ATMs in Japan for Tourists: Where to Find Them & Avoid Fees

You land in Japan with a wallet full of cards, then find the ramen counter you wanted takes cash only, the shrine donation box wants coins, and your home bank’s ATM is nowhere in sight. Japan is more digital than it used to be, but cash is still part of daily life in 2026. Foreign cards also do not work in every ATM. This guide shows you which machines to use, how to use them, and how to keep fees low.

Why Cash Still Matters in Japan in 2026

Japan is moving toward cashless payment, especially in big cities. Even so, Japanese yen (JPY) remains essential for travellers. Here is where you will most often need it:

• Small restaurants and cafes: Many traditional eateries, ramen shops and local cafes are cash-only, especially outside city centres.
• Temples and shrines: Entrance fees, omikuji (paper fortunes) and ema (wooden prayer plaques) usually need cash.
• Ryokan: Small, family-run traditional inns may prefer or only accept cash.
• Vending machines: Some modern machines take IC cards, but many still want coins or small bills.
• Taxis: More taxis accept credit and IC cards now, but cash is accepted everywhere and can be quicker for short rides.
• Rural areas: Outside Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, local buses, shops and eateries are very likely to be cash-only.
• JR ticket machines: Newer machines accept IC cards and credit cards. Older ones at small stations may take only cash.

There is one thing you do not need cash for: tipping. Tipping is not customary in Japan, and leaving money on a table can cause confusion or even offence. Good service is simply the standard.

Which ATMs Accept Foreign Cards

The most reliable machines for visitors are in convenience stores (konbini) and post offices. Most regular bank ATMs are a different story.

7-Eleven (Seven Bank)

Seven Bank ATMs are the best default choice. They are found across Japan, in cities and in many rural towns, and they are generally open 24/7. They work reliably with Visa, Mastercard, Plus, Cirrus, Maestro, American Express, Discover and UnionPay. The screen offers English, and often Chinese, Korean and Portuguese too. English information is at https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/

Lawson (Lawson Bank)

Lawson has slightly fewer locations than 7-Eleven, but its ATMs are widespread and work well with international cards, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Plus, Cirrus and UnionPay. English is available. See https://www.lawsonbank.jp/en/atm/

FamilyMart (E-net)

FamilyMart’s E-net ATMs are also common and accept a wide range of cards: Visa, Mastercard, Plus, Cirrus, Maestro, UnionPay, JCB, American Express and Discover. English is available. See https://www.enetcom.co.jp/en/

Post offices (JP Bank)

Look for the 〒 symbol. Many JP Bank ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Plus, Cirrus and UnionPay, and they offer English. They can be less consistent with international cards than konbini machines, and their hours are shorter. A typical pattern is 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, with shorter hours or closure on weekends and holidays. See https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/index.html

Regular banks

Major banks such as MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Mizuho have ATMs everywhere, but most do not accept foreign-issued cards. Skip them unless the machine clearly says otherwise. Shinsei Bank used to be a good option, but its network is smaller and harder for tourists to find than konbini machines.

Airports

Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Kansai (KIX) and Chubu Centrair (NGO) have ATMs in the arrival halls, typically run by Seven Bank, Lawson Bank or JP Bank. Withdrawing some cash on arrival is a sensible first step.

How to Withdraw Cash, Step by Step

The process is the same at most konbini and post office machines.

1. Insert your card. Find the card slot.
2. Choose your language. Tap “English” on the first screen.
3. Enter your PIN. Japanese ATMs expect a 4-digit PIN.
4. Select “Withdrawal.” In Japanese this is お引き出し (O-hikidashi).
5. Choose an amount. You will see preset amounts such as JPY 10,000 and JPY 20,000. For another amount, choose その他金額 (Sono-ta Kingaku, “Other Amount”). Keep your home bank’s daily limit in mind. The ATM also has its own per-transaction cap, often JPY 50,000 or JPY 100,000.
6. Check the fee. The machine shows the operator fee before you confirm.
7. Decline currency conversion. If the ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, such as USD or EUR, always say no and choose JPY.
8. Confirm. Press the confirmation button.
9. Take your cash.
10. Take your card and receipt. The card often comes out after the cash, so do not walk away early.

The Two Layers of ATM Fees

Most visitors only notice one fee. In fact there are two, and your home bank’s charge is often the one that hurts more.

1. Japanese operator fees

Seven Bank, Lawson Bank, E-net and JP Bank charge a fee for using their machines with a foreign card. Typical fees are:

• Withdrawals up to JPY 10,000: JPY 110 (including tax)
• Withdrawals over JPY 10,000: JPY 220 (including tax)

The fee appears on screen before you confirm. These figures have been stable, but small changes are possible, so trust what the ATM shows you.

2. Your home bank’s fees

Your own bank may add:

• A foreign transaction fee: often a percentage of the withdrawal, typically 0% to 3%.
• A flat ATM fee: for example $5 USD, £3 GBP or €4 EUR per international withdrawal.
• A hidden currency conversion markup: this happens if you accept Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). The ATM converts yen into your home currency at an inflated rate.

How to Avoid Fees

Use a fee-friendly card

This is the single biggest saver. Options travellers commonly use include:

• Charles Schwab Investor Checking (USA): refunds all ATM fees worldwide, including the Japanese operator’s fee, and charges no foreign transaction fees.
• Revolut (global): fee-free ATM withdrawals up to a monthly limit (for example £200 to £400, depending on your plan), then a small percentage fee. Good interbank exchange rates, managed in the app.
• Wise (global): similar to Revolut, with fee-free withdrawals up to a monthly limit and a small fee after that. Mid-market exchange rates, managed in the app.
• Starling Bank (UK): fee-free ATM withdrawals and no foreign transaction fees.
• Monzo (UK): fee-free withdrawals up to a monthly limit, then a small fee.

