What currency do you use to pay in Japan? How much do goods cost in a typical supermarket and how much in a restaurant? And how much does a week’s stay in Japan cost? You’ll find out in this chapter.

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Japanese yen (JPY)

The local currency is the Japanese yen, which is divided into 100 sen, which are in turn divided into 1,000 rin.

Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen.

Commonly used banknotes are in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen.

• International currency code: JPY(numeric code 392)
• Currency symbol:¥

Can other currencies be used to pay in Japan?

Foreign currencies are not generally accepted in Japan, not even in tourist shops or hotels.

Currency exchange and card payments

You’ll find currency exchange bureaux at airports, though they usually offer very poor exchange rates, or at banks, where you’ll end up paying more in fees than you would at standard cash machines.

ATMs

The best way to withdraw Japanese yen is from the ubiquitous cash machines.

Whilst some Japanese bank ATMs do not accept foreign cards, you can be sure that ATMs in 7-Eleven, Family Mart or Lawson convenience stores will always accept foreign cards without any problems.

The fee for withdrawing cash from an ATM is the same at all Japanese ATMs.

• 110 jpy for withdrawals of up to 10,000 yen
• 220 jpy for withdrawals over 20,000 yen

Card payments

Card payments are very common in Japan, but it’s still a good idea to carry some cash with you.

For example, public transport tickets are often payable by cash only, and some smaller bistros or shops may not accept cards.

How much does it cost?

Japan is an expensive country compared with the rest of Asia. However, compared with Europe or North America, Japan is cheaper.

Prices for food – particularly meals in restaurants – as well as admission to historical sites and tourist attractions are significantly lower than in Europe or North America.

Hotel prices and long-distance transport costs are relatively high and comparable to those in Western Europe.

Price examples

Accommodation in a double room (prices per night):

To give you a better idea, we have converted the hotel prices into US dollars.

• Budget capsule hotel with shared bathroom – from 20 usd
• Local 3* hotel – from 45 usd
• International 4* hotel – from 120 usd
• Find the cheapest accommodation in Japan

Eating out:

• Hot main course in a standard restaurant – from 800 jpy
• Fast-food menu – from 800 jpy
• Sushi – from 190 jpy to 450 jpy per plate
• Espresso or cappuccino in a café – 470 jpy
• Water 0.33 l – 115 jpy
• Fanta/Coca-Cola/Sprite 0.5 l – 250 jpy
• Draught beer – 450 jpy

Groceries at the supermarket:

• Water 1.5 l – 130 jpy
• Coca-Cola (and other soft drinks) 2l – 250 jpy
• Milk 1 l – 220 jpy
• Apples – 755 jpy / kg
• Bananas – 360 jpy / kg
• Rice – 575 jpy / kg
• Chicken 1 kg – 980 jpy
• Beef 1 kg – 2 600 jpy

Transport:

• Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Osaka – 13 870 jpy
• Domestic flights from Tokyo to Osaka – from 11 000 jpy (including checked-in luggage)
• 1 journey on public transport – on average around 220 jpy
• Car hire for a week – from 60 000 jpy
• Compare car hire prices in Japan

Alcohol and cigarettes:

• A packet of cigarettes – 600 jpy
• 0.5 l beer – 305 jpy
• A bottle of good wine – 1 200 jpy
• A cocktail at a bar – 1 200 jpy

Find the cheapest hotels in Japan

Tax-free shopping

Tourists are exempt from paying the 10% Japanese value-added tax on many types of goods.

👉 We provide detailed information in a separate article: Tax-free shopping in Japan: how much you’ll save and how to claim your tax back.

Tipping and haggling

Tipping is not practised anywhere in Japan; in fact, doing so may offend the staff.

Therefore, do not leave any tips or round up the bill to avoid having to deal with small change.

It is not customary to haggle over the price of goods and services; prices are always set out on the menu or in the price list.

Daily budget – How much money to take with you

How much money should you take with you to Japan?

Budget travellers use public transport and prefer the slower, cheaper Shinkansen trains. They usually stay in capsule hotels. The cheapest place to eat is at local bistros.

Find the cheapest accommodation in Japan

The average traveller stays in a standard 3* hotel. For lunch, you can visit cheaper restaurants or eat at local fast-food outlets. You travel by public transport and opt for the more expensive Shinkansen on long-distance journeys.

If you’re looking for something a bit more upmarket, you’ll stay in a 4* or 5* hotel, at least with breakfast included. You’ll get around by taxi or a hire car for the duration of your stay, and try a different attraction on the beach every day.

The table below shows the costs for a one-week stay during peak season for two people. The expenditure is shown as a daily rate per person.

	Low-cost traveller	Average traveller	Expensive option
Accommodation	3 200 jpy	5 000 jpy	6 500 jpy
Food	2 500 jpy	3 500 jpy	5 000 jpy
Transport	4 000 jpy	5 000 jpy	8 000 jpy
Car hire	0 jpy	0 jpy	9 000 jpy
Attractions	500 jpy	2 000 jpy	4 000 jpy
Total	10 200 jpy	15 500 jpy	32 500 jpy