As you prepare for your Japan trip, you’re probably curious about money in Japan, how much yen you might need, and whether or not you’ll be able to use your credit or debit cards as you travel around the country.
Japan is well-known for being a modern country where old-fashioned traditions live on, and this is certainly true when it comes to money matters. Unlike, for example, the USA, where you could go days or even weeks without ever using cash, Japan remains a cash-oriented society.
Not only is the use of cash extremely prevalent, but in many places credit cards are simply not accepted. On top of this, ATM machines that work with non-Japanese credit or debit cards can occasionally be hard to find, particularly in rural areas.
To help you navigate all this, we’ve compiled our top essential tips for dealing with money when traveling to Japan. Originally written in 2015, this post was updated and republished on June 24, 2020.

Always Have Cash On Hand
As noted above, Japan is very cash-oriented.
In recent years, thanks in part to Japan’s increasing popularity as a destination for travelers from around the world, more and more places ? restaurants, taxis, and shops, for example ? have begun to accept credit cards.
It varies from establishment to establishment, but generally speaking you can usually use credit cards at hotels (and some ryokans), department stores, and some (but certainly not all) shops and restaurants.
On the other hand, you’ll g...