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Contents📖 ~9 min read
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:
South Korea (KRW)
China mainland (CNY)
Taiwan (TWD)
United States (USD)
Hong Kong (HKD)
Thailand (THB)
Singapore (SGD)
Australia (AUD)
Vietnam (VND)
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.
Why this matters: 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:
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:
Cash CNY exchange at WCS Shinjuku, Bic Camera Ginza, or
Dollar Ranger — typically within 0.5% of mid-market
Alipay (支付宝) for ~80% of urban merchants — automatic
conversion at ~0.7–1.2% above mid-market, no walking required
UnionPay credit as backup for hotels and tax-free retailers
Worth remembering: 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.
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.
✅ 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:
Re-convert at a Tokyo exchange shop — 0.5–1.0% spread back
to your home currency
Use Pocket Change at the airport
for coins and small bills (terms vary; check the rate)
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.
Check today's real rates on 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.
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.