Dealing with coin-heavy change in Japan in 2026
Japanese coins (¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, ¥500) accumulate fast — small purchases at konbini and vending machines generate them daily. Best uses: feed them into vending machines (¥130–¥500), top up Suica IC card, or convert to PayPay credit at a Pocket Change kiosk on departure day.
TL;DR
- Best uses: vending machines, Suica top-ups.
- For end of trip: Pocket Change kiosks at airports.
- Avoid: counting at registers (slows the line).
See also
- Article #82 — Yen denominations
- Article #35 — Pocket Change at airport
Last verified 2026-05-07.