SponsoredThis article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you sign up through them, but our recommendations and editorial stance are not influenced by the partnerships.
The complete pillar guide for handling money in Ginza, one page. Ginza has Tokyo's most card-friendly retail mix — department stores, luxury brands, sushi counters, and kappo restaurants all accept cards as default. But there's a paradox: the most prestigious legacy restaurants often remain cash-only. Exchange shops cluster slightly outside the Ginza core, toward Yurakucho and Shimbashi, where WCS branches give noticeably better rates than the in-area options.
This page covers the arrival in Ginza → department stores, sushi, theater → Imperial Hotel area money flow across 6 axes.
TL;DR — your no-stress Ginza money playbook
Cash to carry: ¥10,000-20,000/day per person (sushi, kappo, theater tips, occasional cash-only purchases)
Best exchange: WCS Ginza or WCS Yurakucho, mid-market −1 to −1.5%
Best ATM: Ginza / Yurakucho / Shimbashi 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATMs 24/7
Recommended cards: Wise / Revolut (pair with a points credit card for high-ticket spend)
Hotels: Imperial, Peninsula, Conrad, Mandarin Oriental + business hotels in Yurakucho-Shimbashi. Compare Rakuten Travel / Agoda / JTB / Jalan
Mobile: Ginza department-store Wi-Fi is strong; eSIM not strictly required but recommended
1. Three distinct sub-areas in Ginza
Ginza 1-8 chome (Chuo-dori axis)
Department-store and high-brand mecca. Mitsukoshi, Matsuya, GINZA SIX, Uniqlo Global Flagship. Card acceptance 100%.
Yurakucho / Hibiya
Theater and cinema zone. Imperial Theatre, Tokyo Takarazuka, Hibiya Midtown. WCS Yurakucho is the convenient exchange option.
Shimbashi / Shiodome
Salaryman dining culture. The under-track izakaya at Shimbashi run on 60-70% cash.
Legacy sushi, tempura, and kappo restaurants often tell you at reservation time "cash only at the bill". A ¥30,000-50,000 kaiseki bill in cash is common — confirm in advance.
5. Hotels — Tokyo's luxury cluster
Ginza concentrates Tokyo's Imperial, Peninsula, Conrad, Mandarin Oriental luxury hotels, plus reliable business hotels in Yurakucho-Shimbashi.
6. Connectivity — Ginza Wi-Fi is relatively strong
Ginza's department stores and cafés have well-developed Wi-Fi, so the city works reasonably without eSIM. Still recommended for back-alleys and route-finding on the move.