Guide · Money
Cash, ATMs and cards in Japan: what works in 2026
Use the ATM in a 7-Eleven or a post office. Seven Bank (in 7-Eleven stores) and Japan Post Bank ATMs both take foreign Visa, Mastercard and most other brands, with menus in English. Seven Bank allows up to ¥100,000 per withdrawal and takes Visa and Mastercard 24 hours; Japan Post Bank allows ¥50,000 and may charge ¥220. Cards are accepted in most hotels, chains and stations, but not everywhere: Japan’s cashless ratio was 58.0% in 2025, so carry some yen for small places, shrines and IC card top-ups. If the ATM offers your home currency, compare the rate before you accept.
Sources: Seven Bank, Japan Post Bank, JNTO and METI, listed at the end · checked 23 October 2026
Which ATMs take foreign cards
| Seven Bank (7-Eleven) | Japan Post Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Over 28,000 ATMs in 7-Eleven stores, plus many other locations | Post offices, plus compact ATMs in FamilyMart stores, some stations and supermarkets |
| Foreign cards accepted | Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club | Visa, PLUS, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, China UnionPay, Discover |
| Hours | Visa and Mastercard 0:00–24:00; other brands from 0:05–0:10 to 23:50–23:55 | Post offices: 7:00–23:00 Mon–Sat, 7:00–21:00 Sun and holidays; FamilyMart: 0:05–23:55 on most days |
| Per withdrawal | ¥100,000 (¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe transactions) | ¥50,000 |
| ATM fee for foreign cards | Varies by card brand | ¥220 per use may apply to some cards |
| Languages | 12, including English (JNTO) | English available (JNTO) |
From Seven Bank, Japan Post Bank and JNTO, checked 23 October 2026. Some cards with these logos may still be refused; your card issuer can tell you why. Hours can differ over New Year and Golden Week. Other banks’ ATMs vary: look for your card’s logo on the machine.
Fees and withdrawal limits
- Two sets of fees can apply: the Japanese ATM’s fee (above) and your own bank’s foreign withdrawal fee and exchange margin. Japan Post Bank says your issuer’s own fee comes on top of its ¥220.
- Fewer, larger withdrawals keep per-withdrawal fees down, within the ¥100,000 or ¥50,000 limit and your bank’s daily limit.
- Before you fly, tell your bank you are travelling and check your card has a PIN that works abroad.
- Exchange counters are in the arrivals halls of all major airports (JNTO) if you prefer to arrive with yen.
- Over ¥1 million in cash or equivalent must be declared to Japan Customs when you arrive or leave (JNTO).
Yen or your home currency?
At Seven Bank ATMs, Visa and Mastercard users choose the currency the withdrawal is billed in (this is called dynamic currency conversion, DCC):
| If you choose | What happens |
|---|---|
| Your home currency | The amount in your currency is fixed at the ATM, at its rate |
| Japanese yen | Your bank converts it when the transaction is billed, at its own rate |
Compare the rate on screen with your bank’s or card’s rate. Many banks and travel cards recommend choosing the local currency. The same choice can come up at card terminals in shops.
Where cards work, and where they do not
- Usually fine: hotels, department stores, chain restaurants, convenience stores and long-distance JR tickets. JNTO says international cards are generally accepted, and that the Narita Express and Shinkansen can be paid by card.
- Not always: short-distance train and subway tickets (JNTO). Use an IC card such as Suica or ICOCA instead, which also pays in convenience stores and vending machines.
- Often cash: small family-run restaurants and bars, market stalls, offerings and some admission fees at shrines and temples, some local buses, and topping up a Welcome Suica card, which JR East accepts in cash only. Ramen ticket machines and food stalls are covered in what to eat in Japan.
- No card logo on the door? JNTO suggests simply asking; some shops accept cards without displaying the marks.
How much cash to carry
There is no official figure. For what a day typically costs, see how much a Japan trip costs. A practical approach: withdraw enough for a few days at a time, keep it in yen, and pay by card wherever it is accepted. Keep extra cash for rural areas and holidays, when ATMs can be harder to find; JNTO notes that not all ATMs are open 24 hours and some in central areas can run out of cash.
Shopping tax-free? From 1 November 2026 you pay the tax at the till and get it back after the customs check at departure. Track your receipts in the tax refund wallet and read what changed.
Quick answers
Which ATMs in Japan accept foreign cards?
Seven Bank ATMs in 7-Eleven stores (over 28,000 in Japan) and Japan Post Bank ATMs in post offices and FamilyMart stores both accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay and Discover cards issued abroad; Seven Bank also takes American Express and Diners Club. Other bank ATMs may not.
How much does it cost to withdraw cash in Japan?
At Japan Post Bank an ATM fee of ¥220 per withdrawal may apply to some foreign cards. Seven Bank says its fee for overseas cards varies by card brand. Your own bank may add a foreign ATM fee and a conversion margin on top, so check its terms before you travel.
What is the ATM withdrawal limit in Japan?
Per withdrawal: ¥100,000 at Seven Bank (¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe transactions) and ¥50,000 at Japan Post Bank. Your bank’s own daily limit may be lower.
Should I choose yen or my home currency at the ATM?
Seven Bank lets Visa and Mastercard users choose. Your home currency fixes the amount at the ATM’s rate there and then; yen leaves the conversion to your own bank. Compare the rate on screen with your bank’s; many banks and travel cards suggest choosing the local currency.
Do I still need cash in Japan in 2026?
Yes, some. Japan’s cashless payment ratio was 58.0% in 2025 (METI), and JNTO calls Japan very much a cash-based society. Cards work in most hotels, chain stores and restaurants, but carry cash for small places, shrines and temples, and IC card top-ups.
Are ATMs in Japan open 24 hours?
Seven Bank ATMs take Visa and Mastercard around the clock, and other brands for nearly the whole day. Post-office ATMs run 7:00–23:00 Monday to Saturday and 7:00–21:00 on Sundays and holidays, and hours can change over long holidays.
Planning the rest of the trip? The trip planner builds a dated checklist (eSIM, IC card, ticket sales), and the eSIM guide covers mobile data, which you will want for maps and card apps.
Sources
Checked against these pages on 23 October 2026. Official pages take precedence over this summary.
- Seven Bank: Overseas cards usable at ATMs: brands, hours and withdrawal limits
The bank that runs the ATMs in 7-Eleven stores. - Seven Bank: How to withdraw cash with a foreign card, and the currency-conversion (DCC) choice
- Japan Post Bank: International ATM Service: cards, hours, fee and limit
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Currency and currency exchange, ATMs
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Credit cards in Japan
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Cashless payment ratio for 2025: 58.0% (31 Mar 2026, Japanese)
- JR East: Welcome Suica: where to buy, prices, 28-day validity, top-ups and refunds
Railway operator.
General information, not financial advice. ATM fees, limits and hours change; the bank’s own page is always right. JapanBenri is not affiliated with Seven Bank, Japan Post Bank or any card issuer, and this page has no partner links.