Counterfeit yen in 2026: extremely rare, but here's what to know

Counterfeit yen is extremely rare in Japan — fewer than 30 fakes per million notes according to Bank of Japan reports — making the risk near-zero for tourists. The vast majority of counterfeit cases are caught at ATMs or by retailers; the rare cases that pass through are usually obvious imitations.

TL;DR

• Counterfeit rate: ~30 per million notes (extremely low).
• For tourists: not a practical concern.
• Source from: ATMs and major exchange shops only.

See also

• Article #82 — Yen denominations
• Article #94 — Old yen notes

Last verified 2026-05-07.