In Japan, you'll use a Suica (or Icoca) card for local transport and most small purchases, and a credit card for big purchases (hotels etc). But you still need Japanese cash for places that don't take cards.
The likelihood that credit cards are accepted decreases in small cities and towns, and thus it is advisable to keep cash at hand when visiting rural areas. Cash is often the only way to pay for small entrance fees at tourist sights, smaller restaurants and small shops. Many lockers also require coins.
Japan is mainly a cash society. The Japanese currency is the Yen. You may have difficulty using credit and debit cards issued outside Japan.
That being said, I would say you should bring enough cash so that you have at least 10,000 yen of spending money per day. This will be enough to cover any transportation fees and cash-only establishments you visit, provided you also have your debit/credit card to cover the rest of your expenses (e.g. accommodation).
While there are ATMs all over Japan, not all of them accept foreign cards which makes it sometimes hard to make withdrawals. Also keep in mind that most banks will charge a foreign transaction fee if you're using your Australian debit card. And you might find there is an ATM access fee.
For example, if you are traveling from the U.S., wait to exchange your dollars for yen until you have arrived in Japan. However, you will get the most favorable rates for yen in Southeast Asian countries rather than in Japan.
Is it cheaper to convert currency in Australia or Japan? Although you can convert Australian dollars to Japanese yen in Japan, it's generally cheaper to do it at home in Australia before you leave, where you are likely to get better exchange rates.
It is generally acceptable to wear red in Japan, but some contexts such as religious sites or funerals may require more subdued colors like black or white. Neutral colors like black, gray, navy blue, light ... In short: Yes.
We suggest you allow AUD$97 per day for a budget style holiday, or $200+ per day for a luxury getaway in Japan. For the most part, Japan's prices are similar to Australia's, although there are price differences. For example, beer is cheaper in Japan but a nice sushi meal is more expensive.
Luckily, it's a very safe country (one of our favorite things about Japan), and the biggest risk is probably losing or misplacing your cash. Regardless, of course, be smart and take reasonable precautions if carrying large sums of money.
IC cards for hassle-free payment in Japan
Rechargeable "smart" cards or IC cards are the most convenient way to pay for trains, buses, and monorail fares in Japan. Vending machines, convenience stores, and chain restaurants also accept IC cards. Two primary types of IC cards are the Suica Card and PASMO.
The most commonly accepted contactless payment smartphone apps or QR code payment methods are PayPay, LinePay, Rpay (Rakuten Pay) and MerPay. Most stores also support credit cards such as Visa, JCB or Mastercard.
You can use cash, most credit cards, or a loaded IC card to pay for your egg sandwiches (or anything else you buy) at convenience stores like 7-11, Lawson, or Family Mart. Watch out at Daiso (and some other cheap shops) though as they did want cash.
For years, Japan was primarily a cash economy. People preferred physical banknotes over cashless transactions. In fact, back in 2021 cashless payments were just 15.1% of total transactions and only rising slowly. Comparatively, in the UK this statistic was 27% in the same year.
Assessing the reasons why Japanese consumers prefer cash, Statista notes its security and reliability are highly valued. Over 55 percent of respondents cited concerns over personal information leakage as being a major drawback of cashless options.
In short, I think you will be absolutely fine since your flight and hotels are paid for already. $1000 should be sufficient, but you must be strict with yourself. $50 a day just about creeps overbudget. I think you should set yourself about $30 a day and maybe sometimes jump up to $50/60 if you wanna try something.
With $3000 for 14 days, you're looking at $214 per day. Dinner - To be on the safe side, probably budget for $35 for dinner (You can of course eat very well for cheaper than this, but there will be times when you want to spend more... There's plenty of places with really good set menus for well less that this however.
Re: Is $3000 USD enough to visit Tokyo? 1400 is what i've spent on a 22 days trip to Japan (excluding hotels, flights, shinkansen, etc). So, yes, 3000 should be more than enough, even if you have a high lifestyle.
Australians are eligible for Japan's visa exemption scheme for short-stay tourism and business travel. You don't need a visa to travel to Japan for up to 90 days. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice.
Avoid things like tank tops, shorts, and mini-skirts. Opting for more conservative clothing is always a safe bet even if you don't plan to visit temples or shrines. It's also generally frowned upon for women to show cleavage. Clothing with offensive messages or designs.
Unlike Europe and the U.S., there is no culture in Japan in which sunglasses are worn on a daily basis, and Japanese people are not familiar with wearing sunglasses.
Nowadays purple wisteria and mallow flowers kimono patterns (left) can be worn by all, but things used to be different. In 604, the twelve levels cap and rank system was enacted in Japan. After that, only high-level officials and the Imperial Family could wear purple.
While debit cards are not widely accepted over the counter in Japan, a debit card can be useful for getting cash from an ATM. Keep in mind using a debit card issued in your home country will likely involve withdrawal fees, international ATM fees and, depending on your bank, you might get a bad conversion rate.
Cash is still a favored method, although the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the use of digital and contactless payments. Most major credit cards are accepted for purchases in larger stores and restaurants. However, be aware that shrines and other locations in rural areas might only take cash.
Visa, Mastercard and JCB are the most widely accepted cards in Japan. Some merchants may refuse American Express because of the higher merchant fees. Outside of Japan, JCB is generally only accepted in places that are frequented by Japanese tourists.