A Guide to Japanese Money (Yen): Coins and Bills

All About the Japanese Yen Coins and Bills

The official currency of Japan is the yen. It’s denoted around the world with the ¥ symbol but locally, the "kanji" character 円 (pronounced “en”) is used. The character aptly translates to “round”, describing the shape of Japanese coins.

The first official Japanese coinage dates as far back as 704 during Japan’s Asuka period. Before that, commodities such as rice and clothes were exchanged without currency. Over the years, Japanese coins have changed in material, size, and shape. It wasn’t until the Meiji Era in the late 1800s that the first national paper money was produced by the newly-established Bank of Japan.

Currently, there are four denominations of Japanese banknotes (1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen) and six denominations of Japanese coins (one-yen, five-yen, 10-yen, 50-yen, 100-yen, and 500-yen) used in day-to-day life.

A Closer Look at Japanese Coins and What They Look Like

If you’ve never used them before, you might be wondering, what do Japanese coins look like? Each coin has distinct features that can help you tell them apart. Once you get familiar with these coins, you’ll be able to start using money in Japan like a pro!

1 Yen Coin

The lowest denomination of Japanese currency, the 1 yen coin is also the lightest among all Japanese coins. In fact, it’s so light that it floats on water! This lightweight aluminum coin is engraved with an image of a young tree or “wakagi” on the front side, while the back side has the number 1 and the coin’s production date in kanji. The design has not changed for more than 50 years as it was first issued in 1955 and marked its 50th anniversary in 2005, which makes it the oldest coin among presently-manufactured coins.

Along with the 5 yen coin, 1 yen coins cannot be used in vending machines and train station ticket machines in Japan. But you can still use them for in-person cash payments in restaurants and stores. 

5 Yen Coin

The brass 5 yen coin is unique for a variety of reasons. First, it’s considered a lucky offering in Shinto shrines because of the similarity between the Japanese pronunciation for 5 yen (goen - 五円) and "goen" (ご縁), a Buddhist term for the ties between people.

Appearance-wise, it’s the only coin that doesn’t have the Arabic numeral value “5” written on it. Luckily, it’s distinct enough that you should be able to know when you have a 5 yen coin in your hands. You’ll notice its bright golden color and the hole in the middle.

It was first issued in 1949 just after the war, so Japan's major industries were used as the basis for the obverse design, as Japan looked forward to postwar reconstruction. On the front side, the characters "五円" are set against a background of rice ears symbolizing agriculture, a gear indicating heavy industry, and vertical lines representing water and fishery. On the back are young leaves symbolizing Japan, Japan’s country name and the coin’s production date engraved in kanji. 

10 Yen Coin

The bronze-made 10 yen coin features one of Japan’s National Treasures, the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Temple in Kyoto’s famous matcha heaven, Uji City which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. 10 yen is written in kanji as 十円 on the front side, and again as the number “10” on the back side, which is also surrounded by leaves of an evergreen tree. 

10 yen coins are the lowest denomination of Japanese currency that you can use in vending machines and train station ticket machines. With Japan’s consumption tax currently at 10%, 10 yen coins will also come in useful when you want to pay in exact change. 

50 Yen Coin

The 50 yen coin is made of cupronickel and is the second coin with a hole in the middle. The hole was added in 1959, because it resembled the 100 yen coin in size and color, the 50 yen coin was pierced to make it more distinguishable from the 100 yen piece. Its front side is engraved with chrysanthemum flowers which are symbolic of the Imperial Family of Japan. The backside of the coin simply has the number “50” and the coin manufacture date in kanji and numbers.

While there might not be a lot you can buy with a single 50 yen coin, they can be useful for buying cheap snacks like "dagashi" as well as getting you exact change and can be used in all machines.

100 Yen Coin

The 100 yen coin is also made of cupronickel and has a relatively simpler design compared to the other Japanese coins on this list. The front side has an image of cherry blossoms, the Japanese country name and 100 yen in kanji, while the back simply has the number “100” and the coin’s production date.

“Hyakuen” shops or 100 yen shops are popular across the country because of their wide range of affordable items. Although prices might not be exactly 100 yen during checkout with the consumption tax, they’re good places for getting things on a budget.

