Pocket Change at the airport in 2026: brilliant or a rip-off?
⚡ 30-Second Answer: Best uses for airport pocket change: ①vending machines (¥110-150 drinks), ②konbini snacks (¥300-500), ③coin lockers (deposit for next visit), ④donation boxes. Never coin-buyback — fees run 20-50%. Charge leftover to Suica/PASMO — valid for 10 years and ready for your next trip.
Quick Reference Value Best 1 Vending machines Best 2 Konbini snacks Best 3 Charge to Suica Avoid Coin buyback (20-50% fee) Suica validity 10 years Last verified June 2026
Pocket Change at Haneda, Narita, KIX, and central Tokyo locations converts foreign coins and small bills (and Japanese yen leftovers) into PayPay credit, USD/EUR e-money, Apple Gift Cards, or other digital options at rates ~1% below mid-market. For travelers with awkward leftover combinations (Japanese coins, small foreign bills, mixed currencies), Pocket Change is genuinely useful. For larger amounts and cleaner cash, regular exchange shops or the "save for next trip" option win.
TL;DR
- Pocket Change: ~1% below mid-market on most conversions.
- Best use: leftover coins (Japanese or foreign), small bills, mixed currency situations.
- Don't use for: bulk yen-back conversion (use exchange shops); pure currency exchange (worse than dedicated shops).
- Available at: every major Tokyo airport, plus some central Tokyo locations.
What is Pocket Change?
Pocket Change is a kiosk service launched in Japan in 2017, designed to convert leftover foreign currency (especially coins) into useful digital alternatives.
Locations:
- Haneda Airport (T1, T2, T3)
- Narita Airport (T1, T2)
- Kansai International Airport (KIX)
- Some central Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc.)
- Tokyo Sky Tree observation deck
What Pocket Change accepts:
- Coins from 25+ countries
- Small bills from many countries
- Japanese yen (coins and bills)
- Mixed combinations
What you receive (your choice):
- PayPay credit (best rate, useful for return visits)
- USD e-money via prepaid debit card
- EUR e-money
- KRW e-money
- Apple Gift Card
- Bitcoin (variable rate)
What's the actual conversion rate?
For a typical Pocket Change conversion:
| Source | Approx. rate | vs mid-market |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket Change at airport | ~1% below mid-market | −1.0% |
| Best in-town Tokyo shop (yen-back) | ~1.0% below mid-market | −1.0% |
| Airport re-exchange counter | 3–5% below mid-market | −3 to −5% |
Pocket Change is roughly equivalent to in-town yen-back exchange — meaningfully better than airport counters, slightly worse than Tokyo's best in-town shops.
When is Pocket Change worth using?
Best uses
- Leftover Japanese coins — exchange shops won't take them, but Pocket Change does
- Small foreign bills ($1, $5, €5, etc.) — bills below exchange-shop minimums
- Mixed currency combinations — easier than re-exchanging each currency separately
- Time-pressured departure — quicker than walking to a distant in-town exchange shop
- Future Japan visitors — convert to PayPay credit for return trip
Skip cases
- Large yen-back amounts (¥30,000+) — better at in-town shop
- Single currency over ¥10,000 — better at exchange shop
- No future Japan plan — PayPay credit useless
- Crypto skeptics — skip the Bitcoin option
What this means for your trip
- ✅ Use Pocket Change for ¥1,000–¥5,000 of leftover yen on departure day.
- ✅ Use Pocket Change for foreign coins (no other option accepts them).
- ✅ Convert to PayPay credit if you'll return to Japan; USD/EUR e-money if not.
- ⚠️ Don't bulk-convert yen through Pocket Change — use in-town exchange instead.
- ⚠️ Don't expect great USD-to-yen rates on incoming — go to a regular shop.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pocket Change accept all currencies?
Major ones: USD, EUR, GBP, KRW, CNY, TWD, HKD, AUD, CAD, CHF, SGD, THB. Smaller currencies (THB, VND, IDR) accepted with worse rates. Check the kiosk display before depositing.
Can I receive cash from Pocket Change?
Generally no — Pocket Change converts to digital options (e-money cards, PayPay credit, gift cards). You cannot get cash from a Pocket Change kiosk.
What's the conversion rate to USD e-money?
Roughly 1% below mid-market on most days. The e-money is loaded onto a prepaid debit card you can use as a regular Visa.
Does Pocket Change accept torn or damaged bills?
Yes for Japanese yen; foreign bills require usable condition. Coins must be relatively clean.
Are there fees on top of the rate?
Generally no separate fees — the conversion rate includes their margin.
Can I send my Pocket Change conversion to Wise?
The USD e-money is a prepaid debit card; you can use it for purchases but typically can't transfer to Wise directly.
See also
- What to do with leftover yen
- Haneda Airport money exchange comparison
- Pocket Change brilliant or rip-off (in-depth)
Last verified 2026-05-07.