Cash vs card: How much yen to bring to Japan in 2026

You might have heard that Japan is a cash society and are wondering if that's still the case. How much yen in cash will you need for your upcoming trip? Here's our guide to where and when you will still need cash in Japan in 2026.

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Jump to:

(1) Where will you still need to pay in cash?

(2) How much cash will you need?

(3) Should I bring cash with me or change money in Japan?

(4) FAQ: cash or card in Japan

Where do you still need cash in Japan in 2026?

Over the last few years, more and more shops, restaurants, taxis and other services have started accepting credit card or, at least, IC cards such as Pasmo or Icoca. Certainly in the big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, you'll be able to use your credit card to pay in larger restaurants, department stores, even some smaller shops in the major shopping/touristic areas.

You will, however, still need yen in cash - even in the cities - for the following:

• Small restaurants, izakayas and street-food stalls

• Entrance and purchases (like omamori or goshuin) at temples and shrines

• Flea markets and festivals

• Coin lockers, vending machines, arcades, gachapon

• Topping up your Suica card if you don't have the digital version

We recently put together a map of the top-rated ramen shops in Japan (go to our maps page for links to our curated maps), focusing on the major cities and at least half of those best-rated ramen spots were cash-only.

Paying with your Suica card

It's very convenient paying in conbini and at vending machines with a Suica card but don't discount the amount of cash you will need to top up your physical Suica card. Those with iPhones can download the Suica app and link it to their Apple wallet, which means you can top up as you go from your credit card or bank account at home. But the physical card can only be topped up at train stations using cash.

Outside the cities

You can expect to find much less cash-free payment in areas outside the main urban areas. If you are travelling to more rural areas in Japan, make sure you have enough cash with you to tide you over, especially since convenience stores, with the vital ATMs for withdrawing cash, will also be fewer and further between.

How much cash will you need for your Japan trip in 2026?

This is going to depend on a number of things, and everyone's budget is different anyway. You can easily blow your way through 5000 yen in cash in a morning in Tsukiji Outer Market or Nishiki sampling all of that yummy fresher-than-fresh sushi, wagyu beef and strawberry mochis. Others might find themselves feeding coin after coin into a gachapon or claw machine.

But there are a few rules of thumb. We would suggest having 10000-20000 yen in cash in your wallet when you land in Japan. This is just so you'll be able to get your bearings and chill a bit in the first few days without worrying about finding an ATM. After that, you should probably have around 5000 - 10000 yen in cash in your wallet at all times. How often you have to replenish this will depend on whether you have digital Suica card, if you're staying in the big cities and if you are likely to be spending a lot of cash on food and activities.

If you are in a more rural area and have to pay for food, transport and activities with cash, you could be spending 5000+ yen each day out of your wallet. If you are in Tokyo and have the Suica app, you might well spend 2000 or less in cash each day.

Should I bring cash with me or change money in Japan?

The financial gurus are going to tell you that it will be slightly cheaper for you to "buy" yen in Japan, because the exchange rate will be more favourable than if you bought yen in your home country. This is certainly true but will make a difference of a few hundred yen in the end. We think it's worth it to take this hit and have yen in your pocket for when you land. Imagine you're arriving in Japan, maybe late at night, are hungry and jet-lagged and need to find some way of getting your hands on some yen before you can do anything else. Nope. Not worth it. Order some yen, even a small sum, from your local bank and take it with you so you can hit that combini running!

It is certainly easy to change your own local currency to yen after you arrive and a lot of hotels even have machines in the lobby for doing just that. They won't have the best exchange rates. though, and it means you have to bring a load of foreign cash with you into Japan - as safe as Japan is, you don't want to be pushing your luck on your money getting stolen or lost. The best idea is to withdraw cash locally from an ATM using your credit card. Most 7Elevens have ATMs that will let you do this and you'll find ATMs accepting foreign credit cards in a lot of shopping centres, tourist facilities, etc. BUT... and this is important... make sure you can use your credit card overseas and it might be a good idea to notify your credit card company that you will be in Japan: we've heard many a horror story of tourists having their credit card blocked due to "suspicious activity abroad"!

FAQ: Cash or card in Japan

Should I carry cash in Japan?

Yes, you should definitely carry some cash around with you in Japan, since there are still many restaurants and facilities that are cash-only.

Is cash still preferred in Japan?

It's not that cash is still preferred in Japan and you're welcome to pay using your credit card or IC card if the shop or restaurant has the payment facilities to support cashless payment. But a lot of places are still cash only and don't have card readers, so you should always have some cash on you.

How much cash can I bring to Japan?

There is no limit on how much cash you bring into Japan but you are required to declare amounts of more than 1 million yen (or the equivalent in other currency) to customs when you arrive.

Where can I find a Japan cash machine?

You can find ATM cash machines in Japan in practically every 7Eleven but also in tourist facilities and shopping centres. You can withdraw yen from these machines using your foreign credit card. You will need a PIN for your card.