ATMs in Japan for Tourists: How to Withdraw Cash with a Foreign Card

Finding ATMs in Japan for tourists is easier than many visitors expect. Convenience stores, post offices and airports have ATMs that accept debit and credit cards issued overseas, but not every ATM in Japan does. This guide shows which ATMs to look for, how to withdraw yen step by step, what the fees and limits are, and what to do if your card does not work.

This guide is part of our Money in Japan guide for travelers. ATM details below were checked against each operator’s official website on 2026-10-15.

Can Tourists Withdraw Cash from ATMs in Japan?

Yes. Many ATMs in Japan accept debit cards and credit cards issued outside Japan. The main thing to know is that not every ATM does. Some ATMs, especially those run by Japanese banks for their own customers, only accept Japanese cards.

So the key is choosing the right ATM operator. In Japan, the company that runs the ATM is often different from the shop where the ATM stands. For example:

• ATMs in 7-Eleven stores are run by Seven Bank.
• ATMs in Lawson stores are run by Lawson Bank, but Lawson Bank says some Lawson stores do not have an ATM that handles overseas cards.
• ATMs in FamilyMart stores can be run by different operators. E-net runs international ATMs in select FamilyMart stores, and Japan Post Bank also lists compact ATMs in FamilyMart stores.

When you see an ATM, look at the sign or the screen for the operator name and wording such as “International ATM” or “cards issued overseas.”

Best ATMs in Japan for Foreign Cards

The five operators below all publish information in English about using cards issued overseas. Which one is “best” depends on where you are and what card you have.

Seven Bank (7-Eleven stores)

Seven Bank ATMs are found in 7-Eleven stores, and Seven Bank says they are also in places such as train stations and airports. Visa and Mastercard can be used 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Other brands, including American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Discover and Diners Club, are accepted for most of the day with short breaks around midnight. The screens support English and many other languages.

For many first-time visitors, a 7-Eleven is the easiest place to start simply because there are so many of them.

Japan Post Bank (post offices)

Japan Post Bank (in Japanese, Yucho Ginko) accepts cards bearing Visa, PLUS, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, UnionPay and Discover. Its ATMs are in post offices, and it also lists compact ATMs in FamilyMart stores and other locations.

The main thing to watch is the operating hours. Post office ATMs are not open 24 hours, and hours are shorter on Sundays and holidays. This matters most in the countryside, where a post office may be the only international ATM nearby.

E-net (select FamilyMart, Don Quijote and other stores)

E-net ATMs at select FamilyMart, Don Quijote and other retail locations accept Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB cards issued overseas. E-net says the service runs 24 hours, but each ATM can only be used while the store it is in is open.

Lawson Bank (Lawson stores)

Lawson Bank ATMs accept overseas Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB and UnionPay cards, with screens in Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese and Korean. Lawson Bank also lists international ATMs at several airports, including Haneda, Narita and Kansai.

AEON Bank (AEON malls and stores)

AEON Bank ATMs, found in AEON shopping malls and other locations, accept overseas Visa (including PLUS), Mastercard (including Maestro and Cirrus), JCB, UnionPay and Discover cards. The limit is ¥50,000 per withdrawal.

AEON Bank lists its overseas card service as available 24 hours. In practice, though, each ATM can only be used while the building it is in is open, and AEON Bank notes that some of its ATMs do not accept overseas cards. Check its official page for overseas cards and ATM locator before you go.

ATM Comparison Table

This table summarizes each operator’s official information for cards issued overseas. Fees and conditions can change, so the ATM screen and the operator’s website are always the final word.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

“Magnetic stripe card” means a card used without a chip. If your card has a chip, the ATM will normally read the chip. Your own bank may also charge fees and set lower limits; these are not included in the table.

How to Withdraw Cash in Japan: Step by Step

The basic process is similar at most international ATMs. The exact screens and the order of steps differ between operators, so follow what your ATM shows.

1. Find an ATM that accepts overseas cards. Use the operator’s ATM locator or look for “International ATM” signs. Choose an ATM inside a store or post office during opening hours if you can.
2. Insert your card. At Seven Bank ATMs, the guidance starts automatically when you insert a card.
3. Choose your language. English is available at all five operators listed above.
4. Select “Withdrawal.” Some ATMs ask you to choose the type of account next, such as checking/current, savings or credit. If you are not sure, a debit card is usually linked to a checking or current account, but ask your bank before you travel.
5. Enter your PIN. Shield the keypad with your hand, then press Confirm or Enter.
6. Choose the amount in yen. Remember the per-withdrawal limit. At Lawson Bank, amounts are in ¥10,000 units.
7. Read the fee and currency screens carefully. Some ATMs show the ATM fee before you confirm. Some ask whether to charge you in Japanese yen or in your home currency. See the fees section before you choose.
8. Take your cash, card and receipt. Count the cash before you leave, and keep the receipt until the transaction appears on your statement.

ATM Fees and Currency Conversion Explained

Several different costs can apply to one withdrawal. They come from different companies, so it helps to separate them.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Because costs 2, 3 and 5 depend on your own bank, two travelers using the same ATM can pay very different totals.

Japanese yen or your home currency? (DCC)

Some ATMs offer Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This means the ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, such as US dollars or euros, instead of in yen. Seven Bank offers this for Visa and Mastercard, and Japan Post Bank says some overseas cards may be settled in the card’s home currency.

According to Seven Bank’s DCC explanation:

• If you choose your home currency: the amount in your home currency is fixed at the ATM, so you know right away what you will be charged.
• If you choose Japanese yen: you are charged in yen, and your card issuer converts it to your home currency later, when the transaction is billed.

