Japan trip money packing list 2026 — physical cards / cash / documents, dialed in

How many cards go in your suitcase, where to split your cash, how many passport copies to bring — a packing list focused on the money side only. A 3-day trip and a 3-week trip use essentially the same kit: 2 cards + ¥15,000 cash + 2 passport copies + a phone with an eSIM is the backbone. Everything else is just padding to taste.

TL;DR — minimum kit

• Physical cards: 1 main Wise / Revolut + 1 home-country credit card (backup)
• Virtual cards: 2-3 cards in Apple Wallet / Google Wallet
• Cash: ¥15,000 (¥10,000-equivalent in home currency + ¥5,000 in yen)
• Passport copies: 2 paper copies + cloud backup
• Phone: eSIM profile already downloaded, ready to connect even from airplane mode
• Documents: Flight, hotel booking, and travel insurance in both Apple Wallet and on paper

1. Cards — the "two-card rule"

Main card (1)

Wise debit or Revolut debit. FX 0-0.65%, ¥30,000/month ATM free, Apple Pay compatible.

→ #15 Wise vs Revolut vs bank cards

Backup card (1)

Home-country credit card (VISA / Master).

• Emergency cover if the main card freezes or gets lost
• For pricier hotels and shinkansen tickets
• Confirm overseas use is ON before you leave

Virtual cards (in Apple Wallet)

1. Wise virtual (a stand-in while the physical card ships)
2. Revolut virtual
3. Your existing credit card (if the issuer supports Apple Pay)

→ #184 Wise virtual → Apple Pay → ATM full walkthrough

Anti-patterns

• ❌ Debit card only: one freeze and you're stuck
• ❌ 3+ credit cards: a headache to manage, more to lose
• ❌ A credit card with overseas use OFF: won't work

2. Cash — mix of home currency + yen

¥10,000-equivalent in home currency

Emergency insurance. For when the airport ATM is broken or your card freezes. USD, EUR, and CNY can all be exchanged at banks inside Japan.

¥5,000 in yen

For trains and vending machines right after landing. Converting your full budget to yen at home costs you -5 to -10%, so keep it minimal.

Where to keep it

1. Passport pouch (¥2,000-worth): half
2. Suitcase safety pocket: half
3. Hotel safe: consolidate after check-in

→ #13 How much cash for Japan / #5 Exchange before or after?

3. Passport and documents

Passport

• The real thing (1)
• 2 paper copies (one in the suitcase, one in the passport pouch — separated)
• Photo scan (iCloud / Google Drive)

Visa (only if required)

Unless your country is visa-exempt for Japan (US, UK, DE, AU, etc.), arrange it in advance.

Flight ticket

• E-ticket PDF in Apple Wallet
• 1 printout (backup)

Hotel booking

• Booking confirmation email in Apple Wallet or printed
• Hotel address in both Japanese and English (to show taxi drivers)

Travel insurance policy

• Save the emergency phone numbers (Japan + home country) in a Wallet note
• Hospital line + Japan-side support desk

4. Phone and connectivity

eSIM setup

Download the profile before you leave → fine to do in-flight (in airplane mode) → activate the moment you land.

→ #111 SIM / eSIM / pocket WiFi compared

Google Maps offline

Download the main areas in advance for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo.

Translation apps

• Google Translate (Japanese-English offline)
• DeepL (more natural output)
• Ticket vending machines: Google Lens for OCR + translation

Power bank

• 20,000 mAh or higher (must carry the PSE mark, carry-on only)
• Will fully charge an iPhone about 5 times

5. Wallet contents

Travel wallet contents

• Main card × 1
• Backup credit card × 1
• ¥5,000 cash (small bills and coins)
• Passport copy × 1

In the hotel safe

• The actual passport (you don't need it on your day-out walks)
• ¥5,000 cash (emergency)
• Backup documents

A second "sub-wallet" on your phone

2-3 virtual cards + Suica/Pasmo (Apple Wallet) will get you through 90% of situations without a physical wallet.

6. Carry-on essentials

What goes in your carry-on

• Passport
• Landing card (handed out on the plane)
• Main card × 1 (for in-flight Wi-Fi payments)
• ¥5,000 in yen (for the airport bus or train)
• Phone + power bank

Fine to put in checked baggage

• Backup card
• The bulk of your cash
• Document copies

→ Anti-pattern: passport plus every card in the checked suitcase (one lost bag and you're stuck)

7. Add-ons by travel style

Backpacker

• Coin purse (you'll handle a lot of coins)
• Padlock (for dorm lockers)
• Slim security pouch (under-clothes cash stash)

Family

• Kids' Suica/Pasmo (same fare as adults from elementary school age)
• Family LINE group to track who paid what
• Revolut group wallet for splitting bills

Business trip

• Receipt holder (for expense reports)
• Business card case
• Plug adapter (Japan uses Type A, same as the US)

Senior travel

• A larger wallet (easier to handle coins)
• Emergency contact note (on paper)
• The original travel insurance policy

Top 10 most-forgotten items

1. Overseas-use ON (check your bank app before you leave)
2. eSIM profile download (you'll notice mid-flight, in airplane mode)
3. Backup scans of your flight ticket (a dead phone leaves you stuck)
4. Yen coins (for shrine offerings and vending machines)
5. A small backpack (for daily sightseeing)
6. Plug adapter (unnecessary but many people buy one out of anxiety)
7. Power bank charging cable (people pack the bank but forget the USB cable)
8. International driving permit (if you're renting a car)
9. English-name list of prescription meds
10. Insurance support phone number starting with +81

FAQ

Q: How many credit cards should I bring?

A: Two is enough. Three or more and the loss risk outweighs the upside.

Q: How much yen should I exchange before leaving?

A: ¥5,000-10,000 only. Anything more and you eat a mid-market -5 to -10% spread. Pull the rest from ATMs.

→ #2 The hidden cost of airport exchange

Q: Is it OK to leave my passport in the hotel and walk around?

A: Yes. Even Japanese police ID checks usually accept a passport copy. The hotel safe is the safer spot.

Q: Do I need an ATM cash card?

A: No. Your Wise / Revolut debit card pulls cash from ATMs directly. Even without the physical card, Apple Pay works at Seven Bank ATMs.

→ #76 The complete Seven Bank ATM guide

Q: Yen coins get heavy — how do I cut down?

A: At the end of the trip, spend them at a convenience store — that's the classic move. ¥1 / ¥5 / ¥10 / ¥50 / ¥100 / ¥500 = 6 coins totaling ¥666 per set.

Q: I lose things easily — any tips?

A: Drop an AirTag into your wallet, suitcase, and card case. ¥4,500 each for location tracking.

Related articles

Packing and prep

• #186 Pre-departure money checklist
• #188 Japan trip weekly budget
• #5 Exchange before or after?
• #13 How much cash for Japan

Cards

• #15 Wise vs Revolut vs bank cards
• #137 The best card for Japan travel 2026
• #184 Wise virtual → Apple Pay → ATM full walkthrough

ATMs

• #76 The complete Seven Bank ATM guide
• #79 ATM withdrawal limits
• #80 Minimizing ATM fees

Connectivity

• #111 SIM / eSIM / pocket WiFi compared

Last verified: 2026-05-22. Pricing for the listed services moves — confirm on the linked sites.