Japan ATMs – Fees, Charges and how to save money

For all the modernity of Japan, this is still primarily a cash society.  While you can prebook and prepay for activities, transport, and events, there are many areas of Japan in which you must pay cash.  This guide aims to cover where you’re likely to have to pay cash, how to navigate Japanese ATMs, how to withdraw money in Japan, currency exchanges in Japan, and everything you need to know about Japan ATM fees. We’ll cover how to reduce your banking fees and keep the costs of obtaining cash to a minimum as well as how you can plan ahead to reduce your dependency on using cash in Japan.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Key Things to Know About Japan, ATM, and Yen

• The Japanese currency is called the Yen.
• Yen symbols are JPY, ¥, 円
• Japanese Yen Notes come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000
• Japanese Yen coins come in the following denominations – 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Yen.
• ATM Fees in Japan vary depending on the ATM used and the time of day
• Japan ATM withdrawals are usually capped at 100,000 yen per transaction regardless of what your personal limits are.

The Currency in Japan

The Yen is the Japanese Currency.  It is the third most traded currency in the world.  The smallest yen coin is the 1, and the largest yen note is the 10,000.   The coins are very different from each other and this is deliberate to make them easily distinguishable from each other.  Some coins have holes in them, some have smooth edges, and others have rough edges.

The best way to travel around Japan is by train – and you can save a fortune on train travel in Japan by buying the JR Pass BEFORE you get to Japan. You can buy the JR Pass from a number of outlets. We recommend:

Get your JR Pass from KLOOK here. – estimate 2 weeks for delivery of the exchange order

Buy a JR Pass from JRAILPASS here – get it Fedexed within 24-48 hours to any location including a Fedex office or your hotel in Japan.

Exchanging Currency in Japan

Avoid exchanges at Hotels and Airports

While you may need cash on arrival in Japan you should avoid changing large amounts of cash at the airport or your hotel.  Exchange rates in these places are usually not as good as those where there is more competition.

Many of the international airports in Japan have ATMs and this is likely to give you a better exchange rate than a currency exchange. Using an ATM card that doesn’t levy foreign currency charges will save you a lot of money.

When using ATMs – DO NOT ACCEPT the Dynamic Currency Conversion.

When you use an ATM outside of your home country many of them will offer to charge you in your home currency. Meaning that they (the provider of the ATM) will do the currency conversion, rather than your home bank. In 99% of cases this is a REALLY, REALLY bad deal for you and will cost you more money. We recommend NOT accepting the offer that they make. Instead, opt to be charged in local currency and let your own bank do the conversion.

Bring Clean, Undamaged Notes

If you bring cash from home to change in Japan you should make sure that the notes that you bring are clean and undamaged.  Damaged or dirty notes are likely to be rejected by the currency exchange, even though you might use them normally at home.

Check the Midmarket Rate Before you Exchange Cash

Before you change money you should review what is called the “mid-market rate” to ensure that what you’re being offered is fair.  This is also known as the “interbank rate” – it varies all the time, so just because you checked it last night doesn’t mean it will be the same this morning.

The best way of checking this is via a currency converter app like XE – you can download XE here

• XE for iOS – download here
• XE for Android – download here

Using a local SIM card in Japan gives you access to the internet whenever you need it –at a daily rate – and pre-ordering it to pick up at the airport is even easier. Pre-order a Japanese SIM Card here.

There’s a flat rate with UNLIMITED data usage and you get super-fast speeds, up to 187.5Mbps download and 37.5Mbps upload. Reserve and collect your Japanese eSim here.

Exchange Money at a Bank in Japan

There are 3 main banks in Japan.   They have branches throughout the country and are good places to exchange currency.   The 3 major retail banks in Japan are MUFG, Mizuho, and SMBC.  You will also find the following international banks in Japan; Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, and Royal Bank of Canada.   If you bank with one of these banks at home it is worth checking to see if any international ATM fees are removed if you use your ATM card in these banks in Japan.

How to Pay in Japan

Increasingly it is possible to pay with a credit or debit card in Japan, depending on the type of business that you are transacting with.   Credit and debit cards that do not charge a foreign transaction fee are imperative, as is a card that has low or zero fees for foreign ATM withdrawals. We use and recommend the Wise debit card – both for free ATM withdrawals and paying for goods. It’s available worldwide and using a Wise multi-currency account can save you a fortune when you’re travelling. Read more here.

