ATMs in Japan: Where Visitors Can Withdraw Cash, Beyond the Convenience Store

A calm, practical map of the cash machines that welcome foreign cards, from post offices and bank branches to airports and stations.

Published October 26, 2026 at 8:27 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Visitors can withdraw yen with foreign-issued cards at Seven Bank ATMs, found mainly in 7-Eleven stores, and at Japan Post Bank ATMs, found mostly in post offices. Some bank branches and airport machines also accept international cards. Hours, fees and card compatibility vary by machine and card issuer, so carry a backup card and check your own bank's rules before you travel.

Japan is a country where cash still matters, even though cards and mobile payments keep spreading. Small restaurants, shrines, local buses and market stalls may only take yen, so knowing where to find a friendly ATM is a real travel skill. Many guides cover the convenience store machines, so this guide takes a wider view of the whole network, including post offices, bank branches, airports and station areas. It explains what each option offers, how to use the machines with confidence and how to plan your cash so you are never caught short.

The Short List of Reliable Options

Two ATM networks are the usual answer for visitors: Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) names both as places where overseas cards can be used to withdraw cash. Between them they cover most towns, big and small, which is why travelers often hear the same two names again and again.

Seven Bank ATMs sit mainly inside 7-Eleven convenience stores, and according to Wikipedia the bank has also placed machines in shopping malls, train stations and airports. Japan Post Bank ATMs are found nationwide, mostly in post offices, and also at some train stations and supermarkets. Both networks are large, with tens of thousands of machines between them.

A third option is a bank branch machine. JNTO lists branches of major banks such as Mizuho, Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, where certain international cards may be used for withdrawals. Policies vary by branch, so treat these as a backup.

Seven Bank ATMs

Seven Bank is the network most visitors meet first, because 7-Eleven stores are everywhere. JNTO notes that for overseas cards, the screens, receipts and voice guidance are available in 12 languages, including English. That makes the experience less intimidating if you have never used a Japanese machine.

The bank states on its website that cards carrying the logos of Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Discover and Diners Club may be used. It also warns that a card with one of these logos can still be declined, because acceptance depends on the card issuer. In practice this means you should test your card at a machine early in the trip, not on the last evening.

Many Seven Bank machines are inside stores that stay open late, which is handy after a day of sightseeing. Not every machine runs around the clock, however, so check the posted hours on the machine or the store. The bank also offers an English ATM locator on its site for finding the nearest machine.

Japan Post Bank ATMs in Post Offices

Japan Post Bank machines are a dependable choice, especially in smaller towns and rural areas where convenience stores may be farther apart. JNTO says these ATMs are found mostly in post offices and offer English service. Wikipedia states that the bank has nearly 30,000 ATMs nationwide.

Post office ATMs have their own hours, which often follow the post office opening times and may be shorter than store-based machines. If you plan to withdraw cash in a small town, do it during the day, and look for the post office, which is usually easy to spot in the center of town.

Because every machine has its own schedule, JNTO notes that service hours differ by ATM. Look at the sign beside the machine or ask the staff in the post office.

Bank Branches and Airport Machines

Major airports provide ATMs, and JNTO lists Narita, Haneda, Chubu Centrair and Kansai among the airports with them. Airport machines can be useful if you arrive without yen, though fees may depend on the hour or the day, as JNTO points out. Smaller airports have fewer services, so check ahead if you land late.

Bank branches can help too, but not all of them accept international cards. JNTO describes Mizuho Bank as allowing withdrawals and balance checks with an international card, while Mitsubishi UFJ and SMBC are listed for Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus. Deposits and transfers are not available to visitors at these machines.

JNTO also notes that many bank branches in front of train stations close at 3 p.m., so do not rely on a branch after hours. Treat a branch machine as an extra rather than your main plan.

Fees, Rates and What Your Bank Charges

Fees come from two places: the ATM operator and your own bank. JNTO says ATMs in Japan often charge for withdrawals, and that the fee may vary by time of day. The machine usually shows the fee on screen before you confirm the transaction, which lets you cancel if you do not want to pay.

Your home bank may add a foreign transaction fee or an exchange rate margin, and these rules vary widely. A short call or message to your bank before the trip can clear up what it charges, whether it allows overseas withdrawals and what daily limits apply.

If any screen offers to convert the amount into your home currency, compare it carefully with the rate your own bank gives, since the two can differ.

Using a Japanese ATM Step by Step

Using a machine is simple once you know the pattern. Insert your card, choose English from the language menu, enter your PIN, choose withdrawal and pick the amount. Collect the card, the cash and the receipt when they appear. Wait for the machine to finish before walking away.

Amounts on Japanese ATMs are in yen, and many machines pay out mostly 10,000 yen bills. If you want smaller notes for shops and vending machines, break a large bill with a small purchase at a convenience store.

If a machine refuses your card, try a different network before assuming something is wrong. Cards sometimes work at Seven Bank but not at a post office machine, or the other way around, because of the issuer settings.

Planning Your Cash for a Trip

A little planning makes the trip smoother. JNTO describes Japan as a cash-based society, even though credit, debit and prepaid cards from international brands are generally accepted across the country. Carry a modest amount of yen for small shops, temples and rural areas, and use your card for hotels, large stores and restaurants.

JNTO also notes that ATMs in central areas may occasionally run out of cash, so it helps to withdraw before you are almost out. Visit an ATM when you are in a bigger town before heading to the countryside, where machines are fewer and some may close early.

If you carry more than one million yen in cash or similar instruments when entering or leaving Japan, a declaration is needed according to JNTO. Most visitors never reach that amount, but it is good to know.

Backup Plans and Alternatives

A second card from a different network is the best backup, since one card may be accepted where another is not. Store the numbers for reporting a lost card separately from the cards themselves, as JNTO advises.

Prepaid transit cards such as Suica and Pasmo can also reduce the amount of cash you need. They work on many trains and buses, at convenience stores and at a growing number of shops, though not everywhere. Loading them still takes cash at many machines, so keep some yen on hand.

Currency exchange counters at airports, banks and some hotels offer another route. Exchange rates change daily and differ by counter, so compare before you exchange. With a mix of yen, a card or two and a transit card, you will rarely face a problem.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ATMs in Japan accept foreign cards?

Seven Bank ATMs, mostly in 7-Eleven stores, and Japan Post Bank ATMs, mostly in post offices, are the two networks most often recommended for overseas cards. Some major bank branches also accept certain cards. Acceptance depends on your card issuer, so carry a backup and check with your bank.

Do Japanese ATMs work in English?

Yes. The Japan National Tourism Organization says Seven Bank machines provide screens, receipts and voice guidance in 12 languages including English for overseas cards, and Japan Post Bank ATMs offer English service. Choose the language on the first screen after inserting your card.

Are Japanese ATMs open 24 hours?

Not all of them. Some machines in stores run late or around the clock, while post office and bank branch machines often follow shorter hours that differ by location. Check the sign on the machine, and withdraw cash during the day if you will be in a small town.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Getting Cash in Japan: Convenience Store ATMs Explained, Cash or Card in Japan: What to Carry and Where and IC Cards in Japan: Pasmo, Icoca and Friends.