Cashless payment methods are becoming increasingly popular in Japan. Many small businesses and rural areas have started adopting QR code payment systems like PayPay. However, these services are often inaccessible to travelers from outside certain parts of Asia. As a result, cash is still widely used in Japan. Small shops and local transportation, such as buses and trains where transactions involve small amounts of money, may not accept credit cards. Here, we share our findings on cashless payment options available to international travelers in Japan.
Suggestions from the Research
Bring credit cards that are widely accepted in Japan, such as VISA or MasterCard. While American Express and Diners Club cards are also usable, they are not accepted everywhere.
That said, it’s wise to carry at least five 1,000-yen bills. Buses, subways, and trains, especially for short-distance travel, often require cash for small fare adjustments. On buses, in particular, change for larger bills (10,000 or 5,000 yen) is often unavailable.
Upon arriving in Japan, purchase an IC card, which works on most public transportation systems. Topping up the card allows you to tap at gates for JR, subways, buses, and more. However, keep an eye on your balance, since cash is needed to top it up if the balance runs low.
Research Conditions
- This research is not specific to any smartphone model or traveler demographic.
- The information is based on publicly available internet sources as of December 2024, but conditions may change—check the provided links for updates.
- If credit card types are unclear, we assumed they were not accepted.
- When only Japanese-issued credit cards were explicitly accepted, we treated them as unavailable for international travelers. Please note that credit card acceptance may differ between online and in-person purchases in Japan. Since cash is often required for direct purchases, it’s best to book or purchase online in advance whenever possible.
IC Cards
IC Cards for Public Transport and Everyday Convenience
IC cards are available for international travelers visiting Japan. Simply tap the card on a ticket gate to pass through, and the fare will be automatically deducted. These cards can be used not only on public transportation but also at most convenience stores and even vending machines, making them incredibly convenient. For JR trains, subways, buses, and more, simply touch the card to the gate to travel. Your remaining balance briefly appears on the gate display after you tap.
IC cards are issued by various companies, including JR. Each company has its own card with different names, such as Kitaca, PASMO, Suica, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, and ICOCA. These companies have partnerships that allow the cards to be used within each other’s operating areas. However, these cards cannot be used for travel across different companies’ service areas, so be mindful of each company’s operating zones.
These cards can be purchased from multi-function vending machines or staffed ticket counters at stations. Each card requires a 500-yen deposit.
If your card balance is insufficient, you’ll need to pay the difference in cash. If you don’t have enough cash on hand, you’ll need to ask station staff for assistance or find a way to get more. This can be time-consuming, so it’s best to monitor your balance regularly.
IC Card for Travelers Staying Up to 28 Days
If you arrive first at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, or within Tokyo, consider the Welcome Suica, an IC card offered by JR East that doesn’t require a deposit. The card is valid for 28 days from the date of purchase. Learn more here.
The Welcome Suica can be purchased at JR EAST Travel Service Centers located at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, JR Tokyo Station, JR Shinagawa Station, JR Shibuya Station, JR Shinjuku Station, JR Ikebukuro Station, and JR Ueno Station.
Types of Credit Cards Accepted
Convenience Stores
In Japan, convenience stores are ubiquitous and incredibly well-stocked—so much so that you might not even need to visit a restaurant during your stay.
There are seven major convenience store chains in Japan, and all of them accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover.
Railways
For short-distance travel on JR, private railways, and subways, ticket vending machines typically do not accept credit cards.
For long-distance travel on JR, major stations offer multi-function vending machines that accept credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover. You can also use credit cards at staffed ticket counters.
Subways across Japan are increasingly installing automatic gates that support contactless credit cards. These gates accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover.
Some private railways are also adopting contactless credit card gates, but ticket vending machines remain widely used. Particularly in rural areas, it’s advisable to carry cash just in case.
Buses
For long-distance buses, tickets can be purchased at counters or online, and credit cards are usually accepted.
For local buses used for short-distance travel, payment is limited to IC cards or cash. In rural areas, IC cards may not be usable, so carrying cash is recommended. Additionally, large bills (10,000 yen or 5,000 yen) are often not accepted, so having 1,000 yen notes on hand is advisable.
Taxis
There are many taxi companies in Japan, but in rural areas, it’s more common for cash to be the only accepted payment method.
Many taxis, however, do accept credit cards. You can easily confirm this by checking for stickers on the door indicating the accepted card types.
Taxi fares in Japan can be quite expensive over long distances. If you’re unsure whether your card will be accepted or have concerns about using an international card, it’s a good idea to show it to the driver before starting your trip.
Air Travel
There are 15 major airlines offering long-distance flights within Japan, all of which accept Visa and MasterCard. However, some may not accept other credit cards, so please check the list below for details. [Research List]
In addition, helicopter sightseeing tours are available in various regions. For example, you can find options like those listed below. These tours can be easily found online and booked through their websites using a credit card.
