Japan Currency Exchange: Airports, ATMs and Fees
Contents
- 1. 1. Choose how to pay and obtain yen
- 2. 2. Currency exchange at Narita Airport
- 3. 3. Currency exchange and yen withdrawals at Haneda Terminal 3
- 4. 4. Using an overseas card at an ATM
- 5. 5. Compare the real cost before exchanging or withdrawing
- 6. 6. Customs, payment and practical questions
- 7. 7. Videos and travel perspectives
- 8. Official information checked
You can get Japanese yen by exchanging eligible foreign banknotes or withdrawing yen with an eligible overseas card. You can also pay directly by card or, at some businesses, use a transport IC card such as Suica or PASMO. These options are not interchangeable: the rate, fees, accepted currencies and operating hours depend on the provider, your card and the location.
Before travelling, check how you will pay for your first expenses, confirm that your card is enabled for overseas use, and identify a suitable way to obtain cash if needed. Compare the actual yen you will receive and any separate charges, rather than assuming one method is always cheapest. The official service listings and guidance cited in this article were checked on 4 November 2026; confirm current conditions for your own travel dates and arrival time.
1. Choose how to pay and obtain yen
The main choices are exchanging foreign cash at a counter or machine, withdrawing yen at an ATM with an eligible overseas card, or paying a business directly by card. Some hotels also offer currency exchange, while transport IC cards such as Suica and PASMO can be used at some businesses as well as for transport. Tokyo’s official visitor guidance cautions that not every business accepts cards, so it is sensible to check the payment methods for places you plan to visit.
| Method | What you need | Costs to check | Practical point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport exchange counter | Foreign banknotes accepted by that provider | The provider’s rate and any separately stated charge | Rates, accepted currencies and hours can differ by counter |
| Exchange machine | Banknotes in a currency accepted by that machine | The displayed rate and any stated charge | Confirm accepted currencies and note conditions before relying on it |
| ATM withdrawal | An eligible overseas card and any required authentication | ATM fee, card issuer’s withdrawal fee and conversion terms | Machine availability and hours vary by location |
| Direct card payment | A card accepted by the business | Any charges that apply under the merchant’s and issuer’s terms | Not every business accepts cards |
| Transport IC card | A compatible card with funds available | The card’s own applicable terms | Suica and PASMO are accepted at some businesses, not all |
Narita Airport and Haneda Airport have exchange services, and some hotels also provide exchange, according to GO TOKYO’s money guide. That does not establish that a specific counter will be open when you arrive or accept your currency, so check the provider’s current listing. Likewise, an ATM displaying an international card network does not by itself confirm that your particular card will work; the card issuer’s conditions matter.
There is no verified comparison here that identifies the cheapest option for every traveller. Your result depends on the currency and banknotes you have, the exchange rate offered at the time, any local charge, and the terms set by your card issuer. For a useful comparison, record the amount of yen offered or requested and each separate fee before you confirm the transaction.
2. Currency exchange at Narita Airport
Narita Airport lists exchange counters and machines by terminal and floor. Its guidance says that exchange rates and accepted currencies vary between stores, and that a currency may be unavailable if the provider does not have the required banknotes in stock. The locations and hours below are examples from the airport listing, not a guarantee of service on a future travel date; check the current Narita Airport currency-exchange information and your terminal before travelling.
| Terminal and location | Service and listed hours | Practical detail |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 North, 1F, GPA | 07:00–22:00 | Listed as before security |
| Terminal 1 South, 4F, Chiba Bank | 08:00–21:00 | Listed as before security |
| Terminal 2 Main Building, 1F | Foreign-currency purchasing machine listed as 24 hours | Check the current machine location and accepted currencies |
| Terminal 3 Main Building, 2F, GPA | 07:00–22:00 | Check the current counter listing |
These listings describe different services. In particular, the Terminal 2 machine is listed as a foreign-currency purchasing machine; check its current instructions to confirm the currencies it accepts and the transaction it can perform. Do not assume that the hours of a bank branch describe every exchange counter or machine in the same terminal.
