Currency, Exchange, and Transit Cards

How to exchange money, transit card help, and rule of thumb

How to Much Money Should I Exchange in Japan?

A good rule of thumb is to place a decimal before last two 00s of Japanese currency and equate it to US. Example: 100.00 yen ~ $1.00 or 10,000.00 yen ~ $100.00 *Note the current exchange rate is about 1.5 JPY to 1 USD. Please monitor for current exchange rates.

How Much Money Should I Bring to Japan?

Carry cash with you whenever you can. Recommend at least $200 equivalent in cash in your wallet per week you are in Japan. This will be used for street food, some ramen restaurants and izakayas, and refilling your transit card (if it is not digital) You can exchange this money in advance through your bank when you see exchange rates are in your favor. You can also use your debit card to withdraw cash from any 7-11 ATM (please check in advance with your bank). Japanese banks with ATMs typically do not accept foreign debit cards. However, 7-11s typically do and are open 24 hours a day making it easy to refill your cash supply. Avoid Currency Exchange Kiosks at AirportsIf you don't have time to get cash at the bank before your trip, it can be tempting to get foreign currency at an airport kiosk or currency exchange counter. These merchants offer convenience, but their exchange rates are typically much less favorable than your home bank. Recommend having a coin purse for all of the change you will recieve as a result of using cash. It is very common for Japanese to use change.

How to Use Japan Transit (IC) Cards

In bigger cities, you can pay for almost everything in your transit card. This goes for clothing at malls, convenience store items, and vending machines. You have two main choices: SUICA or PASMO called "IC Cards". You can own a physical card in the form of the tourist PASMO (must be refilled with cash only, valid for only 28 days). Please buy this from the tourism desk at the Airport. You can also get a digital SUICA on your phone, refillable from your digital credit or debit card instead of cash. If you would like to have a digital card follow these instructions:

Adding a Digital Card Suica & Pasmo

1. Grab your phyiscal credit or debit card and use the numbers to add your credit or debit card to your Digital Wallet (Apple Wallet or Google Wallet). *Note, if you have a physical IC Card (SUICA or PASMO) you can add it directly as a transit card (we recommend this as the best option).
2. Connect the credit or debit card you added to your WALLET and now connect it to your digital Apple Pay or Google Pay.
3. Add money to your Apple Cash Card or Google Pay from your credit or debit card (approximately $50).
4. Add a transit card. *Note, if you have a physical IC Card (SUICA or PASMO) you can add it directly as a transit card.
5. Select SUICA > add money > select 5,000 yen (exchange rate dependent). When it asks - select Apple Cash or Google Cash - NOT your credit or debit card.
Congratulations! Now anytime you need to refill, you can refill from your phone and scan your phone to go in and out of the train or bus stations! No need to open the wallet app every time, just touch and go. This feature even works if your phone dies!