500 Yen Coin

The 500 yen coin has the most recent redesign on this list, with the new designs brought into circulation on October 15, 2021. The new 500 yen coin is made of three different materials: nickel-brass, cupronickel, and copper and is bicolored as part of its added security features, which also include new ridge designs with different pitches and micro lettering and numbers. The front side features a paulownia floral design on the obverse, while the reverse is designed with the denomination, bamboo, and "tachibana"mandarin orange.

Once you’re in Japan, you might come across restaurants that promote “one coin meals”, and this often refers to the 500 yen coin. Keep an eye out for them if you want a good meal for cheap!

A Closer Look at Japanese Bills and What They Look Like

Now that we’re done with Japanese coins, we move on to Japanese bills. If you’re visiting Japan after April 2024, then you’ll be in time for the introduction of the newly designed banknotes. Japanese bills last got a redesign back in 2004, exactly 20 years ago. With new people being featured, new motifs and security features added, the Bank of Japan is doing a complete design overhaul with these new bills.

1,000 Yen

The lowest denomination of Japanese bills is 1,000 yen, and there’s a good chance you’ll get pretty familiar with it in Japan. Even in cities like Tokyo where things are on the expensive side, there will always be things available for under 1,000 yen. In convenience stores, you can buy “bento” or packed meals for under 1,000 yen and a drink to go with it too for a full meal.

The current and new series of 1,000 yen bills are both recognizable by their shades of blue. The current version has Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese bacteriologist who succeeded in cultivating syphilis and discovering it as an agent of disease in the early 1900s. The back side has an image of Mount Fuji seen from a distance with cherry blossoms in the foreground. 

The new banknote will have another prominent Japanese bacteriologist, Shibasaburo Kitasato, who was the co-discoverer of the infectious agent of the bubonic plague in Hong Kong in the late 1800s. The new backside will still have Mount Fuji, this time framed in the style of ukiyo-e artist Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” woodblock print.

Recommended Hotel Near Mt. Fuji: Hotel New Century

2,000 Yen

The 2,000 yen bill is the rarest Japanese bill, making up only 0.9% of the bills currently in circulation. They were first released in the year 2000 to commemorate the G8 Summit. But only 4 short years later, the Bank of Japan stopped printing them entirely because they proved to be unpopular among the general Japanese population. However, the 2,000 yen bill still has a special place in the heart of Okinawans – its design includes a picture of the Shureimon Gate in Naha, Okinawa. They’ve made it a tradition to give the bill as a New Year’s gift to each other. 

In general, vending machines do not accept a 2,000 yen bill and many stores’ cash registers do not have a built-in space for them. So while you might not find a lot of use for the bill, it could be worth holding on to as a keepsake of your time in Japan.

Recommended Hotel in Naha: Hotel Anteroom Naha

5,000 Yen

Both the current and redesigned versions of the 5,000 yen have tinges of purple and images of women from Japan’s Meiji period. The current version has Ichiyo Higuchi, Japan’s first female professional writer who wrote 24 stories before her death at age 24. On the back side is an image of the “Irises” folding screen painting by Japanese landscape illustrator, Korin Ogata. 

In the new bill, Higuchi is replaced by Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer for Japanese women’s education. She was one of the first Japanese women to study abroad in the United States, and she went on to found Tsuda University, a private women’s university in Tokyo. Similar to the current version, this new bill also has an image of flowers on the backside, but this time it’s of purple Japanese wisteria.

10,000 Yen

Last, but certainly not least is the 10,000 yen bill. The current design of the bill has the philosopher, educator, and samurai Yukichi Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa was an important figure during Japan’s Edo and Meiji Period, whose writings were influential in advocating for education. His founding of Keio University and Japan’s Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases continues his legacy. On the back side of the bill is the Statue of Phoenix from Kyoto’s Byodoin Temple, which was also on the 10 yen coin.

The 2024 redesign will have Eiichi Shibusawa, an industrialist who contributed to the modernization of the Japanese economy. He was involved in the founding of the Japan Red Cross, along with numerous hospitals, schools, and universities across Japan. On the back side, the new bill will feature Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building.

