Personal checks are not accepted by almost all businesses in Japan. There are no facilities for cashing checks at the Embassy or our Consulates. Major credit cards are generally accepted in urban areas, less so in some rural areas not frequented by tourists. Americans have reported that some ATM machines will not accept their major credit cards for cash advances, and not all ATM machines are well-connected to international networks popular in the U.S. Many Americans have told us that ATMs at Japanese Post Offices, or those at US banks such as Citibank, often work with US-issued credit cards. Travelers should arrive in Japan with sufficient funds in the right media for their trip.

Banks can convert most foreign currencies into yen, though some travelers have reported limited success with less-common currencies, especially outside of urban areas. Most banks will require passport or other photo ID to exchange travelers checks.

In cases of emergencies, funds from family members in the United States can be transmitted to the individual through Department of State to the Embassy or one of our Consulates.

Follow this link for information and instructions on how to send money overseas to an U.S. citizen in an emergency.