Narita also lists ordinary banking at Chiba Bank on Terminal 2’s second floor from 09:00 to 15:00, closed on weekends and public holidays. Those are the listed hours for ordinary banking, not a general opening schedule for airport currency exchange. Narita says it does not sell traveller’s cheques in exchange for yen. Because rates and stock differ by provider, ask the counter for the yen total for your own banknotes and confirm any separate charge before proceeding.
3. Currency exchange and yen withdrawals at Haneda Terminal 3
Keikyu’s guide to Haneda Terminal 3 Station lists two Seven Bank ATMs where travellers can withdraw yen using overseas-issued cards. The published hours for those ATMs are 05:00–24:00. The same guide lists a Travelex counter on the station’s third floor from 06:00–23:00, plus an automatic exchange machine in front of the tourist information area on the second floor.
The automatic exchange machine handles banknotes, not coins, and Keikyu lists seven currencies, including US dollars, euros and British pounds. Check the current Keikyu foreign-exchange and ATM guide for the complete currency list and current location information. Do not rely on a machine accepting a particular note until you have checked its instructions.
These are station-guide listings, so check the location as well as the hours when planning your arrival. A late-night or early-morning arrival may fall outside the listed hours of a particular counter or service, even if another listed option has different hours. If you expect to need cash soon after landing, compare your arrival time with the current listing and make a backup plan that does not depend on a single counter being available.
4. Using an overseas card at an ATM
Japan Post Bank says its international ATMs support eligible credit and cash cards issued overseas. The brands it lists include Visa, PLUS, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, UnionPay and Discover. Brand compatibility does not guarantee that every card will work: eligibility also depends on the card and its issuer. Japan Post Bank advises customers to confirm the card’s terms with the issuing financial institution.
Some overseas cards incur a Japan Post Bank ATM fee of ¥220 per transaction, tax included. The card issuer may add a separate fee, so the ATM charge is not necessarily the total cost of a withdrawal. Japan Post Bank does not offer balance enquiries for overseas cards; use the account information channel provided by your issuer, subject to its terms.
Japan Post Bank’s standard posted hours for post-office locations are 07:00–23:00 Monday through Saturday, except holidays. Its standard listing for Sundays, holidays, 31 December and 1–3 January is 07:00–21:00. These are standard hours, not a promise that every ATM is available during those times: individual locations differ, and long holidays can bring schedule changes because of system updates or circumstances at the host location. Use Japan Post Bank’s current international ATM information to check the location you plan to use.
Before leaving home, ask your issuer whether your specific card is enabled for overseas ATM use, what withdrawal limits and fees apply, and what authentication the card requires. The available official information does not establish the limit, overseas-use setting or authentication requirements for an individual card, so do not assume these details. At the ATM, review the requested amount, any fee and any conversion information shown on screen before confirming. If you do not understand a prompt, stop and ask the ATM operator or your issuer rather than guessing.
5. Compare the real cost before exchanging or withdrawing
For a cash exchange, ask how many yen you will receive for the precise foreign-currency amount and banknotes you want to exchange. Ask whether any additional charge applies, and note the provider and time of the quote. This is especially useful at Narita, where the airport says rates and accepted currencies differ by store. A rate displayed elsewhere, or a rate quoted on another day, cannot establish the amount you will receive for your transaction.
For an ATM withdrawal, separate the amount of yen requested from the costs associated with obtaining it. Check any fee displayed by the ATM, then consider the card issuer’s withdrawal charge and conversion terms. Japan Post Bank’s ¥220 charge applies to some overseas cards per transaction, but the issuer may charge separately; it is not a universal total-fee figure for all cards or ATMs.
| What to compare | At an exchange counter or machine | At an ATM |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Foreign-currency amount and banknotes you present | Yen amount you request |
| Rate or conversion | Provider’s rate for that transaction | Conversion information shown on screen and the issuer’s terms |
| Local charge | Any separately stated charge | Any ATM fee shown or stated by the operator |
| Other costs | Ask whether the quoted yen total includes all stated charges | Ask the issuer about its separate withdrawal and conversion charges |
| Availability | Accepted currency, banknote stock and opening hours | Card compatibility, location hours and any transaction limits |
If a screen offers a currency-conversion choice, read the amount, currency, rate and any stated fee on that screen before deciding. The sources here do not establish which choice will be cheaper for your individual card, so check your issuer’s terms rather than relying on a general rule. If the displayed information is unclear, do not confirm a transaction you do not understand.