Conversion Rates for Japanese Yen

1 USD (United States Dollar) = 131.84 JPY (Japanese Yen)
1 EUR (Euro) = 142.10 JPY
1 SGD (Singaporean Dollar) = 98.38 JPY
1 AUD (Australian Dollar) = 89.26 JPY 
1 GBP (British Pound) = 160.55 JPY
1 CAD (Canadian Dollar) = 95.74 JPY
1 TWD (New Taiwan Dollar) = 4.30 JPY
1 KRW (South Korean Won) = 0.10 JPY
1 CNY (Chinese Yuan) = 19.14 JPY

*The information included below is current as of March 20, 2023.

How to Get Your Japanese Yen

You’re fresh off the plane and you’re finally in Japan! Now how do you get some yen? Let’s take a look at the two most common ways.

Currency Exchange

If you need to get some yen fast – maybe there’s something that caught your eye right at the airport – then you’ll find currency exchange places in all of Japan’s major airports. These places also tend to have staff who can assist you in English. But since you’re paying for convenience, you should expect rates that might give you a few less yen for your money. 

If you want to exchange your money for better rates, you can wait a bit until you can head out and find currency exchange places in tourist areas such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Odaiba in Tokyo. 

ATMs

In Japan, you don’t have to go too far to find ATMs since they can be found in banks, convenience stores, train stations, supermarkets, and more. You can bring your credit card with you and certain ATMs will allow you to withdraw money. This includes Seven Bank ATMs, which you can find in most 7-Eleven convenience stores, E.Net ATMs, and Aeon Bank ATMs. 

If you want to double check that you can use your card on any given ATM, keep an eye out for a sign that mentions “International Cards”. These machines also tend to have an option to switch the language to English so you won’t have to guess what the buttons do.

Payment Methods in Japan

Cash

As we previously mentioned, Japan is still largely a cash-based country. There are a few cashless payment methods you can use (which we will talk more about below), but there’s always still a possibility of you running into a small shop or restaurant that only accepts cash so make sure to always bring cash with you when you’re out in Japan. 

Credit Cards and Debit Cards

Credit cards and debit cards are accepted in most places in Japan and when you do use them, you’ll find that chip-and-pin systems are the most common and you can typically see the card machine right by the counter. To a lesser degree, some places also accept contactless credit cards, although they’re typically limited to large chain restaurants and supermarkets.

IC Cards

IC Cards in Japan are rechargeable, contactless smart cards you can get from train stations across Japan. The name and design of these cards can vary per region, and in some instances, one region like Tokyo can have more than one type of IC Card (Suica and Pasmo). All these different IC Cards can be easily interchanged, so there’s no need to fret.

Aside from its functionality in relation to trains, they can also be used as payment for some buses, and as a cashless alternative payment method for vending machines, convenience stores, fast food places, chain restaurants, and more.

Mobile Payment Methods

The mobile payment methods common in Japan and also used outside the country are the smartphone-based digital wallets Apple Pay and Google Pay. There are also a fair few digital payment apps you might come across, such as Paypay, LINE Pay, and R Pay, however, these payment apps require a registration process only available to residents and are not something you’ll use as a tourist.

Money Etiquette in Japan

No Tips

Strictly no tips allowed in Japan! This can be a common issue among first-time tourists who come from countries where tipping is the norm. All places in Japan - whether it’s a store, a restaurant, a hotel, or something else - do not accept tips in any form. If you do try to offer a tip, you will be refused or might just cause confusion among the staff. 

Place the Money on the Tray Provided

When you’re paying at a counter or even in taxis, make sure to observe the etiquette of placing the money neatly on the tray. They’re often placed right in the center where you can easily see them, and many places have a standard black or blue tray. This etiquette is considered the standard, polite way of paying, so when in Japan, make sure to observe this unwritten rule!

Put Money in an Envelope When Giving It to Someone

To clarify, this etiquette is only commonly observed when you’re giving money as a gift to someone you know and is unnecessary when paying for things in the day-to-day. There are envelopes specifically designed for giving cash, so they come in the right size for putting paper bills in. In cases when you’re giving money as part of a celebration, Japan has varying styles of envelopes based on the occasion.

Make the Most Out of Your Japan Trip by Being Financially Prepared

Now that you know all about Japanese coins and bills, how to pay for things in Japan, and the dos and don’ts surrounding Japanese money etiquette, you now know how to make the best use of your money to have the best time in Japan!

If you want to give feedback on any of our articles, you have an idea that you'd really like to see come to life, or you just have a question on Japan, hit us up on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!