Introduction: The Cash Country That Still Requires Planning
Japan remains significantly more cash-dependent than most developed economies — while card payment and IC card digital payment have expanded significantly in the last decade, many restaurants, shrines, small shops, onsen, and local businesses remain cash-only or strongly prefer cash. Understanding where and how to reliably access yen from foreign accounts is one of the most practically important logistical preparations for Japan travel.
The Best Option: 7-Eleven Bank ATM
7-Eleven Bank ATMs — installed in all 7-Eleven convenience stores throughout Japan — are the gold standard for foreign card access:
Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, Plus, STAR, China UnionPay, and most international networks.
- Interface: Full English-language interface available — select English at the first screen.
Withdrawal limits: Typically ¥30,000–¥50,000 per transaction; up to ¥100,000 per day in some cases (limits vary by your home bank's international withdrawal allowance).
Fees: The ATM itself charges no fee in many cases — your home bank may charge a foreign transaction fee (typically 1–3% plus a flat foreign ATM fee of $2–$5 depending on your bank). Check your home bank's specific charges before traveling.
The process:
Insert card → select "English"
Select "Withdrawal"
Enter PIN (4–6 digits — if your home PIN is longer, check with your bank)
Select amount in ¥10,000 increments
Collect card, then cash
Japan Post ATM
Japan Post (ゆうちょ銀行) ATMs at post offices provide reliable foreign card access with full English interfaces. Post offices are in every town throughout Japan, making Japan Post ATMs the most geographically widespread foreign-card-friendly option — important for travelers visiting rural areas where 7-Eleven density drops.
Hours: Japan Post ATMs are not always 24-hour — most operate 7:00 AM–11:00 PM on weekdays, reduced hours on weekends and holidays. Check before relying on them for evening or holiday access.
What Doesn't Work
Japanese city and regional bank ATMs (Mizuho, MUFG, SMBC, regional banks) frequently have signs saying "International Cards Accepted" but in practice many Japanese bank ATMs only accept specific international cards or have restricted networks. Relying on these for critical cash access is inadvisable — use 7-Eleven or Japan Post instead.
Cash Strategy
How much to carry: ¥20,000–¥30,000 is a comfortable daily buffer for cash-heavy days (onsen towns, rural restaurants, temple admission, local markets). Urban days with card/IC card availability may require less.
Denominations: ATMs dispense ¥10,000 notes primarily. For ¥1,000 notes (easier for small purchases), ask at the ATM if a smaller denomination option is available, or break ¥10,000 notes at convenience store purchases.
