SGD, HKD, AUD to JPY in 2026 — the less-mainstream-but-not-obscure currencies traveler guide
⚡ 30-Second Answer: SGD/HKD/AUD are mid-tier currencies after USD/EUR, with 2.5-4% spread. 100 SGD ≈ ¥11,000-11,400, 100 HKD ≈ ¥1,900-2,000, 100 AUD ≈ ¥9,700-10,000. Exchange: Travelex at Shinjuku/Tokyo Sta./Haneda (mid -3%), bank counters (-2.5%, weekday) are cheaper. Wise/Revolut covers all 3 at mid +0.5% — the best deal.
Quick Reference Value 100 SGD → ¥ 11,000-11,400 100 HKD → ¥ 1,900-2,000 100 AUD → ¥ 9,700-10,000 Shinjuku/Tokyo Sta. Travelex mid -3% Wise/Revolut +0.5% (best) Last verified June 2026
Singapore (SGD), Hong Kong (HKD), and Australian (AUD) sit in the "second tier" of currencies Japanese exchange shops handle — not as ubiquitous as USD/EUR (which every Travelex/Dollar Ranger/WCS branch quotes), but vastly more accessible than the truly rare currencies (THB / IDR / MYR / VND) that only specialist branches stock. All three trade with spreads of 0.5–1.0% at the best Tokyo chains, somewhat wider than USD/EUR but materially better than airport-counter rates. The often-overlooked play: Wise and Revolut both natively support all three currencies for digital spending, which means visitors from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia can frequently skip cash exchange entirely and just spend via card — often cheaper than the cash route once spread + ATM fees are accounted for.
TL;DR
- SGD (Singapore): best rate at Travelex Keio Shinjuku or WCS — ~0.3–0.5% spread; Wise card natively supports
- HKD (Hong Kong): best at Travelex / WCS — ~0.4–0.6% spread; Wise supports natively
- AUD (Australian): best at Travelex (42-store network) — ~0.5–0.8% spread; both Wise & Revolut native
- Digital path often beats cash: Wise multi-currency held in SGD/HKD/AUD → spend via Wise card in JPY at mid-market + small Wise fee
- Inventory note: smaller exchange shops sometimes don't stock all three; Travelex is the most reliable for these
The 2026 rate landscape
Indicative spreads vs mid-market for $500-equivalent in each currency:
| Currency | Best Tokyo chain (cash) | Spread vs mid | Wise/Revolut spread | Better route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGD | Travelex Keio Shinjuku | 0.3–0.5% | 0.4% + £0/transfer | Cash slightly better for $500+ |
| HKD | WCS or Travelex | 0.4–0.6% | 0.5% + £0/transfer | Comparable |
| AUD | Travelex (any) | 0.5–0.8% | 0.4% + small | Wise often better |
| (compare) USD | Dollar Ranger | 0.3–0.5% | 0.5% | Cash slightly better |
| (compare) EUR | Dollar Ranger | 0.3–0.5% | 0.5% | Comparable |
Practical takeaway: SGD and HKD are tight enough that cash exchange at a top chain is still the best route for amounts $300+. AUD is wide enough that the Wise card route often wins, especially for smaller amounts where the per-transaction Wise fee amortizes well.
