Money of Japan and Credit Card, Debit Card

Japanese coin

Japanese currency is "YEN" and the currency symbol is "¥".
It is written as "円" in Kanji charachter.

Yen is smaller unit than "dollar" or "euro".
Recently, the exchange rate has been 1 dollar to 100 to 150 yen.
So, if you use dollar or euro in your country, "yen" is like "cent".

500 yen, 100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen, 5 yen and 1 yen are used as coin.

50 yen and 5 yen coins have a hole in the center.
I hear that these are rare in the world.

Japanese paper money

In Japan, 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen bills are used as paper money.
These bills were issued in July, 2024.

Japan is also shifting to cashless society slowly.
But there is a demand of cash, so the bills with the newest technology not to make fake bills were issued.

The figures on the bills are the following.

• 10,000 yen : Shibusawa Eiichi (1840-1931), a great businessman called as the father of Japanese economy.
  He established many banks, stock exchange, various schools, etc. first in Japan.
• 5,000 yen : Tsuda Umeko (1864-1929), the first educator for female education in Japan.
• 1,000 yen : Kitazato Shibasaburo (1853-1931), a physician and bacteriologist.

The former bills are the followings, and there was 2,000 yen bill.

• 10,000 yen : Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835-1901), a scholar, an educator, a thinker.
• 5,000 yen : Higuchi Ichiyo (1872-1896), a woman novelist.
• 2,000 yen : Shureimon gate of Shuri Castle in Okinawa Prefecture.
• 1,000 yen : Noguchi Hideyo (1876-1928), a world‐class bacteriologist.

The monetary value is printed in Japanese characters.
Therefore, it is said that it is easy for foreign people to misuse the bills.

For the time being, these bills are also used.

Currency exchange

If you want to exchange money in Japan, you had better do it at airport, at big bank or at big post office in the city.

There are few commercial exchange shops in Japan.
Because there is usually no need for Japanese people, such shop is not good business in Japan.

And probably you may not exchange at most hotels and ryokans except high-level ones where many foreigners stay.

As above, you should know that the places to exchange are limited in Japan.

You had better exchange money when you get a chance.
In addition, it is important to make effective use of credit cards.

Using Credit Card, Debit Card in Japan

The ownership rate of credit card and debit card in Japan is over 80 percent.
So it has been common for Japanese people to do shopping with credit card or debit card.

But there are not enough shops which can accept credit card and debit card.
Some small shops and restaurants don't

You can use the cards at the department stores, better stores, better restaurants, better hotels, big souvenir stores in sightseeing area and so on.

And you can get the tickets of JR and airlines by the cards.

In any case, check the display of the sign of the cards in the front of a store.

"VISA" member stores are the first rank of share in Japan, followed by "MasterCard", "AMEX", "JCB" and "Diners".

In Japan, when you use the card, inputting the password number is basically required.
In many case, your sign may be refused.

International Tourist Tax

When you depart from Japan, you must pay International Tourist Tax.
The taxation was started from 2019, and the tax amount is 1,000 yen.

Please, check the related website.

International Tourist Tax

Consumption tax

When you buy products in Japan, the price includes "Consumption tax".
It is currently 10% of primary price and the tax of foods, drinks and newspapers is 8% as reduced tax rate.

This tax is based on consumption in Japan.
So, if you take the products bought in Japan to your country, you can get an exemption of the tax.

If you have bought the products at duty-free shop, the price don't include the tax.
In this case, you need not mind.

If you have bought the products at big department store, big souvenir shop in the famous sightseeing area or big electronics retail store, you may make a turnback procedure of the tax in the store.

Please ask a clerk, "I would like to apply for duty-free".
If the shop can handling, you can get the turnback after necessary procedures.

But generally there are some condition to apply.
Probably total purchased amount in the store is required more than 5,000 yen.

Food, beverages, tobacco, drugs and cosmetics, and consumable items such as films and batteries are exceptions.
(I quoted this caption from the website of a big department store.)

Of course, you must not open the package within object products until completion of your embarkation procedure.

Japan Tourism Agency announces the info about Japan's Tax Exemption.
Please check it.

Japan's Tax Exemption by Japan Tourism Agency