The currency used in Japan is called the yen, pronounced ‘en’ in Japanese. You may see it abbreviated as JPY, JP¥, ¥ or with the kanji symbol 円.
The word ‘yen’ derives from the Japanese translation for the word ‘round’. It’s the third most- traded currency on the foreign exchange market in the world after the US Dollar and the Euro.
Yen may be confusing to first-timers or those used to using dollars, with banknotes coming in larger denominations. Yen banknote denominations include:
JP¥ 1,000 - these are blue
JP¥ 2,000 - these are green. These banknotes are not used as often as others.
JP¥ 5,000 - these are purple
JP¥ 10,000 - these are brown
There are coins too which can be found in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500.
Travelex Tip: Need to get rid of any excess coins before leaving Japan? Try going to a shrine or temple and putting your leftover coins in an offerings box!
Learning some simple phrases in Japanese can go a long way when visiting as a tourist. As well as showing a sign of respect to your host country, it can also make life easier when dealing with shopping and financial transactions.
Below are some simple shopping-related phrases you may want to remember on your travels in Japan.
Below are some common shopping and money-related you may want to remember during your travels in Japan.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Excuse me, how much is this? | Sumimasen, kore wa ikura desu ka |
| That’s expensive! | Takai! |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Kurejitto kâdo de haratte mo ii desu ka |
| Can I have a receipt please? | Ryoushuusho wo kudasai |
| I don’t need the change | Otsuri wa irimasen |
| Can you give me a discount? | Mou sukoshi yasuku dekimasen ka? |
| Can I have the bill please? | Okanjo wo onegai shimasu |
| Cash | Genkin |
| Price | Genka |
| To pay | Harau |
| ¥1,000 | Sen en |
| ¥2,000 | Oku en |
| ¥5,000 | Go sen en |
| ¥10,000 | Ichi man en |
Monetary customs can change drastically from country to country. Keep these tips and cultural nuances in mind before going to Japan for a smoother time on your holiday.
Japan is a cash-based society. This means some experiences will be cash only. Ensuring you have some cash yen may help you to avoid any tricky situations!
Tipping is not generally accepted in Japan. In most instances, if you try leaving a tip you will have it returned! If you really do want to tip someone (like a tour guide), make sure you put the cash in an envelope before handing it over.
Make sure you have enough cash on you if you are visiting Japan during a public holiday, as some ATMs do close. If they do remain open, handling charges may increase.
In general haggling or bargaining is not accepted in Japan. However there may be some exceptions in markets or specialty stores. The most common form of haggling is asking for a discount if you offer to pay using cash.
You generally cannot use travellers cheques in Japan, with the exceptions of some larger hotels.
Suica is the main contactless payment form in Japan. Apple supports using your Suica via Apple Pay - but you’ll have to set it up on your phone before you arrive in Japan.
Not usually, which is why when travelling to Japan it’s best to ensure you have plenty of other payment options like the ones we’ve outlined above!
