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About this guide
Practical, independent information on cash, cards, and currency exchange in Japan — built for travelers planning a trip, not for any one provider.
Our mission
Planning how to handle money in Japan shouldn’t require guesswork. This site exists to answer the questions travelers actually have before a trip — how much cash to bring, where to exchange it, and which places still expect cash over cards — in plain, practical terms.
Who runs this site
This site is operated by SMART EXCHANGE, which runs a network of over 1,000 currency exchange machines across Japan. We’re upfront about that connection rather than hiding it — but our editorial content is written to be useful regardless of where you end up exchanging your money.
Operator
SMART EXCHANGE
Business
Currency exchange machines, Japan-wide
Machines nationwide
1,000+
Learn more about SMART EXCHANGE
Our editorial approach
Because this is a money-related site, we hold ourselves to a few specific rules when writing and reviewing content:
No invented rate comparisons
Exchange rates change daily. We don’t publish specific rate figures that would go stale, and we never rank providers by a number we can’t stand behind.
Facts over superlatives
We avoid “best” or “cheapest” claims. Where we highlight an option, it’s based on things that don’t change day to day — hours, availability, and how the process works.
Regularly reviewed
Articles are checked against current signage and information on a rolling basis, with the last update date shown on every page.
Editorial disclaimer
This site provides general information to help you plan your trip. It isn’t financial advice, and it isn’t a substitute for checking current details yourself before you rely on them.
Information changes. Exchange rates, business hours, and store locations change regularly. While we review our guides on a rolling basis, we can’t guarantee every detail is accurate at the exact moment you read it — always confirm anything time-sensitive, like whether a shop still requires cash, before you go.
No liability. We aren’t liable for decisions made based on this site’s content, or for losses connected to using it.
Content ownership. Articles, guides, and other content on this site belong to SMART EXCHANGE and shouldn’t be reproduced without permission.
How this site makes money
We believe in being upfront about this.
This site is operated by SMART EXCHANGE and includes links to SMART EXCHANGE’s currency exchange machines and coupon offers. We may also link to third-party services from time to time. These links don’t influence the factual information in our guides.
Corrections and feedback
Prices, hours, and locations change. If something in one of our guides looks out of date or incorrect, we want to know. You can reach us at yentrip-contact@smart-exchange.co.jp.
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