	110 – 120
Coffee	Starbucks (short)	290 +8% or 10%tax
Beer	Canned Beer 350ml	250 – 300
Cigarette
Tobacco	1 package 20 units (Sevenstar)	600
Tobacco	1 package 20 units (Marlboro)	600
Tobacco	1 package 20 units (Kent)	530
Accommodation
Hotel	Imperial Hotel Single Bed / Single person Single Bed / Single person	24,000
Hotel	Shinagawa Prince Hotel Single room	10,000
Hotel	APA Hotel	5,000-10,000
Hotel	Nine Hours Shinjuku(Capsule hotel)	4,900 –

What can I buy with 100yen?

McDonald hamburger (Quarter pounder) is 100 Yen.
Also coffee at McDonald is 100 Yen almost the same as Premium Roast Coffee small..
You can imagine other items with this reference.
So 100 Yen is very similar to 1 US Dollar.

Famous 100 yen shops are available many places.

Daiso
Can Do
Watts
Seria

Bills and Coins in Japan

Bills

Coins

Consumption Tax

Consumption Tax (Sale Tax) is 10 %.
Many expressions of price are allowed.
A price shows real price without tax and sales tax with small text besides.
So you need to pay 10 % more than the price tag.

Some shops include this tax in their list price.
It will be really complicated for visitors.

Japan rased consumption tax to 10% on October 1st, 2019.

Airport Tax

It is called PSFC (Passenger Service Facilities Charge).

For International Airport Passenger
You don’t need to worry about the Airport tax now. It is included in your ticket price.

Receipt

Some of the receipts are printed in Japanese.
So you had better write the memo on it as soon as you receive it.

Another Tip is “date”.
The above receipt shows the date as of 5/25/29.
You can’t find it is issued on May 25 in 2017.
We use Anno Domini year and Japanese one both in Japan.
If you find the strange date on your receipt, you need to correct the date to your style and write it down.

“令和” is pronounced Reiwa.

Happy Reiwa! A new era has started on May 1st, 2019. Reiwa era follows after Heisei era. The meaning of “Reiwa” is beautiful harmony. The era name is called the imperial era name. The emperor’s reign makes a new era name. Various computer systems are still using Japanese calendars. You may see these characters on a receipt.

Reiwa and Anno Domini conversion table

Conversion Chart
Reiwa Era (Japanese way)	Anno Domini year
Reiwa 6 (This year)	2024
Reiwa 5	2023
Reiwa 4	2022
Reiwa 3	2021
Reiwa 2	2020
Reiwa 1 and Heisei 31	2019
Heisei 30	2018

Virtual Currencies (Bitcoin etc. All Cryptocurrencies)

Virtual currencies such as bitcoin are being used more and more in various countries. Certainly, it is convenient if you use bitcoin etc. overseas without exchanging foreign currency. Also, it is good not to calculate every time. I will explain the situation of bitcoin in Japan.

It is said that the Japanese have 40% of all bitcoins. This proportion is getting higher and higher. Japan is the number one owning bitcoin in the world.

Unfortunately, in Japan, this bitcoin is not used so much.

Currently, in Japan, bitcoin is subject to investment, and at present, it is not used for payment so much.

The places where bitcoin in Japan can be used for payment are still very limited.

With some electronics appliances and some chain restaurants, you can use bitcoin for payment.

Bic Camera

Yamada Denki

Yamada Denki (Electric), starts Bitcoin payment

Heichinro

A Chinese restaurant with about 10 restaurants nationwide.

SAMURAI Wifi rental shop

In pretty special fields, it can also be used for Wi-Fi rental “SAMURAI“, which provides a rental service for mobile Wi-Fi routers for foreigners.

Certainly, using virtual currency, such as bitcoin, in overseas countries has many merits.

But even if you are a bitcoin fan and you rely on bitcoin, it will be a big problematic issue if you come to Japan with bitcoin only as holding money.

Related information

Saving Money in Japan