SGD (Singapore dollar) → JPY
Cash exchange
- Best Tokyo rate: Travelex Keio Shinjuku, Travelex Narita / Haneda for airport-arrival convenience — typically 0.3–0.5% spread
- Inventory reliability: SGD is always in stock at Travelex (singapore-tourism flow is steady), reliably at WCS, less reliable at Dollar Ranger
- At airport: spreads widen to 2–3% — avoid for any meaningful amount
- $1,000 SGD example: at Travelex Keio Shinjuku → ~¥110,000 JPY (assuming ~110 JPY/SGD mid)
Digital path
- Wise: native SGD wallet. Hold SGD, swap to JPY at mid-market + ~0.4% fee, spend via Wise card
- Revolut: native SGD support on most plans
- Singapore PayNow → Japan: no direct channel; you must convert SGD first
Recommended play
- Trip cost $500–$2,000: cash exchange at Travelex Keio Shinjuku, accept ~0.4% spread, get convenient yen for cash-only Japan
- Spending mostly card-friendly: Wise multi-currency with SGD held, use Wise card for restaurants/hotels, withdraw ¥30,000 cash one-time at Seven Bank for the cash-only spots
- Day trip from Singapore: skip cash entirely, use Wise/Revolut card + Seven Bank ATM if you need yen
HKD (Hong Kong dollar) → JPY
Cash exchange
- Best Tokyo rate: WCS or Travelex — spreads 0.4–0.6%
- Inventory reliability: HKD is in stock at all Travelex branches and most WCS, less consistent at Dollar Ranger (focuses on USD/EUR)
- At airport: 2–3% spread
- $1,000 HKD example: at WCS Tokyo Station → ~¥19,500 JPY (assuming ~19.5 JPY/HKD mid)
Digital path
- Wise: native HKD wallet, mid-market + ~0.5% conversion fee
- Revolut: native HKD support on most plans
- AlipayHK / Octopus → Japan: Octopus Cards now interoperate with Japanese rail systems in limited ways (touch-in for some JR lines via partnership), but you cannot spend HKD balance directly in Japanese stores — you need to convert first
Recommended play
- Mainstream Hong Kong tourist trip: cash exchange at WCS or Travelex is fine; the convenience offsets the slight spread vs Wise
- Multi-currency Wise user: use Wise card for daily spending, withdraw ¥30,000–¥50,000 cash one time at Seven Bank for cash-only venues
AUD (Australian dollar) → JPY
Cash exchange
- Best Tokyo rate: Travelex (which has 42 stores and 30+ currencies including AUD) — spreads 0.5–0.8%
- Inventory reliability: AUD always in stock at Travelex, usually at WCS, less reliable at smaller chains
- At airport: 2–4% spread (don't)
- $1,000 AUD example: at Travelex Keio Shinjuku → ~¥98,000 JPY (assuming ~98 JPY/AUD mid)
Digital path
- Wise: native AUD wallet, mid-market + ~0.4% conversion fee
- Revolut: native AUD support
- POLi / PayID → Japan: no direct channel — Wise is the simplest
Recommended play
- AUD spread is wider than SGD/HKD, so the Wise card path often beats cash:
- Hold AUD in Wise → spend via Wise card in JPY at mid-market + ~0.4% = effective 0.4% spread
- vs cash at Travelex: 0.5–0.8% spread + the inconvenience of carrying yen
- The exception: cash-only ryokan / rural taxi trips where Wise card can't reach. For those, exchange $200–$300 AUD at Travelex on arrival.
The "less common Asian currency" comparison
For travelers comparing SGD/HKD/AUD with the rarer currencies (THB / VND / IDR / MYR / NZD):
| Currency | Travelex stocking | WCS stocking | Wise / Revolut native |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGD | ✅ all branches | ✅ most | ✅ both |
| HKD | ✅ all branches | ✅ most | ✅ both |
| AUD | ✅ all branches | ✅ most | ✅ both |
| THB | ✅ Travelex Keio Shinjuku + Narita | △ select | ✅ Wise |
| VND | △ Travelex Keio Shinjuku, Narita only | ❌ | ❌ |
| IDR | △ Travelex select branches | ❌ | △ Revolut Premium |
| MYR | △ Travelex select | ❌ | △ |
| NZD | ✅ Travelex most | △ | ✅ both |
Pattern: SGD/HKD/AUD are at the easy end of the spectrum. If you have one of these three, you have a wide menu of options. If you have THB/VND/IDR/MYR, you're effectively locked into Travelex Keio Shinjuku or Narita.
Common mistakes
① "I'll exchange at the airport"
Same airport-counter trap as USD — spreads are 2–4 percentage points wider than central Tokyo for all three currencies. Save it for Travelex Keio Shinjuku.
② "Wise is always cheaper"
Not for SGD/HKD on $500+ amounts. Cash exchange at Travelex Keio Shinjuku at 0.3% spread beats Wise's 0.4% + fee for round-number amounts. AUD is the exception where Wise often wins.
③ "Travelex airport will have stock"
True for SGD/HKD/AUD. NOT reliably true for THB/VND/IDR — call ahead if you specifically need those.
④ "Octopus card works in Japan"
Octopus has limited interoperability with some JR lines as part of a Hong Kong-Japan partnership, but it does NOT make HKD spendable in Japanese retail. You still need to convert first.
Related
- #51 USD → JPY tourist guide
- #15 Wise vs Revolut vs bank card
- #98 Travelex vs Dollar Ranger vs WCS
- #79 ATM withdrawal limits in Japan
Last verified 2026-05-18. Spread figures are indicative based on recent observation; check live rates on each chain's site before relying on a specific value.