The currency of Japan is the yen. It is most convenient to travel with dollars: in cash or on a card. There are a lot of exchangers in Japan, the exchange rate is acceptable everywhere, there are even automatic exchangers, it is safe to change money.
Japan is a country of cash. Most residents everywhere pay with bills and coins. There are hotels that do not accept cards, especially in small towns, but in Tokyo and Kyoto we paid with a card almost everywhere without any problems. To buy subway tickets, pay for a bus, and buy water from vending machines, you need cash, and most often small coins. After a couple of days, we carried a huge amount of coins with us.
Who takes commissions from cards abroad
How to pay. In Japan, there is a special ritual of paying for anything. When you pay at the checkout, you need to put money or a card in a special tray that stands in front of the seller. But the seller will return the change, the check and the card from hand to hand with words of gratitude and a slight bow.
Probably for the same reason, payment via Apple Pay is not popular in Japan. For two weeks, I have never seen anyone pay with a phone, and I have not tried it myself.
Tax-free. Tax-free services for foreigners are conveniently organized in Japan. An 8% discount is made right at the time of purchase, if you have a passport with you. There are tax-free almost everywhere, even in the Seven-Eleven grocery store. There is no need to stand in any queue at the airport, such as in Italy. Prices in stores are usually indicated without VAT, so the total amount at the checkout may be 8% more than you planned.
How tax-free is arranged in Japan
Tips. In Japan, it is not customary to leave tips — they simply will not be taken. In some tourist restaurants, the service is included in the bill, but this rarely happens. It is understood that the service is always of the highest standard and does not require additional payment from the client.
You have to pay in cafes and restaurants at the exit. Ask the waiter to bring the bill, take it and go to the checkout. The ticket office usually stands at the exit.