Using Credit Cards in Japan

While you will be able to use your credit card at large hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, many smaller organisations do NOT accept credit cards.  Smaller hotels and ryokans in towns might not accept cards and you should check when you make a booking. Find out all you need to know about Ryokans here.

You may be offered, when using a credit card in Japan to have the amount charged in your home/local currency.  This is known as Dynamic Currency Conversion or DCC.  It is rarely a good idea.  You should always select the option to pay in local (Yen) currency and your home bank (the one that issued the card) will apply the exchange rate and do the conversion.

Most international ATMs and the cash machines at 7-elevens will accept all major international credit cards.

Using Debit Cards in Japan

It’s easy enough to advise your bank where/when you are travelling abroad. It’s worth doing in case your card is stopped for what the bank might believe to be fraudulent activity.

Most international ATMs and the 7-Eleven ATMs accept major international debit cards.  If you use a Maestro card with a chip it will only be accepted at the 7-Eleven ATMs and Aeon Bank.

Using Cash in Japan

Unlike in many other Asian countries, foreign currency is not readily accepted in Japan, so while you may wish to take a stash of dollars, pounds, or Euros from home, you’ll need to change them at a currency exchange or bank into Yen. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean carrying around a lot of cash – just finding the right ATMs to use.  And opting to NOT select Dynamic Currency Conversion. However, we always travel with a portable safe (read all about portable safes here) to secure our valuables when we’re not with them.  Check out Pacsafes here.

ATMs in Japan

There are tens of thousands of ATMs in Japan, they are widely used and easy to find.  However, not all of them accept foreign cards.    There are ATMs in more than 20,000 Japanese post offices and 25,000 7-Eleven stores throughout Japan.

ATMs that can be used by foreign cards have the logos of usable cards on the machine

Where to Find ATMs in Japan

You can use the Amex, Mastercard and Visa ATM locator websites to find ATMs in Japan.

• Amex ATM locator
• MasterCard ATM locator
• Visa ATM locator

You can also use Seven Bank’s International ATM website to find Seven Bank (operated in 7-Eleven stores) ATMs.  There are 25,000 of these throughout Japan.

The following sites also provide map locators for ATMs in Japan.

• Aeon Bank
• E-net
• Japan Post Bank – has ATMs in some Family Mart stores
• Mizuho Bank
• SMBC Trust Bank

Opening Times of ATMs in Japan

Many ATMs are available 24/7 in Japan.  Where ATMs are located in smaller post offices they are not available on Sundays and public holidays.  They are also closed between 20:00 and 00:00 (midnight).  Some locations close on Saturdays at 17:00 and have shorter operating hours for public holidays.  If you are heading somewhere more off the beaten track, check ahead of time that you have enough cash and the opening times of an ATM if you need one.

ATM Fees in Japan – ATM Transaction Limits in Japan

Most Japanese ATMs charge small fees.  Japan ATM withdrawal fees usually depend on the time of day and the day of the week. To save money on ATM fees in Japan, you should plan ahead.   It is possible to find a Japan ATM with no fees.  If you use a zero-fee card like a Wise card in Japan then you’ll get no fees from home either > sign up for a free multi-currency account here.

7 eleven atm withdrawal fee in japan

Seven Bank has a 100,000 Yen withdrawal limit.  Seven Bank ATM fees and the Japan 7 eleven ATM fee is zero for foreign cards that are on the MAESTRO/MASTERCARD network. There is a 110 Yen/220 Yen fee for cards on the VISA network, depending on the amount that you withdraw.  Japan Post has a 50,000 yen limit and charges up to 216 yen per transaction.

How to Use an ATM in Japan

Many of the ATMs in Japan will have English language instructions.  These may not appear or give you a language option until you insert your card.  The usual way that Japanese ATMs work is as follows

1. Insert your ATM card (usually with the magnetic stripe downwards)
2. Your card will remain in the machine for the duration of the transaction
3. Select the language
4. Select withdraw
5. Select which account you are withdrawing from
6. Enter your PIN number
7. Select the amount of Japanese Yen you wish to withdraw
8. Take the cash from the ATM
9. Take your card from the machine
10. Take your receipt.

