Pocket Change in 2026: brilliant or a rip-off?

Pocket Change is genuinely useful for the specific case of leftover foreign coins and small bills that exchange shops won't accept — rates ~1% below mid-market are reasonable for that niche use. For pure currency exchange, dedicated shops are better. For end-of-trip yen leftovers, Pocket Change matches in-town exchange shop yen-back rates.

TL;DR

• Brilliant: foreign coins, mixed leftover currency.
• Reasonable: end-of-trip JPY conversion.
• Avoid: pure currency exchange (worse than dedicated).
• Pricing: ~1% below mid-market for typical use.

When does Pocket Change win?

• Leftover Japanese coins (no other option accepts them)
• Small foreign bills mixed with coins
• Quick airport conversion before flight

When does it lose?

• Bulk yen-back conversion (use in-town shop)
• Pure foreign currency to JPY (use dedicated shop)
• Crypto enthusiasts (find a real exchange)

See also

• Article #14 — Leftover yen strategy
• Article #35 — Pocket Change at airport

Last verified 2026-05-07.