How the Ranking Works
The Yen Finder ranking is calculated by mechanically aggregating publicly available information. This page discloses our calculation method and assumptions as transparently as possible.
Basic Policy
- The ranking is designed to show where it is currently most advantageous to exchange money at a glance.
- Scores are calculated only from objective numerical data. They contain no subjective "recommendations" from the operator or preferential treatment from stores of any kind.
- A lower ranking position does not mean "this is a bad store." It is simply a mechanical representation of how far the rate at the time of acquisition is from the mid-market rate.
Rate Sources
| Source | Frequency | Target Stores |
|---|---|---|
| Scraping of official websites | 3-4 times per day | Travelex, World Currency Shop |
| OCR of X (Twitter) post images | 1-2 times per day | Some Daikokuya and Dollar Ranger stores |
| User submissions (OCR) | Anytime | All stores |
| Store catalog import | Roughly once per month | Smart Exchange (rates are in-store only) |
The Mid-Market Rate is sourced from the public API at open.er-api.com.
How Scores Are Calculated
For each store, we calculate the "gap from the mid-market rate (%)" for each currency:
Gap % = (Store buy rate − Mid-market rate) ÷ Mid-market rate × 100
Example: If the USD/JPY mid-market rate is 150.00 and the store's buy rate is 148.50:
- Gap = (148.50 − 150.00) / 150.00 × 100 = −1.00%
- The larger the negative value, the more "disadvantageous for tourists" it is.
Badge Criteria
Each rate is assigned one of the following badges:
| Badge | Condition | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Great | Gap ≥ −0.5% | Almost the same as the mid-market rate. Very favorable |
| 🟡 OK | −1.5% ≤ Gap < −0.5% | Within the standard range |
| 🔴 Bad | Gap < −1.5% | Significantly far from the mid-market rate |
| ⚪ Pending | Rate not yet acquired | Awaiting acquisition (submissions welcome) |
How Ranking Order Is Determined
- Default sort order: Best buy rate (gap) within the same currency.
- When location is permitted: Distance from the current location is also considered (proximity × rate quality).
- When rates are tied, stores are sorted by most recently updated first.
- Stores whose rates have not been acquired are displayed at the bottom of the ranking.
Information We Do Not Collect
- Commissions and handling fees: These may be added separately in-store, but we do not collect them on this site.
- Minimum and maximum exchange amounts: These vary by store but are not collected on this site.
- ID verification requirements: May be required for exchanges of approximately ¥30,000 or more (per the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds).
- Overall chain service quality: Wait times, English-language staff support, etc.
Please confirm these in-store or on the official website.
Rate Freshness
- Every rate display clearly shows the time of acquisition (e.g., "3 hours ago").
- Rates older than 24 hours are demoted to the bottom of the ranking.
- Because exchange rates fluctuate constantly, the rates on this site and the actual in-store rates will typically not match. Always confirm at the store before exchanging.
Bias Disclosure
- Some articles may contain affiliate links (Wise, Revolut, etc.), which are marked with a "PR" notation.
- The presence or absence of affiliate links has zero influence on the ranking. The score calculation logic is identical for all stores and chains.
- The operator has no partnership or investment relationship with any specific exchange chain (as of May 2026).
Disputes and Corrections
- Store owners who wish to report "the rate displayed for my store is inaccurate" or "please stop listing my store" can contact us at:
- Email: info@nando.llc
- We typically respond within 7 business days.
- General users reporting "the mid-market rate or score is wrong" or "store information is outdated" can also use the same contact.
Logic Change History
- 2026-05-11: Initial public launch logic (the content of this page)
If the logic is changed, we will add a change log entry to this page.
Last updated: 2026-05-12