Anyone who has researched a trip to Japan has probably read countless articles stating that “Japan is a cash country”. You will need cash in Japan, more than in most of the US, especially in more rural areas. But there are non-cash options a-plenty, so check the infos on that.

But, like i said, you will need cash. The question then, is, how do you get the cash?

One, you do not buy in yen in the US before you travel. I naively thought that before my first trip. Given I hadn’t left the country in over forty years, I might be forgiven for that misunderstanding.

You will get your cash when you get to Japan.

How? Same as you get it in the US: at an ATM.

The necessary question here is: what card can I use to get cash? There are two main possibilities.

One, your credit card may be an international card that allows you go get cash in overseas ATMs. You’ll need to contact whoever services your card to get that info. If your card does do that, and you are satisfied with whatever fees they charge and how they calculate the exchange rate, fine. However…

Two, get a Wise card. I am not sponsored by Wise, but I used a Wise card when I visited in 2024, and it was great. No problem withdrawing cash, minuscule card fee, and ATMs all over the place. 

ATMs. Which ones and where do I find them?

Most ATMs at banks and in convenience stores will work. You’ll need an “international” ATM but those are what you’ll find at banks and kombini. The ATMs that show up when you search on Google or Apple maps will almost always be international. Find a Lawsons or Family Mart or 7/11 and the ATM inside will probably work for you, in almost all parts of the country.

Denominations.

The downside of an ATM is that it’s likely to feed you ¥10,000 notes. Considering you can buy a great bowl of ramen for ¥1,200, that’s a big bill. It’s like carrying around $50s in the US. Getting someone to break it can be difficult and embarrassing.

Story: I was in Hachinohe preparing to start hiking south on the MCT. I stopped at a neighborhood joint; people inside at the counter were smoking and one was working on a bottle of whiskey. The two older women who ran the place were friendly and made sure I got a good meal.

And then I paid for it with a brand new ¥10,000 note. As I took it out, I already knew I was causing problems. I was embarrassed but I had no other choice. The two women dug into their purses and even asked the customers, who clearly were friends as well, to help. I got my change, and they handed it over as if I were doing them a huge favor.

Do not wander around with ¥10,000 notes and nothing smaller. A week later, I was in Hirogami and I again got cash from an ATM – two ¥10,000 notes. Sigh. This time, I walked around until I found a bank. When I went in, gaijin tourist that I clearly was, and help out the notes, the clerk knew immediately and graciously exchanged them for ¥1,000s.

I just love how giving the Japanese are in these ways.

If you’re in Tokyo or another large city, breaking these notes should be easy. Or buy something at a combini; they will likely have the necessary change.

To summarize.

Have an international credit card or get a Wise card.

Find an ATM.

Break the big bill into ¥1,000 bills.

And be prepared to carry a lot of coins. Don’t worry; you’ll use them. If nothing else, at vending machines.