Money and duty free for Japan

Currency and Money

Currency information

Japanese Yen (JPY; symbol ¥). Notes are in denominations of ¥10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of ¥500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.

Credit cards

MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted in major cities and towns. American Express and Diners Club cards are also accepted in some bigger stores. A pin number may be required to process the transaction. The Japan Post Bank, Seven-Eleven convenience stores and international banks accept foreign credit cards.

ATM

Japan Post Bank ATMs at main branches of the Post Office accept foreign cards Mon-Sat 0005-2355, and 0005-2100 on Sundays and holidays. ATMs at Seven-Eleven stores also accept foreign cards and are accessible 24 hours. International banks accept foreign credit or debit cards, but these are hard to find outside of major cities.

Japan has a strong cash culture, and it is usual to see people carrying large amounts of cash with them because of the low crime rate. It is only recently that credit cards have begun to become more popular. However, travellers may still encounter difficulties with foreign credit cards.

Travellers cheques

Travellers' cheques are no longer popular, but they can still be exchanged at most major banks and at some exchange services. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers' cheques in US Dollars.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1500.

Currency restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding ¥1,000,000 or equivalent must be declared.

Currency exchange

All money must be exchanged at an authorised bank or money changer.

Japan duty free

Overview

The following goods may be imported into Japan by travellers 20 years of age and older without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco or 10 individual packages of heat-not-burn tobacco or 250g of a combination of these products.
• 3 bottles (approximately 760ml each) of alcohol.
• 56ml of perfume.
• Other goods under the total value of ¥200,000. The value of every single item must be under ¥10.000 in order to be free of duty and / or tax. 

Banned Imports

Prohibited items include narcotics, firearms and ammunition, explosives, counterfeit money, obscene material, and articles which infringe upon intellectual copyright.

Restricted items include animals, plants, medicines and cosmetics, hunting guns, air guns and swords.

You should be aware that in Japan, cold and flu medication containing stimulants are illegal. You are not permitted to take commonly available nasal decongestant medication such as Sudafed and Vicks inhalers into Japan.

Banned Exports

Narcotics and stimulants, child pornography and goods that violate design copyrights, trademarks, patents, breeding and intellectual copyrights.