If a machine rejects a banknote, check its accepted-currency instructions and ask the operator; the listing for a different machine does not prove that this one accepts the same currency or note. Similarly, a lack of stock at one exchange counter does not establish availability elsewhere. If you have yen left at the end of your trip, ask the provider you intend to use which notes it buys and what amount it will return. Conditions vary by provider, and no general buy-back rate is established here.
6. Customs, payment and practical questions
Japan Customs says travellers entering or leaving Japan must declare cash and certain other payment instruments when the total exceeds the equivalent of ¥1 million. The items covered include foreign-currency cash, cheques, traveller’s cheques, promissory notes and securities. Read the full Japan Customs passenger guidance for the complete current instructions and how they apply to your situation; do not treat the threshold as applying only to yen banknotes.
For everyday spending, check payment methods with your accommodation, transport providers and planned businesses. GO TOKYO notes that not every business in Tokyo accepts cards, and that Suica and PASMO can be used at some businesses in addition to transport. This does not mean every shop accepts those cards, so confirm with the individual business when payment choice matters.
Tipping is not generally customary in Japan, according to GO TOKYO, although a business may add a service charge. Check the bill and the business’s terms rather than treating a service charge as a tip or assuming that every bill includes one. If you need to check your overseas account balance, Japan Post Bank says balance enquiries are unavailable for overseas cards, so use your issuer’s account-information service.
Is a currency exchange counter always cheaper than an ATM?
No. The available information does not establish a cheapest method for every currency, card and transaction. Compare the actual yen offered at the exchange counter with the withdrawal amount and all applicable ATM and issuer charges for your own transaction.
Can I rely on my overseas card at a Japan Post Bank ATM?
Japan Post Bank lists several supported international card brands, but compatibility depends on the particular card and its issuer. Confirm overseas-use settings, limits, fees and authentication requirements with your financial institution before travelling. The bank also says overseas-card balance enquiries are unavailable.
Can I exchange coins at the Haneda Terminal 3 machine?
No: the Keikyu listing says the automatic exchange machine handles banknotes only. It lists seven currencies, including US dollars, euros and British pounds, but check the current guide for the full list and confirm that your banknotes are accepted.
The machine is on the 2nd floor of Haneda Terminal 3 Station, in front of the tourist information center; Keikyu’s guide also lists a Travelex counter on the 3rd floor, open 6:00–23:00. The guide does not specify whether the counter accepts coins, so check with Travelex directly if you need to exchange them.
Do I need to declare foreign currency when entering or leaving Japan?
Japan Customs includes foreign-currency cash in the cash and other payment instruments covered by its declaration guidance. A declaration is required when the total covered amount exceeds the equivalent of ¥1 million. Consult Japan Customs’ current passenger instructions for the complete rules and your circumstances.
7. Videos and travel perspectives
The following videos offer individual travel perspectives on exchange rates, ATMs and payment tools. Their examples are not current quotations or official statements of the fees and conditions that apply to your own trip. Check the airport, bank or card issuer directly before acting on a rate or card claim.
- Ono in Japan: currency exchange rates
- ONLY in JAPAN: ATMs, cards and currency exchange
- CBC News: currency exchange shops in Nagoya
- PHOTO TRIP: reading exchange-rate boards
- Travel Family Life: Japan travel payment tips
- TenshinYan: money while travelling in Japan
- Hele Mai Adventures: foreign currency exchange machine
Official information checked
The airport, bank, visitor-guidance and customs information in this article was checked on 4 November 2026. Published hours and service details can change, so use the relevant official listing again when planning a specific visit. The sources below support the practical details in the sections above.
