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Cash, cards and everyday payments

Money & payments

Prepare a backup payment method, use ATMs and IC cards safely and understand tipping and service charges.

Money & payments illustrated guide

Start with your situation

What do you need to solve?

First: Identify whether the problem is the card, contactless payment or an ATM withdrawal. Have a separate payment backup; repeated attempts are not a diagnosis.

My foreign card was declined

Separate a tap-only failure from an issuer decline, then complete the purchase another way if needed.

Troubleshoot a declined card →

I need yen or a working ATM

Estimate the cash-only parts of the day and check an overseas-card ATM and its fee screens.

Plan cash and withdrawals →

There is an extra charge on the bill

Check whether it is a service charge, table charge, tax or optional tip before paying.

Understand charges and tipping →
Before you need help: three things to prepare
  • Keep your issuer contact details accessible without the banking app.
  • Separate your backup card or cash from your main wallet.
  • Check the purchase date and shop procedure before relying on a tax-free refund.
Check the tax-free shopping procedure →
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Japan Joy Guide

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Official resources

Check current information

Traveler using a cashless mobile payment at a convenience store in Japan Cashless payments in JapanCompare cards, contactless payments, IC cards and cash-only situations.Open official site → Credit card approved at a payment terminal with safety information Using credit cardsCheck official visitor guidance for card acceptance and overseas-card ATMs.Open official site →