Money

How much cash do I need in Japan? ATM withdrawal guide

Plan a sensible yen backup, find an ATM that accepts overseas cards and understand withdrawal limits and possible fees.

Last updated: August 20, 2026

10-second answer

What to do right now

There is no single correct amount. Keep enough yen for one full day of small purchases and local transport, carry a second payment method, and withdraw more only from an ATM that displays your card network.

1Estimate the cash-only parts of your day
2Keep a separate backup
3Use an overseas-card ATM and read every screen

Show the Japanese phrase Open official help

Detailed steps

Follow these steps

Estimate the cash-only parts of your day

Add local transport, small restaurants, temples, clinics, rural shops and any booking that says cash only. Do not copy a universal daily amount that ignores your itinerary.

Keep a separate backup

Carry enough yen to complete one ordinary day if a card or phone payment fails, and keep a second card or emergency reserve separately from your main wallet.

Use an overseas-card ATM and read every screen

Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank publish accepted networks, limits and service information. Check the ATM fee, issuer fee and currency choice before confirming.

Useful Japanese phrase

Where is an ATM that accepts cards issued abroad?

海外発行カードが使えるATMはどこですか？

Kaigai hakkō kādo ga tsukaeru ATM wa doko desu ka?

Foreign card declined before you reached the ATM? Compare contactless, chip-card and issuer failures →

Do not copy one universal daily amount

How much yen should you keep?

Your route, accommodation and shopping plans matter more than a fixed number. Plan enough cash to finish one ordinary day if your main card or phone payment stops working, then keep a second payment method separately.

Add known cash-only costs

Include any small restaurant, local bus, temple, clinic, rural shop, locker or reservation that explicitly requires cash.

Add one-day essentials

Allow for local transport, simple meals and small purchases until you can reach another supported ATM.

Separate the backup

Do not keep every card and all cash in one wallet. Store a second card or emergency reserve securely elsewhere.

Getting Japanese yen

How to withdraw cash from an ATM in Japan

Many Japanese ATMs accept only domestic cards. Start with an ATM that clearly displays your card network and overseas-card support. Convenience stores are often the easiest place to look, but not every store has the same ATM operator.

7Seven BankUsually inside 7-Eleven

Supports major overseas networks. The official limit is up to ¥100,000 per withdrawal, or ¥30,000 for a magnetic-stripe transaction. Your card or available limit may be lower.

Instructions ATM locator

JPJapan Post BankPost offices and some FamilyMart stores

Supports Visa/PLUS, Mastercard/Maestro/Cirrus, JCB, UnionPay and Discover. The official limit is ¥50,000 per withdrawal. Some overseas cards incur a ¥220 ATM fee.

Official guide

FME-netSelected FamilyMart, Don Quijote and other stores

Supports selected overseas Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB cards. The operator says handling fees vary, and your issuer may charge an additional fee.

Instructions and locator

LSLawson BankSelected Lawson stores

Supports selected overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB and UnionPay cards. Availability, hours and fees must be checked on the ATM screen.

Official guide

Typical ATM flow

Check every screen before confirming

1Check the logosMatch Visa/PLUS, Mastercard/Maestro/Cirrus, JCB, UnionPay, Discover or another mark on your card with the marks shown on the ATM.

2Insert the card and choose a languageSelect English, then choose withdrawal. Do not accept help from a stranger or reveal your PIN.

3Choose the account if askedFor a debit card, the usual choice is checking/current. The wording depends on the issuer; ask your bank before travel if you are unsure.

4Enter the withdrawal PINThis may differ from a shopping PIN. Stop if you are unsure—repeated wrong entries can lock or retain a card.

5Choose an amount in yenStay within the ATM and issuer limits. If a large amount fails, one smaller attempt may work.

6Review fees and currencyRead the operator fee and any conversion choice. Cancel if the total or exchange rate is unclear.

7Take everythingCollect your card, cash and receipt immediately. The order differs by ATM, so do not walk away after taking only the cash.