Car Rentals
After researching 28 major car rental companies, we found notable differences in the types of credit cards they accept. Some companies only accept cash, so it’s important to check this when making your reservation.
When using rental cars, you may need to use highways. While most accept credit cards, some routes do not. Given the large number of highways, we couldn’t investigate all of them, but you can easily check specific routes online. [Research List]
Ferries
In our research on 43 major ferry companies, we found significant variation in the types of credit cards they accept. Many companies accept only cash, so it’s advisable to check each company’s website for specific details. [Research List]
Note: IC cards are accepted on the JR West Miyajima Ferry.
Research List
Air Travel
| NAME | AREA | VISA | MASTER CARD | AMERICAN EXPRESS | DINERS CLUB | DISCOVER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peach Aviation Limited | v | v | v | v | v | |
| AIRDO Co., Ltd. | Hokkaido | v | v | v | v | |
| All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. | v | v | v | v | ||
| Amakusa Airlines Co., Ltd. | Amakusa | v | v | v | v | |
| Fuji Dream Airlines Co., Ltd. | Chube | v | v | v | v | |
| Ibex Airlines Co., Ltd. | Tohoku,Kanto | v | v | v | v | |
| New Central Airservice Co., Ltd. | Remote Island | v | v | v | v | |
| Oriental Air Bridge Co., Ltd. | Nagasaki | v | v | v | v | |
| Skymark Airlines Inc. | v | v | v | v | ||
| Solaseed Air Inc. | Kyusyu, Okinawa | v | v | v | v | |
| Star Flyer Inc. | Kyusyu, Kanto | v | v | v | v | |
| Jetstar Japan Co., Ltd. | v | v | v | |||
| Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd. | v | v | v | |||
| Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. | v | v | ||||
| Toki Air Co., Ltd. | Niigata | v | v |
Car Rentals
| NAME | AREA | VISA | MASTER CARD | AMERICAN EXPRESS | DINERS CLUB | DISCOVER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
Ferries
| NAME | AREA | VISA | MASTER CARD | AMERICAN EXPRESS | DINERS CLUB | DISCOVER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awashima Ferry | Niigata | v | v | v | v | v |
| International Ryobi Ferry | Shikoku - Okayama | v | v | v | v | v |
| Kokudo Kyushi Ferry | Ehime - Ohita | v | v | v | v | v |
| Kumamoto Ferry | Kumamoto - Shimabara | v | v | v | v | v |
| Orange Ferry | Shikoku - Kansai, Ehime - Ohita | v | v | v | v | v |
| Suonada Ferry | Yamaguchi - Ohita | v | v | v | v | v |
| Uwajima Unyu Ferries | Shikoku - Kyushu, Ehime - Ohita | v | v | v | v | v |
| Heartland Ferry | Hokkaido | v | v | v | v | |
| Nankai Ferry | Wakayama - Tokushima | v | v | v | v | |
| Ocean Tokyu Ferry | Kansai - Shikoku | v | v | v | v | |
| Sado Kisen | Niigata | v | v | v | v | |
| Seikan Ferry | Aomori - Hokkaido | v | v | v | v | |
| Setonaikai Cruises Co., Ltd. | Seto Inland Sea | v | v | v | v | |
| Silver Ferry | Aomori - Hokkaido | v | v | v | v | |
| Sun Flower | Kanto - Hokkaido, Kansai - Kyushu, Kanto - Kyushu | v | v | v | v | |
| Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry | Aomori - Hokkaido | v | v | v | v | |
| Shin Nihonkai Ferry | Hokuriku - Hokkaido | v | v | v | ||
| Shodoshima Ferry | Shikoku - Okayama | v | v | v | ||
| Taiheiyo Ferry | Chubu - Hokkaido | v | v | v | ||
| Tokyo Wan Ferry | Tokyo Bay | v | v | |||
| JR West Miyajima Ferry | Miyajima | |||||
| Haboro Enkai Ferry | Hokkaido | |||||
| Mutsu Bay Ferry | Aomori | |||||
| Oshima Kisen | Miyagi | |||||
| Ajishima Line | Miyagi | |||||
| Shinshin Ferry | Izu | |||||
| Dream Ferry | Suruga Bay | |||||
| Isewan Ferry | Ise Bay | |||||
| Jumbo Ferry | Kobe - Takamatsu | |||||
| Shodoshima Teshima Ferry | Shikoku - Okayama | |||||
| Shikoku Kisen | Kagawa | |||||
| Miyajima Matsudai Steamship | Miyajima | |||||
| Oki Kisen | Shimane | |||||
| Ariake Ferry | Kyushu |