You will need to be aware of two different ATM limits in Japan.  The first is the limit that the machine will allow you to withdraw in a single transaction – the Japan ATM withdrawal limit.  The second is your daily limit applied by your bank.  We recommend that you make a note of how much this is in Yen before you attempt a transaction.

• ATM withdrawal limits in Japan for foreign cards vary but are 100,000 yen at 711 ATMs.
• If your card only has a magnetic stripe and no chip, then this limit is reduced to 30,000 yen
• American Express cards have a 30,000 yen per withdrawal limit.

If you need to make a second transaction you should first remove and then reinsert your card.

Always put your card and your money away, zipped back into your wallet and bag before leaving the ATM.

Using your Cash Card or ATM Card is the Most Cost-Effective Way in Japan

There are two types of Japanese ATM fees associated with charges and the use of a foreign ATM card (whether it is credit or debit).

1. The fees charged by your bank or card provider for taking cash out in a foreign currency.  You have COMPLETE control over this.  If your provider currently levies a charge on taking cash out of your account in a foreign currency then you should get a new account ASAP.  It will save you a FORTUNE in fees.
2. The fees charged by the foreign bank (ATM provider) either because they levy a fee on non-in country cards or because they charge a fee to non-client cards. You have a MEASURE of control over this and that’s what this article is about – how to reduce the cost of using ATMs in Japan

Many ATMs will offer to charge you in your home currency.  This is called dynamic currency conversion (DCC).  This means that the ATM provider decides the rate at which your currency will be converted, and it is usually best to refuse this as the exchange rate will be worse than your home bank rate.

Save Money on Accommodation in Japan

One of the ways you can save money on ATM fees is to pre-book and prepay your accommodation using popular hotel booking sites.

Pay for Hotels and hostels in advance online

Booking and paying for your accommodation online means you’ll save the need for cash.  This means using a booking site that allowed us to pay in advance on a credit card where possible.

Use Booking to get the best deals in Japan and also to book rooms and pay for them before in advance.

Save on Booking Transport in Japan

Your transport between places can be an expensive drain on your cash resources.  You can book transport between many locations in Japan using 12GoAsia. 

Booking Tours in Japan

Whether you want to take a workshop or cook with locals, explore Mount Fuji, see Sumo practice, or explore Gion and Kyoto, pre-booking your adventure will save your cash for when you really need it.

If you’re traveling to other countries, then our guides to ATMs and ATM fees are here – Guatemala ATM fees, Colombia ATM fees, Laos ATM fees, and Chile ATM fees.

We paid for most of our transactions in Japan with cash, including our trip to the amazing ryokan in Kinosaki onsen town.  We use a Wise borderless account to get the best rates for our foreign currency and we always travel with a portable safe from PacSafe, to secure our cash, electronics, and passports in our room, or even attached to a tree when we’re snorkeling.

We hope you’ve found this guide to ATM fees in Japan useful – let us know if you have any questions or updates – if you see changes to ATM fees in Japan, let us know!

Travel Tips for Exploring Japan

• Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
• Get online immediately with an eSIM for Japan
• Take the right POWER ADAPTER to Japan
• Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Japan > discount coupon here
• Read our guide to the Japan Rail Pass here
• Buy your Japan Rail Pass before you arrive in Japan
  • You can buy JR Passes from Klook > check details here
  • Or buy JR Passes from JRailPass here with delivery in 24-48 hours (including to your hotel in Japan)
• Book the best tours and guides in Japan on, GetYourGuideand Klook
  • Want to know what its like at a Maid Cafe?
  • Read about experiencing Sumo Practice in Japan
  • Read about staying in a Ryokan town in Japan
• Learn to cook Japanese food in Chef’s kitchens in Japan
• Read about ATM fees in Japan here.
• Save money in Japan with a Wise debit card
• Find the right accommodation for you via Booking.com
• Book an incredible ryokan experience in Japan

Final Words on Using ATMs in Japan

There is still a lot of cash used in Japan. And while pre-booking activities, transport and events is key to enjoying your time in Japan, getting hold of cash is also extremely useful. We hope that our guide on using ATMs in Japan helps you to reduce your banking fees and keep the costs of obtaining cash to a minimum!

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