What can be added to the withdrawal?

There may be more than one fee

1. ATM operator fee

The Japanese ATM may charge a fee. It can depend on the card network, operator and transaction, and should be shown before final confirmation. Japan Post states that some overseas cards incur ¥220 per withdrawal.

2. Card issuer fee

Your bank may add a fixed international ATM fee, a percentage, or both. This may not appear on the Japanese ATM screen. Check the issuer's current fee schedule.

3. Exchange-rate cost

If the transaction is processed in yen, your card network or issuer converts it. If the ATM offers your home currency, it sets an immediate converted amount. Compare before choosing.

4. Credit-card cash advance

With a credit card, an ATM withdrawal may be treated as a cash advance with interest and other charges. A debit or travel card may have different terms—check the issuer first.

Practical tip: fewer, larger withdrawals may reduce repeated fixed fees, but never carry more cash than you can secure and always stay within your card and ATM limits.

If the ATM asks “Japanese yen” or “your home currency”

Japanese yen (JPY): the transaction remains in yen and your card network or issuer converts it later. Your home currency: the ATM uses dynamic currency conversion and shows the converted amount immediately. Neither option is automatically cheapest—compare the displayed rate, markup and fees with your issuer's terms. You can cancel before confirming.

If the ATM does not work

Try one safe check, then contact your issuer

The card was rejected immediately

Check that the ATM supports the network shown on your card and that overseas ATM withdrawals are enabled. Try a different supported network such as Seven Bank or Japan Post Bank, not repeated attempts at the same machine.

The PIN was rejected

Stop if you are not certain of the withdrawal PIN. A shopping PIN may not be the same. Contact the issuer through its official app or the number on the card.

The amount was rejected

Try one smaller yen amount within both limits. Japan Post's current per-transaction limit for overseas cards is ¥50,000; Seven Bank states up to ¥100,000, or ¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe transactions.

The ATM kept the card

Use the ATM's help phone immediately and note the operator, store, address and time. Contact your issuer to freeze or replace the card. Do not leave the machine unattended while seeking help.

Cash or the receipt does not match

Do not repeat the transaction. Keep the receipt, photograph the ATM identification and contact both the ATM operator and your card issuer promptly.

Useful Japanese phrases

カードで払えますか？Kādo de haraemasu ka?Can I pay by card?

現金だけですか？Genkin dake desu ka?Is it cash only?

海外発行カードが使えるATMはどこですか？Kaigai hakkō kādo ga tsukaeru ATM wa doko desu ka?Where is an ATM that accepts cards issued abroad?

Official Seven Bank, Japan Post Bank and JNTO guidance checked on August 20, 2026. ATM access, hours, fees, limits, supported cards and exchange options can change. Read the final ATM confirmation screen and check the latest terms with both the ATM operator and your card issuer.

Useful links

Plan your yen backup and use an overseas-card ATM safely

Official resources come first. Links open in a new tab.

Official Japan guide Currency, cash and ATM information JNTO explains why travelers should keep some yen, where overseas-card ATMs are found and why hours and fees vary. Read the official currency guide → Official ATM guide Withdraw yen at a Seven Bank ATM See accepted overseas card networks, ATM steps, limits, fees and currency-choice information. Open Seven Bank guidance → Official ATM locator Find a nearby Seven Bank ATM Search in English by station, address, store name or area and check the location hours. Find a Seven Bank ATM → Official ATM guide Use a Japan Post Bank ATM Check supported overseas cards, service hours, possible fees and the current per-withdrawal limit. Open Japan Post guidance → Convenience-store ATM Use an E-net ATM at FamilyMart and other stores Check overseas-card support, English instructions and locations for E-net ATMs found in selected FamilyMart, Don Quijote and other stores. Open the E-net guide → Convenience-store ATM Use a Lawson Bank ATM Check overseas-card support, operating notes and the English ATM guide before withdrawing yen at Lawson. Open the Lawson ATM guide →