Kyoto cash strategy 2026: where to exchange yen and how much to carry for temples

⚡ 30-Second Answer: Kyoto = sites accept cards but shrines/small shops need cash, with 81% card acceptance (lower than Tokyo's 92%). ¥25,000-35,000 cash + Wise/Revolut card is the playbook. Exchange: WCS Kyoto Karasuma branch is the most reliable, running 0.5-1.0% better than Kyoto Station (Kyoto Station Travelex/bank booths are more convenient but slightly worse), 24h ATM: 7-Eleven in front of Kyoto Sta. Shrine offerings, matcha experiences, small Kiyomizu-area shops need cash — small ¥500-1,000 bills help.

Quick Reference	Value
Best exchange	WCS Kyoto Karasuma (0.5-1.0% better than Kyoto Sta.)
Convenient backup	Kyoto Sta. Travelex / bank booth
24h ATM	7-Eleven front of Kyoto Sta.
Cash needed	¥25,000-35,000
Card acceptance	81% (below Tokyo)
Small bills	¥500-1,000
Last verified	June 2026

Kyoto's tourism mix — temples, family-run ryokan, traditional restaurants, the historical Nishiki Market — pushes the cash-needed percentage well above Tokyo's, making ¥30,000–¥50,000 in cash per person for a 4-day Kyoto trip the right baseline. The best exchange options cluster around the Karasuma area between Karasuma-Oike and Shijo, with Kyoto Station providing a slightly worse but more convenient backup. This guide gives the practical breakdown by neighborhood, the daily cash budget, and the small cultural touches that make Kyoto's cash flow smooth.

TL;DR

• Carry ¥30,000+ cash for a 4-day Kyoto trip; ¥50,000+ for ryokan-included or festival-included itineraries.
• Best exchange: Karasuma district (between Karasuma-Oike and Shijo); WCS Kyoto branch and pawn-shop FX windows.
• Backup: 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATMs throughout central Kyoto and at all Shinkansen stations.
• Pre-bring cash from Tokyo or Osaka if your itinerary includes ryokan, kaiseki, or rural Kyoto outskirts.

Why does Kyoto need more cash than Tokyo?

Kyoto's tourist economy combines temple visits, traditional crafts, and small family-run businesses. Each layer is more cash-dependent than Tokyo's modern retail:

Temples and shrines

Most temples charge ¥300–¥1,000 admission, cash only at the gate. Donations (saisen-bako) are entirely cash. Fortune slips (omikuji) are ¥100–¥300, cash only.

Family-run restaurants

Higher density than Tokyo of small obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking) shops, traditional kissaten coffee houses, and 100-year- old confectioneries — most cash-only.

Traditional ryokan

Kyoto has the highest density of traditional ryokan in Japan; about 60–70% require cash deposits at check-in.

Nishiki Market

~100 small vendors selling food, sake, pickles, and crafts. Card acceptance is improving (~50% in 2026) but still inconsistent stall-to-stall.

Modern retail (where cards work)

Card acceptance in Karasuma, Kyoto Station, and modernized parts of Gion matches Tokyo: hotels, department stores, Apple Store, major chains all accept Visa/Mastercard/ JCB.

Worth remembering: for a typical 4-day Kyoto trip (temples, ryokan, mid-range restaurants), you'll spend 40–50% of your budget in cash — about double Tokyo's ratio.

What's the right cash budget for a Kyoto trip?

City-only Kyoto (3 days, mid-range hotels)

¥20,000–¥30,000 cash per person

Times 3 days = ¥18,000–¥31,500. Budget ¥25,000 for buffer.

Ryokan-anchored Kyoto (3 days, including 1 ryokan night)

¥40,000–¥60,000 cash per person

Add the ryokan deposit (typically ¥15,000–¥30,000 cash for one night). Plus the cash budget above.

Multi-temple intensive (Higashiyama, Arashiyama, Fushimi-

Inari, Kinkaku-ji loop) ¥30,000–¥40,000 cash per person

Multi-temple itineraries push the cash usage up because each shrine/temple combination involves admission + donations + souvenirs.

→ Article #13: How much cash to bring.

Where do I exchange yen in Kyoto?

Three best zones:

Karasuma area (between Karasuma-Oike and Shijo)

The densest exchange cluster in Kyoto:

• World Currency Shop Kyoto Karasuma — MUFG-affiliated; rates published online; the most reliable single shop.
• Travelex Kyoto Daimaru — inside Daimaru department store; 31 currencies; ANA/JAL miles.
• Multiple pawn-shop FX windows — variable rates; check same-day display.

Karasuma rates are typically 0.3–0.6% behind Tokyo's best on USD/EUR — close enough that a Kyoto-anchored trip doesn't need Tokyo as a detour.

Kyoto Station

• JR Kyoto Travelex — convenient, especially for arriving Shinkansen travelers; 31-currency menu.
• JR ViewCard exchange center — 35 currencies; comparable to Tokyo's branch but slightly worse rates.

Kyoto Station rates are typically 0.5–1.0% behind Karasuma — acceptable for the convenience.

Other zones

• Gion area — limited exchange shops; rely on cash brought from Karasuma or 7-Eleven ATMs.
• Arashiyama — minimal exchange options; bring cash from central Kyoto.

How does the Tokyo–Osaka–Kyoto cash strategy work?

For a multi-city itinerary, the practical pattern:

Day trip from Tokyo or Osaka: bring ¥10,000–¥15,000 cash from the hub city. Kyoto's rates lag enough that pre-bringing is the better choice for amounts >¥20,000.

→ Pillar 4: Money tips for Japanese cities.