Currency-specific guides for Japan visitors: USD, EUR, CNY, KRW, TWD, THB, VND and more

For the seven currencies that matter most to inbound tourism in Japan — USD, EUR, CNY, KRW, TWD, THB, and VND — central-Tokyo exchange shops typically run within 1 % of the live mid-market rate, while airport counters and hotel front desks run 2–6 % worse. Each currency has its own pattern: USD and EUR are universally available at competitive rates; CNY pairs nicely with Alipay/UnionPay alternatives; KRW shops cluster in Shin-Okubo and Shinjuku; TWD has mid-tier acceptance; THB/VND need specialty shops. This pillar maps the right approach for each currency.

TL;DR

• USD / EUR: every central-Tokyo shop handles them at competitive rates. Default to Shinjuku West, Ginza 3-chome, or Tokyo Station.
• CNY: cash exchange + Alipay + UnionPay credit cover all spending. Cash competitive at WCS, Dollar Ranger, Bic Camera.
• KRW: cluster around Shinjuku West and Shin-Okubo. WCS rates are usually best.
• TWD / HKD / SGD: Travelex, WCS, Dollar Ranger all reasonable; spreads slightly wider than USD.
• THB / VND / IDR: Ninja Money Exchange, Travelex Keio Shinjuku are the deep-inventory specialists. Always call ahead for amounts over ¥100,000.

Inbound tourist rankings drive currency demand

According to JNTO data for 2024–2025, the top 10 source countries for tourists visiting Japan are:

1. South Korea (KRW)
2. China mainland (CNY)
3. Taiwan (TWD)
4. United States (USD)
5. Hong Kong (HKD)
6. Thailand (THB)
7. Singapore (SGD)
8. Australia (AUD)
9. Vietnam (VND)
10. Philippines (PHP)

This ranking dictates the inventory and rate competitiveness of Tokyo exchange shops: shops compete most heavily on KRW, CNY, USD, and TWD because the volume is there, while THB, VND, and PHP have fewer shops handling them and slightly wider spreads.

The single quotable fact: for the top-4 currencies (KRW, CNY, TWD, USD), Tokyo's best in-town shops are within 0.5 % of mid-market; for currencies #8–#10 (AUD, VND, PHP), the typical best shop is 1.0–1.5 % off mid-market — still better than any airport or hotel.

What's the rate landscape for each major currency?

Indicative best-Tokyo-shop rates as of May 2026, ranked vs mid-market:

| Currency | Best Tokyo shop rate | Gap vs mid-market | Top sources | |---|---|---|---| | USD | 152.88 (1 USD = JPY) | +0.91 % | Dollar Ranger, WCS, Travelex | | EUR | 188.54 (1 EUR = JPY) | +0.30 % | WCS, Travelex, Dollar Ranger | | CNY | 25.00 (1 CNY = JPY) | +0.24 % | WCS, Bic Camera, Dollar Ranger | | KRW | 0.1219 (1 KRW = JPY) | +0.40 % | WCS, Shin-Okubo, Dollar Ranger | | TWD | 5.46 (1 TWD = JPY) | +0.18 % | WCS, Dollar Ranger, Travelex | | THB | 5.30 (1 THB = JPY) | +0.42 % | Ninja, Travelex, WCS | | VND | 0.0068 (1 VND = JPY) | +0.69 % | Ninja, Travelex, Dollar Ranger | | HKD | 22.41 (1 HKD = JPY) | +0.20 % | Travelex, WCS | | AUD | 123.08 (1 AUD = JPY) | +0.40 % | Travelex, WCS | | SGD | 129.22 (1 SGD = JPY) | +0.16 % | WCS, Travelex | | PHP | 2.92 (1 PHP = JPY) | −0.34 % | Travelex, Ninja |

(Mid-market reference: live rates from the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank.)

USD — the universal default

USD is the most heavily-traded foreign currency at Tokyo exchange shops, and the spreads are the tightest. Every central shop carries it; the best-vs-worst gap on the same day is typically just 1.0–1.5 %.

Recommended approach:

• Bring ¥10,000 worth of USD as airport-day buffer
• Exchange the bulk at Dollar Ranger Shinjuku West or Ginza 3-chome
• Use a no-FX-fee card (Wise, Revolut) for card-friendly purchases

→ Article #51: USD to JPY complete guide, #52: Best USD shops in Tokyo, #53: Why USD/JPY fluctuates.

