Japan (Tokyo) - cash questions ?

[winger]

So, a family member is heading to the capital city in The Land of the Rising Sun and we were told (unsure if this is old info) cash is the norm there, with most places not accepting credit cards. Has things changed due to covid with touchless (like credit cards) being more accepted now?

In terms of cash:
- what are suggestions on how to carry around large amount of Yen ?
- is it better to carry coins or paper?
- what denominations would be good say if a traveler brings about 65,000Yen ?
- is there any special or favorite bag/wallet anyone recommend using to carrying around decent amount of cash ?

We are trying to eliminate need to hit any ATMs or the exchanges at the airports. Also, we don't mind having leftover because we plan to revisit within 3 years - just do not want too much excess Yen.

 

[ScoopKona]

So, a family member is heading to the capital city in The Land of the Rising Sun and we were told (unsure if this is old info) cash is the norm there, with most places not accepting credit cards. Has things changed due to covid with touchless (like credit cards) being more accepted now?

In terms of cash:
- what are suggestions on how to carry around large amount of Yen ?
- is it better to carry coins or paper?
- what denominations would be good say if a traveler brings about 65,000Yen ?
- is there any special or favorite bag/wallet anyone recommend using to carrying around decent amount of cash ?

We are trying to eliminate need to hit any ATMs or the exchanges at the airports. Also, we don't mind having leftover because we plan to revisit within 3 years - just do not want too much excess Yen.

Yes, Japan is cash-centric. (So is Germany.) People there will head to an auto dealership, buy a car and pay cash.

That being said, I've never needed huge amounts, because all but the smallest mom & pops take cards. Many, many attractions are also cash only. I always just hand over my card. And if they wave it away, pull out cash. Internet shopping and phones have forced even small business to join the 21st century.

65000 yen isn't going to last very long. That wouldn't get me through Kappabashi street. Depending on what's on offer, it might not even get me out of one store on Kappabashi street. Ignoring accommodations, I plan on spending roughly 25,000 yen per person, per day. Think Switzerland and Iceland. Japan is spendy.

You can bring mostly large bills, with some smaller bills. They're so honest, you can just hand merchants a big wad of cash and they'll take what's required and hand the rest back, along with your change. I don't even think about crime, theft, pickpocketing, or anything else there. As long as you don't have money spilling out of your pockets, you'll be fine.

They're more afraid of you committing crimes against them, after all.

 

[winger]

Yes, Japan is cash-centric. (So is Germany.) People there will head to an auto dealership, buy a car and pay cash.

That being said, I've never needed huge amounts, because all but the smallest mom & pops take cards. Many, many attractions are also cash only. I always just hand over my card. And if they wave it away, pull out cash. Internet shopping and phones have forced even small business to join the 21st century.

65000 yen isn't going to last very long. That wouldn't get me through Kappabashi street. Depending on what's on offer, it might not even get me out of one store on Kappabashi street. Ignoring accommodations, I plan on spending roughly 25,000 yen per person, per day. Think Switzerland and Iceland. Japan is spendy.

You can bring mostly large bills, with some smaller bills. They're so honest, you can just hand merchants a big wad of cash and they'll take what's required and hand the rest back, along with your change. I don't even think about crime, theft, pickpocketing, or anything else there. As long as you don't have money spilling out of your pockets, you'll be fine.

They're more afraid of you committing crimes against them, after all.

TY for your input.

Lol I should have mentioned earlier, but the lucky traveler this time is a budget-conscious student traveling with a school group where they are only planning on having 12 (lunch & dinner) out of 26 meals not covered by the school. He doesn't like shopping either so 25,000 yen/day is likely overkill.

 

[ScoopKona]

TY for your input.

Lol I should have mentioned earlier, but the lucky traveler this time is a budget-conscious student traveling with a school group where they are only planning on having 12 (lunch & dinner) out of 26 meals not covered by the school. He doesn't like shopping either so 25,000 yen/day is likely overkill.

He can get by on far less. But nights out with "the gang" will be expensive, if there are nights out with "the gang."

If he's adventurous, Japanese street food is inexpensive and outstanding. there will probably be at least a couple sit down meals, though. And plan on 1200 to 5000 yen for that.

 

[Passepartout]

Nice thing about eating out in Japan is the models of the dishes with prices outside the shop. And helpful people who will ask me "How many I help you?" when you stand looking at a map or guide.

Its such a law-abiding society. Out walking late at night with zero traffic, they'll wait at a corner for a green light to cross a street.

We find Japan an easy place for foreigners to navigate.

Jim

 

[dsmrp]

I agree, we never worried about pickpockets in Japan. But we also didn't flash a lot of cash either. I found 1000 yen bills to be pretty convenient. That's about $7+ now.

In the cities there are a gazillion vending machines selling a variety of drinks and cigarettes etc. So the younger people might end up with an assortment of coins.

Also many (non hotel) restrooms don't provide toilet paper. Bring a few of your own tissue packets.

Years ago, the Japanese tourists to Hawaii, Waikiki, would bring wads of cash. Working in a tourist shop, we were afraid of these tourists getting robbed. Fortunately I never heard that as a problem and the tourists kept coming. My mom could get Japanese yen at the Bank of Hawaii because so many would exchange yen for dollars.

