How to exchange money in Japan? #HowtogetYen #moneyexchangejapan #mylifeinokinawa Japan is a cash society. Luckily, it is the safest country in the world so it’s okay to carry large amounts of cash with you at all times without the worry of being mugged or held up. Generally there is no need to buy Japanese yen in your home country before your trip, as you will most likely pay a higher commission (about 3%) and a worse exchange rate than you would get at the airports, banks, or ATMs in Japan.
If you are changing cash, you frequently get a better rate at certain airport counters because they hold and trade that same cash out, but in inside the country the spread on cash is 3 to 4%.
Hint: Many machines issue bills of 1,000 and 10,000 yen. If you prefer to have some smaller bills, withdraw an amount such as 19,000 Y for 9 x 1,000 Y notes instead of 2 x 10,000 notes by withdrawing 20,000 Y. Breaking a large bill for a small amounts does not seem to be a problem in Japan though – most merchants carry plenty of change.
Credit cards are accepted at major hotels and larger restaurants. Small business hotels and small restaurants generally do not accept credit cards. The credit card company will charge a fee on your bill for foreign exchange (usually 1-3%), and there may be a surcharge from the retailer/hotel to pay by credit card – ask first.
Foreign currency and foreign travelers checks are not accepted anywhere in Japan except on certain U.S. military bases and facilities
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