Tokyo isn't cash-only any more, and it isn't cashless either. It's both, with a tap card in the middle.
Where each works#
| Card or contactless | Cash | Suica tap |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, department stores | Small family restaurants, izakaya | Konbini, vending machines |
| Chains, konbini, supermarkets | Ramen ticket machines (many) | Station shops, lockers |
| Most restaurants with a card sign | Shrines, temples, charms | Some restaurants, some taxis |
| Taxis (most), stations, attractions | Markets, flea markets | Buses, all trains |
| Disney, museums, big shops | Tiny bars, some taxis | Coffee chains |
Getting yen#
7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart and Japan Post ATMs take foreign cards, in English, most around the clock. Choose yen, decline the conversion offer, accept your bank's fee and take out a few days' worth. Airport exchange is fine for a first small amount; city exchange counters are rarely worth hunting for. Notes come in 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000; the coins matter for shrines and vending machines.
The Suica#
A Suica on your phone or in your pocket pays for trains, buses, konbini, vending machines, lockers and many cafés with a tap. It's the answer to the "do they take card?" question in half the small places.
How much cash#
The equivalent of a day's small spending in your wallet, topped up every couple of days. A big dinner at a small place might be cash; ask when you sit down ("kaado daijoubu desu ka?") rather than at the bill.
No tipping#
Which makes the maths easy. Tipping in Japan.
Also#
Tokyo on a budget, a SIM card, Narita or Haneda, first time in Tokyo, how much a Japan trip costs.
Ask a Tokyoite#
Whether that izakaya takes cards, which konbini ATM is near your hotel: post your dates on Roavi Community and Local Friends answer. A Local Friend also handles the cash-only counter for you the first time.
Landing in Tokyo? Ask a local the money questions first.
Post your tripFrequently Asked Questions
Can I use my credit card in Tokyo?
Almost everywhere big: hotels, department stores, chain restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, Disney, most taxis, stations and attractions. Visa and Mastercard are universal, Amex and contactless widely accepted. The gaps are small, old or very local.Where do I still need cash in Tokyo?
Small family-run restaurants and izakaya, many ramen ticket machines, shrines and temples (entry, charms, offerings), Tsukiji and other markets, flea markets, some tiny bars in Golden Gai, coin lockers without IC readers, and occasionally a taxi. A few thousand yen in your pocket covers it.Which ATMs in Tokyo accept foreign cards?
7-Eleven (Seven Bank), Lawson, FamilyMart (E-net) and Japan Post ATMs, all with English menus, many open 24 hours. Bank ATMs often don't. Your bank's foreign withdrawal fee applies; take out more, less often.Does Tokyo prefer cash or card?
Neither, now: big places prefer card or phone, small places prefer cash, and everyone accepts a Suica tap for small amounts. Ten years ago the answer was cash; today it's both, with a Suica in between.