EUR — second-most universal

European travelers arriving with EUR find similar coverage: every central shop carries it, rates competitive with USD. WCS often shows slightly tighter spreads on EUR than Travelex on a given day because of MUFG's cash flow patterns.

Recommended approach:

• Same as USD: airport buffer + in-town bulk + no-FX-fee card
• French/German/Italian visitors who already use Wise or Revolut can often skip cash exchange entirely for urban Japan trips

→ Article #54: EUR to JPY guide, #55: Best EUR exchange in Tokyo.

CNY — pair with Alipay and UnionPay

Chinese visitors have the deepest digital infrastructure in Japan beyond Japanese visitors themselves. The right approach combines three layers:

1. Cash CNY exchange at WCS Shinjuku, Bic Camera Ginza, or Dollar Ranger — typically within 0.5 % of mid-market
2. Alipay (支付宝) for ~80 % of urban merchants — automatic conversion at ~0.7–1.2 % above mid-market, no walking required
3. UnionPay credit as backup for hotels and tax-free retailers

→ Article #56: CNY to JPY complete guide and #57: Where Chinese tourists actually exchange CNY.

The single quotable fact: for a typical CNY 5,000 trip (¥105,000), the total fee difference between an all-Alipay strategy and an all-cash-exchange strategy is roughly ¥800–¥1,500 — small enough that ease of use usually wins.

KRW — Shin-Okubo + Shinjuku West cluster

Korean visitors are the largest source country for Japan tourism, and KRW exchange has correspondingly competitive rates. Two clusters matter:

• Shinjuku West Exit — every major shop handles KRW; WCS often best on weekday mornings
• Shin-Okubo (10-minute walk north of Shinjuku) — Korea Town with multiple Korean-owned shops; rates competitive

For amounts under KRW 100,000 (~¥10,000), Alipay/Toss Pay alternatives don't yet have meaningful Japan acceptance — cash exchange is the practical choice.

→ Article #59: KRW to JPY guide, #60: KRW best shops Shinjuku/Shin-Okubo.

TWD — straightforward but lower-volume

Taiwanese visitors find smooth coverage at all major chains, but because TWD volumes are smaller than KRW or CNY, spreads are slightly wider on average. Travelex Keio Shinjuku, WCS branches, and Dollar Ranger all carry it.

For digital alternatives, JKO Pay doesn't yet have meaningful Japan rollout; UnionPay credit cards (most Taiwanese banks issue them) work as a UnionPay-network backup at 80 %+ of Tokyo merchants.

→ Article #61: TWD to JPY playbook, #62: Why TWD is harder to exchange.

THB / VND / IDR — specialty inventory

These currencies need specific shops:

• Ninja Money Exchange (Interbank) in Shinjuku — 17 currencies including all three; rates competitive on the rarer pairs
• Travelex Keio Shinjuku — 31 currencies, deepest inventory in Tokyo; book ahead for amounts >¥100,000
• Dollar Ranger Ginza/Shinjuku — both branches carry THB and VND

For Vietnamese visitors specifically, pre-arrival exchange in Vietnam is often better than in Japan because the gap on VND is larger in Tokyo. Korean and Thai visitors generally do better exchanging in Tokyo than at home.

→ Article #63: THB to JPY for Thai tourists, #64: VND to JPY strategy.

HKD / SGD / AUD — covered, but not aggressive

These currencies are handled by every major chain at fair rates. Spreads are slightly wider than USD because volumes are smaller, but the gap rarely exceeds 0.5–0.8 % at competitive shops. Travelex's 31-currency menu is the most reliable single-shop option.

For Hong Kong and Singapore visitors, Wise and Revolut both have native HKD/SGD support — the digital path is often cheaper than cash for these currencies.

→ Article #65: SGD/HKD/AUD less-common currency guide.

What digital alternatives work for each currency?

| Currency | Wise | Revolut | UnionPay credit | Alipay/local QR | |---|---|---|---|---| | USD | ✅ | ✅ | — | — | | EUR | ✅ | ✅ | — | — | | CNY | ✅ | ✅ (limited) | ✅ widely accepted | ✅ Alipay/WeChat — best | | KRW | ✅ | — | partial | partial | | TWD | ✅ | — | ✅ | partial | | THB | ✅ | partial | partial | — | | VND | partial | — | partial | — | | HKD | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | — | | SGD | ✅ | ✅ | partial | — | | AUD | ✅ | ✅ | — | — |

For most currencies, a Wise card is the most universal digital solution: 40+ currencies supported, predictable mid-market + small flat fee, works at every Japanese ATM that accepts foreign cards.