Limits and terms change, so check each provider’s official website or app before you fly in 2026.

Withdraw bigger amounts, less often

Flat fees add up with every transaction, both from the Japanese operator and from your home bank. Estimate your cash needs for a few days and take it out in fewer, larger withdrawals.

Always decline DCC

Choose to be charged in JPY. Your card network (Visa or Mastercard) then applies its own exchange rate, which is usually the better deal.

Plan before rural trips

Withdraw at the airport or in a large city before heading to smaller towns, where ATMs can be scarcer or have limited hours.

2026 Budget Reality: What Withdrawals Cost in JPY

The Japanese operator fee is small. These examples use the typical fees above and show how your withdrawal habits change the total. They are illustrations, not trip budgets, and they leave out any fees from your home bank.

• Budget approach (one large withdrawal): one JPY 50,000 withdrawal costs JPY 220 in operator fees.
• Mid-range approach (two withdrawals): two JPY 50,000 withdrawals cost JPY 440 in total.
• Comfortable approach (three large withdrawals): three JPY 100,000 withdrawals, if your bank and the ATM allow that amount, cost JPY 660 in total.

Compare that with taking out JPY 10,000 five times. That is 5 × JPY 110, or JPY 550, to get the same JPY 50,000 that one larger withdrawal gets you for JPY 220. If your home bank also charges a flat fee each time, the gap grows quickly.

A few other cash costs to keep in mind:

• A standard IC card (Suica, Pasmo, Icoca and similar) requires a JPY 500 deposit.
• Taxi starting fares are around JPY 500 to JPY 700 for the first 1 to 2 km, depending on the region.
• Tax-free shopping starts at JPY 5,000 (excluding tax) at participating stores.

What Has Changed for Payments in 2026

Mobile IC cards are now the main recommendation

Chip shortages in 2023 and 2024 made physical IC cards hard to find. In 2026, Mobile Suica (iPhone and Apple Watch) and Mobile Pasmo (Android and Google Pay) are the recommended options for tourists. You top them up through Apple Pay or Google Pay with your credit or debit card, so there is no deposit and no physical card.

Physical Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport cards (valid for 28 days, no deposit) were made for tourists, but they were limited in supply and may still be hard to get. If available, Welcome Suica is sold at major JR or private railway stations in Tokyo, and Pasmo Passport at Narita and Haneda airports. Standard physical cards need the JPY 500 deposit and may also be in short supply.

Major IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, Icoca, Kitaca, Toica, Manaca, Sugoca, Nimoca and Hayakaken) work across Japan, so a Suica card works in Osaka too. If you use a physical card, you can top it up at station machines or with cash at a konbini register. Mobile cards are topped up on your phone. Details for Suica are at https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

Tax-free shopping is going digital

Tourists staying in Japan for under six months can get a refund of the 10% consumption tax on eligible purchases of at least JPY 5,000 (excluding tax), in one item or several. Show your passport at purchase. The digital system is becoming more common, so your passport data may be scanned and linked to your purchases instead of paper forms, which speeds up the process at customs. Goods are usually sealed in special bags and must leave Japan with you. A “Japan Tax-Free App” may exist to help you find stores, but direct processing at the shop is still common. Check the Japan Tourism Agency page at https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/ for current details.

Payment apps are still not for short-term visitors

PayPay and LINE Pay are popular with residents, but they generally need a Japanese phone number or bank account. For a short trip, treat them as unavailable, even when a taxi advertises QR payments.

Credit cards: widely useful, not universal

Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted, with JCB and American Express also common. Discover and UnionPay have more limited acceptance. Contactless options such as Visa payWave, Mastercard Contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay are growing, so look for the contactless symbol. Tell your bank your travel dates so your card is not flagged for suspicious activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my foreign card at any ATM in Japan?

No. Most major Japanese bank ATMs, such as MUFG, SMBC and Mizuho, do not accept foreign-issued cards. Use 7-Eleven (Seven Bank), Lawson Bank, FamilyMart (E-net) or post office JP Bank ATMs instead. Konbini machines are the most reliable and are generally open 24/7.

How much do ATM withdrawals cost in Japan?

Japanese operators typically charge JPY 110 including tax for withdrawals up to JPY 10,000, and JPY 220 for larger amounts. The fee appears on screen before you confirm. Your home bank may add its own foreign transaction fee, usually 0% to 3%, plus possibly a flat withdrawal fee.

What is Dynamic Currency Conversion, and should I accept it?

DCC offers to charge you in your home currency instead of JPY. Always decline it. The ATM applies an unfavourable exchange rate, which acts as a hidden fee. Choose JPY and let Visa or Mastercard handle the conversion, which usually gives you a better rate.

Are ATMs in Japan open 24 hours?

Convenience store ATMs at 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart are generally open 24/7. Post office ATMs have shorter hours, often 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, with reduced hours or closure on weekends and holidays. For late arrivals or Sunday withdrawals, head to a konbini.

Do I still need cash if I have a credit card or IC card?

Yes, carry some. Many small restaurants, ramen shops, temples, shrines, smaller ryokan and rural businesses are cash-only. Cards and IC cards work well in big cities, but cash is the safe backup, especially outside Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

📷 Featured image by Ozgu Ozden on Unsplash.