Japanese Yen in Vancouver: How Much Cash to Bring to Japan

If you are flying from Vancouver to Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, bring some Japanese yen in cash. Japan still uses cash more than most Canadians are used to, and having yen in your wallet when you land means you can pay for a train ticket, a bowl of ramen or a temple entry without hunting for an ATM. For a typical week, many travellers carry somewhere around ¥50,000 to ¥70,000 in cash and use a card for hotels and bigger purchases.

Below is a simple way to work out your own number, using FonderX rates as of Tuesday October 20, 2026 at 10:08 AM Pacific. Rates change through the day, so always check today's rates before you come in.

Why bring Japanese yen cash to Japan

Cards are widely accepted in big department stores, chain hotels and many city restaurants in Japan. But plenty of everyday spots are still cash-first: small family restaurants, street food stands, local markets, some taxis, coin lockers, vending machines and the small fees at many shrines and temples. If you plan to see Kyoto's older neighbourhoods or eat your way through Osaka, you will reach for cash often.

Having yen before you leave Vancouver also takes pressure off your first day. After a long flight, it is nice to buy a train ticket into the city, a drink and a snack without worrying whether your card will work or where the nearest ATM is.

Cash is also a simple way to keep a daily budget. When the yen in your wallet is gone for the day, you know where you stand.

How much yen to bring for a week

There is no single right amount. It depends on how many meals you eat out, how much you shop and whether your hotel is prepaid. A simple approach is to pick a daily cash figure, multiply by the number of days, and use your card for larger costs like hotels and rail passes.

Here is one worked example for a 7-day trip:

• Daily cash budget: ¥10,000 for meals at smaller places, snacks, local transit top-ups, temple fees and small souvenirs.
• 7 days × ¥10,000 = ¥70,000.
• At our We Sell rate of 0.0092140 CAD per yen (October 20, 2026, 10:08 AM Pacific), ¥70,000 × 0.0092140 = $644.98 CAD.

If you eat mostly at hotels or plan to pay by card wherever you can, ¥5,000 a day may be plenty. That would be ¥35,000 for a week, or $322.49 CAD at the same rate.

Here is what common amounts cost at that rate:

These figures are for illustration only. The rate at the counter on the day of your visit may be different, so check the live board first.

Small bills vs large bills

Japanese banknotes come in ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 notes (a ¥2,000 note exists but is rarely seen). Coins go from ¥1 up to ¥500, and you will collect a lot of them.

A ¥10,000 note is the easiest way to carry a large amount, but it can be awkward for a ¥600 snack at a small stand. A good mix for a week might be mostly ¥10,000 notes, plus several ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes for small purchases. When you visit us, tell us how you plan to spend it and we will do our best with the breakdown. If you need a specific mix, call ahead at (778) 759-0400 to check what we have.

A small coin purse is worth packing. Coins add up fast in Japan, and they are handy for vending machines, lockers and transit cards.

Cash habits in Japan

Tipping is not part of everyday life in Japan. You generally do not leave a tip at restaurants, in taxis or at hotels, and the price you see is what you pay.

Many shops and restaurants use a small tray at the till. You place your cash on the tray instead of handing it directly to the cashier, and your change comes back the same way.

Rechargeable transit cards are popular for trains, subways and buses in major cities, and you can usually top them up with cash at station machines. That is another reason to keep some ¥1,000 notes handy.

Buying yen at FonderX before your trip

Buying your yen before you fly means you know exactly what you paid and you land ready to go. At FonderX in New Westminster, you can buy Japanese yen in cash with Canadian cash, in person.

A few things to know before you come:

• We are cash only. We do not take cards, e-transfers or cheques.
• Bring valid government photo ID.
• Check today's rates before you leave home, as rates move during the day.
• If you are a paramedic, firefighter, police officer, 911 dispatcher, nurse, ER doctor or teacher, ask about our Frontline Heroes Rate and bring your work ID.

Coming home with leftover yen? We buy it back too. At our We Buy rate on October 20, 2026 (10:08 AM Pacific) of 0.0087050 CAD per yen, ¥10,000 would come back as $87.05 CAD. Note that the We Buy rate is lower than the We Sell rate, so it pays to plan your amount sensibly rather than buy far more than you need.

Visit FonderX

FonderX Currency Exchange Inc. is at Unit 2, 723 12th Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 4J8, serving travellers from New Westminster, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and across Greater Vancouver. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and closed weekends and BC statutory holidays. Remember: cash only, and bring valid government photo ID. See our contact and hours page or call (778) 759-0400.