 

[fishwithwater]

Just spend about 3 weeks in Japan in February, though mostly outside of Tokyo, most places take credit cards. I only used about 10% cash. Even for the cash payments I made, about 1/2 of them can be paid by credit cards. It would also depend on what you want to do. All my hotels reservations but a rural temple stay would take cards. So if you want to go to rural areas and stay at local inns then expect cards to be less receptive. I usually go to an ATM at any convenient store and pull about 10,000 yen at a time when I run out of cash, ended up using less than 40,000 I think.

 

[sponger76]

Years ago, the Japanese tourists to Hawaii, Waikiki, would bring wads of cash. Working in a tourist shop, we were afraid of these tourists getting robbed. Fortunately I never heard that as a problem and the tourists kept coming. My mom could get Japanese yen at the Bank of Hawaii because so many would exchange yen for dollars.

Sadly, tourists getting robbed in Waikiki (and elsewhere in Hawaii) is becoming more of an occurrence. It used to be mostly just bags on the beach being stolen while the owner was out swimming, but these days it is no longer a surprise to hear about actual robberies.

 

[winger]

Just spend about 3 weeks in Japan in February, though mostly outside of Tokyo, most places take credit cards. I only used about 10% cash. Even for the cash payments I made, about 1/2 of them can be paid by credit cards. It would also depend on what you want to do. All my hotels reservations but a rural temple stay would take cards. So if you want to go to rural areas and stay at local inns then expect cards to be less receptive. I usually go to an ATM at any convenient store and pull about 10,000 yen at a time when I run out of cash, ended up using less than 40,000 I think.

I believe the itinerary is all within Tokyo, have to recheck this week.
I wonder if they're had been a push towards credit cards because of the pandemic. We just came back from another Asian community where yelp had listed most places as cash only, but ended up they used those white, square (by Square?) credit card readers

 

[ScoopKona]

We just came back from another Asian community where yelp had listed most places as cash only, but ended up they used those white, square (by Square?) credit card readers

I avoid ATMs. I'd especially avoid ATMs in Japan. That place is so safe that you can bring what you need and avoid ATM transactions.

 

[fishwithwater]

I believe the itinerary is all within Tokyo, have to recheck this week.
I wonder if they're had been a push towards credit cards because of the pandemic. We just came back from another Asian community where yelp had listed most places as cash only, but ended up they used those white, square (by Square?) credit card readers

For the big cities, I was in Osaka/Kanazawa/Tokyo/Sendai/Sapporo, I didn't find any place to be particularly more cash oriented than others. Over the years, I found more and more restaurants to be able to take cards, this time I also found that they are very good at separating bills.

If the itinerary is mostly in Tokyo I think the main mode of transportation would be subways? In that case maybe try to figure out how to set up the SUICA app, you can load up money using a credit card (no VISA cards tho) and avoid buying a ticket every time using cash.

 

[Conan]

All my researches point to SUICA card being the way to go.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html

Whichever airport they land at, there are ATM and SUICA machines near the baggage claim/airport exit areas. It's a two-step process.
Step 1, Get Japanese Yen from an ATM machine, say 15,000 yen to start (US$108).
Step 2, Locate a SUICA-selling machine nearby, select instructions in English, and pay 10,000 yen for a Suica card, selecting the option to pay 500 yen as an up front fee so the card you get will carry 9,500 yen. (Leaving yourself 5,000 yen in cash as pocket money.) That way your card can be surrendered at the end of your stay in Japan and the machine will return the remaining balance to you in cash (in yen that you'll spend in airport shops on the way out, paying for your final purchase with part yen and part personal credit card as needed).

SUICA card is the simplest way to pay bus and local train fares--it's a smart card so you don't need to know the fare for the route you're on.
And the card can always be topped up at no additional fee.

Also, SUICA cards are accepted as cash in most convenience stores and other fast-food type places, so again you don't need to deal with yen currency or coins.

[There may be some credit-card accepting SUICA machines here and there but I wouldn't count on it.]

 

[Cornell]

All my researches point to SUICA card being the way to go.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html

Whichever airport they land at, there are ATM and SUICA machines near the baggage claim/airport exit areas. It's a two-step process.
Step 1, Get Japanese Yen from an ATM machine, say 15,000 yen to start (US$108).
Step 2, Locate a SUICA-selling machine nearby, select instructions in English, and pay 10,000 yen for a Suica card, selecting the option to pay 500 yen as an up front fee so the card you get will carry 9,500 yen. (Leaving yourself 5,000 yen in cash as pocket money.) That way your card can be surrendered at the end of your stay in Japan and the machine will return the remaining balance to you in cash (in yen that you'll spend in airport shops on the way out, paying for your final purchase with part yen and part personal credit card as needed).

SUICA card is the simplest way to pay bus and local train fares--it's a smart card so you don't need to know the fare for the route you're on.
And the card can always be topped up at no additional fee.

Also, SUICA cards are accepted as cash in most convenience stores and other fast-food type places, so again you don't need to deal with yen currency or coins.

[There may be some credit-card accepting SUICA machines here and there but I wouldn't count on it.]

This is exactly what I used in Japan. Works really well.

 

[hikaritenchi]

Sorry for the necropost, but for anyone searching later, if you do use an ATM, avoid the ones in the airports (of course) but the ones in post offices generally offer the best exchange rate, etc.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

He doesn't like shopping either so 25,000 yen/day is likely overkill.

Interesting thread. He may be there right now. I had to laugh at this comment. My son could go a year without buying anything at home in the US. When he went to Japan, he bought stuff constantly, I heard. He was there both with and without me and I saw some of it but not the most hard-core splurges.