In general, choosing Japanese yen is often cheaper, because the DCC exchange rate offered at the point of withdrawal can include an extra margin. However, your card’s own conversion fee also matters, so there is no single answer for every card. If the screen shows the converted amount and rate, compare it with your banking app’s rate before you confirm. When in doubt, choosing yen keeps the conversion with your own card issuer.

Debit card vs credit card at the ATM

• Debit card: money comes straight out of your bank account. You usually pay the ATM fee and your bank’s fees, but no interest.
• Credit card: a withdrawal is usually treated as a cash advance, which is borrowing. Card companies often charge a cash advance fee and interest from the day of withdrawal. Some cards have cash advances turned off or need a separate PIN.

For most travelers, a debit card is the simpler choice for ATM cash. For a closer look at other extra costs, see Hidden Fees When Paying in Japan.

Withdrawal Limits in Japan

There are three different limits to keep in mind:

1. The ATM’s limit per withdrawal. Seven Bank and E-net allow up to ¥100,000 per withdrawal for cards issued overseas. Japan Post Bank, Lawson Bank and AEON Bank allow up to ¥50,000.
2. The magnetic stripe limit. If the ATM reads your card by its magnetic stripe instead of a chip, the limit can be lower: ¥30,000 at Seven Bank and ¥40,000 at E-net.
3. Your card issuer’s limit. Your own bank sets a daily (and sometimes weekly) limit. This can be lower than the ATM’s limit, and the ATM cannot override it.

If you need more than one withdrawal allows, you can usually make a second withdrawal. Seven Bank’s guidance is to reduce the amount and try again if you exceed the limit. Keep in mind that each withdrawal can add another fee from the ATM and from your bank, and the total still has to stay within your bank’s daily limit.

What to Do If Your Card Does Not Work

Do not panic if a withdrawal fails. Work through the situations below. If you are stuck, contact your card issuer using the phone number on the back of your card.

The ATM does not recognize your card

Check that the ATM operator accepts overseas cards and your card brand. If you are at a bank ATM that serves only Japanese cards, move to one of the international ATMs above. If an international ATM still rejects it, try a different operator, because card support differs between operators.

Your PIN is not accepted

Re-enter it slowly. Do not keep guessing: several wrong attempts can lock your card. Seven Bank advises contacting your card issuer if you get an incorrect PIN error. If your PIN is longer or shorter than usual, ask your bank before you travel whether it works abroad.

The ATM declines the transaction

This can come from your card issuer rather than the ATM. Common reasons include a fraud check on a new country, international use being turned off, or cash withdrawals being blocked on the card. Check your banking app for alerts, then contact your issuer. Once your issuer confirms the card is active, try again.

You have hit a withdrawal limit

Try a smaller amount. If that still fails, you may have reached your bank’s daily limit. Ask your issuer whether the limit can be raised, or wait until the limit resets.

The ATM is closed or under maintenance

Japan Post Bank ATMs close at night, and E-net and AEON Bank ATMs are only available while the store or building they are in is open. Lawson Bank and E-net also pause for short maintenance in the early morning. Japan Post Bank notes that hours can change during long holidays such as New Year and Golden Week. Try another operator or come back later.

No cash came out, but your account shows a charge

• Do not leave right away. If the ATM has a phone handset, use it. E-net, for example, has a guide phone next to its ATMs connected to a call center that is open 24 hours.
• Write down the date, time, ATM location and amount. Keep any receipt or screen message, and take a photo if you can do so safely.
• Contact your card issuer and report the failed withdrawal. A charge that looks “pending” may disappear on its own, but do not assume it will. Your issuer can trace the transaction.

The ATM keeps your card

• Stay at the ATM and use the ATM phone if there is one. Ask store or post office staff for help.
• Do not accept help from strangers who ask for your PIN.
• If you cannot get the card back, contact your card issuer to lock or cancel it, and use your backup card.

Your credit card cannot withdraw cash

Many credit cards have a separate cash advance limit, which may be zero, or need a separate PIN. Ask your card company whether cash advances are available. In the meantime, a debit card is often the easier option. For more help with cards, see Credit Card Not Working in Japan: What Travelers Should Do.

How Much Cash Should You Withdraw?

You do not need to carry a large amount. Cards and IC cards work in many places in Japan, but cash is still useful for some small restaurants, shops, temples and shrines, local buses and rural areas.

A practical approach is to withdraw enough for a few days at a time. Fewer, larger withdrawals mean fewer per-withdrawal fees, but more cash to look after. Find your own balance, and keep a little cash in reserve in case an ATM is not nearby.

For a budget-based answer, see How Much Cash Do You Need for a Japan Trip? To decide when to use cash and when to use a card, see Cash or Card in Japan?

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Tips for Travelers

• Use ATMs that state they accept cards issued overseas, and check the operator name, not just the store name.
• Carry at least two cards, kept in different places.
• Withdraw cash every few days instead of every day to keep per-withdrawal fees down.
• Read the fee and currency screens before you confirm.
• Keep receipts until the withdrawals show on your statement.
• In the countryside, withdraw cash before you go, because international ATMs may be fewer and close earlier.
• Seven Bank ATMs can also top up a Suica card with cash. See our Suica and PASMO guide.

Related Money Guides

• Credit Card Not Working in Japan: What Travelers Should Do
• How Much Cash Do You Need for a Japan Trip?
• Hidden Fees When Paying in Japan
• Cash or Card in Japan?
• Currency Exchange in Japan
• Can You Travel Japan Without Cash?
• Tipping in Japan: What Travelers Need to Know

For an overview of cash, cards and payments in one place, go back to Money in Japan: A Simple Guide for Travelers.

Last updated: 2026-10-15