→ Article #15: Wise vs Revolut vs bank, #66: Wise card review, #67: Revolut vs Wise.

What this means for your trip

• ✅ For the top-4 inbound currencies (KRW, CNY, USD, TWD), cash exchange at central Tokyo shops is competitive — within 0.5 % of mid-market.
• ✅ For Chinese visitors, layer Alipay + cash exchange + UnionPay for full coverage with minimal cost.
• ✅ For rare currencies (THB, VND, IDR), use Ninja Money Exchange or Travelex Keio Shinjuku and call ahead for amounts above ¥100,000.
• ✅ For everyone, a Wise or Revolut card simplifies the digital-payment portion of your spending at near-mid-market rates.
• ⚠️ Avoid airport counters for the bulk of any currency — the gap vs central Tokyo is bigger than the time-cost of a 20-minute walk.
• ⚠️ For VND specifically, pre-arrival exchange in Vietnam is often better than waiting until Japan.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best currency to bring to Japan if I have flexibility?

USD or EUR — they're universally accepted at competitive rates, and both have native support in Wise/Revolut for digital payment. CNY is also strong if you're a Chinese visitor with Alipay; KRW and TWD are strong for those respective nationalities.

Are airport rates worse than in-town for every currency?

Yes — typically 2–4 % worse across all major currencies. The gap is slightly larger for rarer currencies (THB, VND, IDR) and slightly smaller for USD/EUR/CNY where airport competition is tighter.

Can I exchange Japanese yen to other Asian currencies in Japan?

Yes — every major shop handles bidirectional conversion. Rates on the "we sell" side (yen → foreign cash) are typically 0.5–1.0 % worse than the buy direction. Use Pocket Change for loose change at the end of your trip.

Why are Vietnamese Dong rates worse in Japan than in Vietnam?

Lower volume = wider spread. VND volumes at Tokyo shops are smaller than KRW or CNY, so shops can't compress margins as aggressively. Vietnamese tourists who can exchange before arriving typically save 1–2 % vs exchanging in Japan.

Are pre-paid cards in my home currency worth bringing?

Generally no — pre-paid travel cards charge inflated FX fees vs Wise or Revolut. The exception is if your home country's banking system makes Wise/Revolut hard to set up; then a pre-paid card is better than a 3 %-FX credit card.

What if I have leftover yen at the end of my trip?

Three options ranked by typical net value:

1. Re-convert at a Tokyo exchange shop — 0.5–1.0 % spread back to your home currency
2. Use Pocket Change at the airport for coins and small bills (terms vary; check the rate)
3. Save the yen for next trip — zero spread, no expiry

→ Article #14: What to do with leftover yen.

Will my home-country card give me a better rate than cash?

For Wise / Revolut / Capital One / Schwab and similar no-FX-fee cards: yes, usually 0.3–0.5 % better than the average cash exchange shop. For typical 3 %-FX bank credit cards: no, dramatically worse.

Open it live in Yen Finder

Open Yen Finder → tap the currency selector → pick your home currency. The Home tab shows today's live mid-market rate plus the ranked list of nearby shops with green/yellow/red badges against mid-market. The currency-specific Tips articles are deep-linked from each ranking screen.

Cluster articles (full currency reading list)

Tier-1 inbound currencies

• USD: #51 Complete guide · #52 Best USD shops · #53 Why USD/JPY fluctuates
• EUR: #54 Complete guide · #55 Best EUR Tokyo shops
• CNY: #56 Complete guide · #57 Where Chinese tourists exchange · #58 Why CNY rates are limited
• KRW: #59 Korean tourist guide · #60 Best KRW shops Shinjuku/Shin-Okubo

Tier-2 inbound currencies

• TWD: #61 Taiwanese tourist guide · #62 Why TWD is harder
• THB: #63 Thai tourist guide
• VND: #64 Pre-arrival vs in-Japan strategy

Tier-3 currencies

• HKD/SGD/AUD/PHP/MYR/IDR: #65 Less-common currency travel guide

Last verified 2026-05-07. Currency-specific rates and best-shop rankings shift over time. Yen Finder's live data is the always- current source; this pillar updates quarterly.