What do people get wrong about withdrawing cash in Japan?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Japan uses less cash than it did, but a visitor still needs some — for small restaurants, shrines, rural areas and some taxis. Which ATM works with a foreign card, what it costs, and when the machines close are the questions that cause airport panic.
Where foreign cards work
| ATM | Cards | Hours | Fee (ATM side) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Bank (7-Eleven) | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, UnionPay, Plus, Cirrus, Discover | 24 h | ¥0–220 depending on card network and amount | English, Chinese, Korean and more; limit ¥100,000/transaction for most cards |
| Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, UnionPay, Plus, Cirrus | Post office hours; some 24 h | ¥110–220 | Found in every town, including rural; limit ¥50,000 per transaction |
| Lawson Bank (Lawson stores) | Major networks | 24 h | ¥110–220 | — |
| Aeon Bank (Aeon malls, some FamilyMart) | Major networks | Long hours | Varies | — |
| Airport / station international ATMs | All | Long hours | Varies | Queues on arrival |
| Ordinary bank ATMs (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho, regional) | Mostly Japanese cards only | Often close at night and on Sundays; fees after hours | — | Do not rely on these |
- Your bank's fee (typically 1–3% foreign transaction fee plus a fixed withdrawal fee) usually exceeds the ATM fee; withdraw larger amounts less often.
- Decline the "dynamic currency conversion" offer if presented — being charged in yen and letting your bank convert is almost always cheaper.
- Cash need in 2026: cashless payment reached 42.8% of consumer spending in 2024 (METI) and is still rising; cards and IC work in cities, but shrines, small restaurants, rural shops, some ryokan and coin lockers still want cash. ¥20,000–30,000 in cash at any time is a reasonable buffer.
- Notes: ¥1,000, ¥5,000, ¥10,000 (new designs since July 2024; old notes remain valid). Coins ¥1–¥500; the ¥500 is worth having for lockers and machines.
[Verify] ATM acceptance and fees with Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank; cashless ratio with METI's annual figures.
Misunderstanding 1｜Any ATM takes foreign cards
Most bank ATMs do not. 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and post offices are the dependable ones, 24 hours in the former case.
Misunderstanding 2｜Exchange cash at home before flying
ATM withdrawal in Japan is usually cheaper than airport exchange counters or pre-ordered cash, even with fees.
Misunderstanding 3｜Japan is cash-only
Over 40% cashless (42.8% in 2024) and rising; cards and IC cards handle most city spending. Carry a cash buffer for the exceptions (see the cash-and-cards article).
Misunderstanding 4｜The ATM screen is in Japanese
Seven Bank and Japan Post ATMs switch to English (and several other languages) at the first screen.
Misunderstanding 5｜Withdraw small amounts to be safe
Each withdrawal carries fixed fees on both sides; Japan is safe enough that ¥50,000–100,000 per withdrawal is the economical choice for most visitors.
---
Sources
- Seven Bank — International cards at Seven Bank ATMs (English)
https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/
- Japan Post Bank — ATM service for overseas cards (English)
https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry — Cashless payment ratio statistics
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/cashless/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Rules and procedures change. Please confirm the latest official information before you act.
Sources
Tell us if this has changed
Approved contributions keep the contributor's name, shown in five languages.
Related questions
Other languages：日本語 ／ 简体中文 ／ 繁體中文 ／ 한국어
Value Village is not a government body. Always confirm procedures on the official site.
Written by Value Village from public sources. Nothing here is reproduced from another site.