Do you still need cash in Japan? (2026)
Short answer: yes, but less than you think. Cards, phones and IC cards like Suica work in most of urban Japan in 2026, but small restaurants, temples and shrines, rural areas and some machines and lockers are still cash only.
Last verified: October 14, 2026.
Where cards work, and where you still need cash
Cashless payments were 58.0% of consumer spending in 2025 (targets: 65% by 2030, 80% long term). The new indicator excludes imputed rent for owner-occupied housing, so it is not comparable with 2024's 42.8% under the old method; METI says it ran about 8 to 9 points higher in 2020 to 2024.
| Usually fine with a card or phone | Often cash only |
|---|---|
| Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) | Small family-run restaurants, ramen shops with old ticket machines |
| Hotels, department stores, chain restaurants | Temple and shrine entry, offerings, charms (omamori) and stamps |
| Train and subway fares, with an IC card | Rural buses, small inns and shops outside the big cities |
| Taxis in big cities | Some coin lockers, older vending machines, festival stalls |
| Major sights and museums | Some street food stalls and markets |
IC cards: Suica, PASMO and ICOCA
These rechargeable tap cards pay for trains, convenience stores, many vending machines, lockers and shops. Suica (JR East, Tokyo), PASMO (Tokyo private lines) and ICOCA (JR West, Osaka and Kyoto) work interchangeably in all major cities.
What tourists can get in 2026:
- Physical Suica and PASMO cards. Suspended in 2023 by a chip shortage, back on sale at station machines since March 2025.
- Welcome Suica card. For short-term visitors, sold at the main Tokyo airports and major JR East stations. It has a limited validity period and no refund of unused balance, so check the terms at the counter and top up only what you will spend.
- Welcome Suica Mobile. A JR East iPhone app, launched March 2025 that creates a Suica on your phone, no station visit needed. JR East lists its balance as valid for 180 days. There was no Android version as of 2026.
- Apple Pay Suica, PASMO or ICOCA. On iPhone 8 or later, create one in Wallet and top it up from Apple Pay. Express Mode lets you tap through gates without unlocking.
How top-ups work:
- Physical cards are topped up with cash at station ticket machines or a convenience store till ("Suica charge, please"), usually in ¥1,000 steps. A card holds up to ¥20,000.
- Phone cards are topped up from a credit or debit card in Apple Wallet or the app. If your card is declined for a top-up, try a different card, or use a physical IC card topped up with cash at a station machine instead.
Logging top-ups in Dayfare. Log each top-up as one Transit expense in yen, so the day you load it shows in your budget (slightly overstating Transit if you also buy snacks), or log each purchase instead: a ¥210 subway ride under Transit, a ¥450 onigiri and tea under Food. Pick one per trip, or you count the same yen twice.
Which ATMs accept foreign cards
| ATM | Where | Typical fee per withdrawal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) | Almost every 7-Eleven, many stations and airports | Shown on screen | Most reliable for foreign cards, open 24 hours, up to ¥100,000 per withdrawal (¥30,000 if the card's magnetic stripe is used) |
| Japan Post Bank | Post offices, some stations, compact ATMs in some FamilyMart stores | ¥220 for many foreign cards | Good in rural areas; machine hours vary by location; up to ¥50,000 per withdrawal |
| Lawson Bank | Lawson stores | Shown on screen | Widely available in cities |
| Aeon Bank | Aeon malls and MiniStop | Shown on screen | Mostly in suburbs and malls |
Your bank may add its own fee. Decline any offer to charge you in your home currency; our guide to withdrawing cash abroad explains that screen and which card to use.
How much cash to carry
- Estimate daily cash spending: often ¥2,000 to ¥5,000 in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, more in rural areas.
- Carry two to three days of it.
- Withdraw three to five days at a time, since fees are per withdrawal.
- Top up when you drop below a day's worth.
At ¥3,000 a day, carry ¥6,000 to ¥9,000 and withdraw ¥10,000 to ¥15,000 at a time. A countryside week at ¥6,000 a day means carrying ¥12,000 to ¥18,000, withdrawn before you leave the city. For a full budget, see how much a trip to Japan costs per day.
Shopping tax-free? From November 1, 2026 you pay the 10% tax up front and claim it back. See what changes for your budget.
Tracking cash in Dayfare
- Log cash as you spend it, not the withdrawal: a ¥1,000 ramen goes under Food, converted to your home currency.
- Log ATM fees under Bank Fees to see what cash cost you.
- Check today's allowance, the Home screen ring, however you paid.
Sources
- Cashless payment ratio for 2025, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
- Cashless payment ratio for 2024, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
- Using cards issued abroad at ATMs, Japan Post Bank
- Welcome Suica Mobile launch, JR East via Business Wire
- Use Suica, PASMO or ICOCA on iPhone or Apple Watch, Apple Support
- The return of Suica cards, Tokyo Cheapo
- Apple Pay Suica troubleshooting, Ata Distance
- ATMs in Japan, Japan Travel Kit
Frequently asked questions
Is Japan still a cash-only country?
No. Government figures put more than half of consumer spending on cards and other cashless methods in 2025, and chains, hotels, department stores and stations take cards everywhere. Cash is still needed at small family-run places, temples, shrines, rural shops and some machines.
Can tourists buy a Suica card in 2026?
Yes. Regular Suica and PASMO cards went back on sale in March 2025, the Welcome Suica card for visitors is sold at airports and major JR East stations, and iPhone users can add a Suica in Apple Wallet or use the Welcome Suica Mobile app.
Can I top up Suica with a credit card?
On a phone, yes: Apple Wallet and the Welcome Suica Mobile app take a credit or debit card; if one is declined, try another. A physical card is topped up with cash at station machines or convenience store tills.
Which ATMs in Japan accept foreign cards?
7-Eleven (Seven Bank) is the most reliable and runs 24 hours. Japan Post, Lawson and Aeon ATMs also take most foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. Japan Post may charge ¥220 per withdrawal on many foreign cards; the others show their fee on screen before you confirm. Your own bank may add its own fee.
How much cash should I carry in Japan?
Work out your likely daily cash spending, usually ¥2,000 to ¥5,000 in cities and more in rural areas, and carry two to three days of it. For most city trips that means keeping ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 on you and topping up at an ATM when you drop below a day's worth.
Prices and rules last verified: . Published .