Japanese Banknotes and Coins: Denominations, Designs and Handy Tips

Japan uses six coins and three common banknotes, and knowing how to tell them apart makes paying in cash quick and easy for visitors.

Published October 20, 2026 at 12:59 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan's yen comes in six coins (1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen) and three everyday banknotes (1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen). The 5 and 50 yen coins have holes. A new banknote series with updated portraits and 3D holograms was first issued on July 3, 2024. A rarely seen 2,000 yen note also exists.

The coins you will use

Japan has six coins in circulation: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen. The Wikipedia article on the Japanese yen explains that their size, weight, edge and holes differ enough that people with visual impairments can tell them apart by touch. For visitors, that also means that coins are easy to sort even in a dim shop or at a vending machine.

The 1 yen coin is made of aluminium, weighs 1 gram and has a smooth edge. The 5 yen coin is brass with a smooth edge and a hole. The 10 yen coin is bronze. The 50 yen coin is cupronickel with a hole and a reeded edge, and the 100 yen coin is cupronickel with a reeded edge but no hole. The 500 yen coin is the highest in value and is made of two metals.

What the coin designs show

Each coin features something from Japan's nature or culture. According to the Wikipedia article, the 1 yen coin shows a young tree, the 5 yen coin shows an ear of rice, a gear and water, and the 10 yen coin shows the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin temple. The 50 yen coin shows a chrysanthemum and the 100 yen coin shows cherry blossoms. The 500 yen coin shows paulownia on one side, with bamboo and a mandarin orange on the other.

The article also notes that coins show the year of minting using the reigning emperor's regnal year, so a coin from 2020 reads Reiwa 2. The first year of an era is called gannen. This is a fun detail to look for in your change and a good conversation starter. Coins have never shown imperial portraits, and their designs feature plants, objects and buildings.

The 500 yen coin

The 500 yen coin is a bi-metallic coin, a coin built from two metals in a layered structure. The Bank of Japan says the coin has three main security features: a bicolor clad construction that gives it a two-tone look, ridges on the edge at two different spacings, and very small lettering. The Bank describes the coin as the world's first to adopt edge ridges with different pitches. The current 500 yen coin was first issued on November 1, 2021, so older versions may still turn up in circulation.

Because 500 yen is a high value for a coin, you may find that it is accepted at vending machines, ticket machines and coin lockers. Wikipedia notes that it is one of the highest-valued coins regularly used in the world. Keep a few 500 yen and 100 yen coins on hand for lockers and for small shops that prefer cash. Always check the machine's display before inserting a coin.

Banknotes: 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen

The three everyday banknotes are 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen. The Bank of Japan began issuing a new series on July 3, 2024. According to the Bank's comparison document, the new notes are the same size as the previous series: 76 by 160 millimeters for the 10,000 yen note, 76 by 156 for the 5,000 yen note and 76 by 150 for the 1,000 yen note.

The portraits are Shibusawa Eiichi on the 10,000 yen note, Tsuda Umeko on the 5,000 yen note and Kitasato Shibasaburo on the 1,000 yen note. The back designs are the Tokyo Station Marunouchi building, Japanese wisteria and Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanagawa. The Go Tokyo money guide adds that the 10,000 yen note is the largest in value and is widely used, so shops will not object to it.

Security features and the 2,000 yen note

The Bank of Japan says that the new series uses 3D holograms in which the portrait appears to rotate when the note is tilted, which it describes as a first for banknotes. Each note also has a watermark with a portrait, and the number of vertical bars in the watermark differs by denomination. Large Arabic numerals on both sides make the value easier to read at a glance.

There are also tactile marks, eleven diagonal lines placed in a different spot on each denomination, so that people with visual impairments can tell the notes apart. A 2,000 yen note also exists, issued in 2000 with a picture of the Shureimon gate and a portrait related to The Tale of Genji, but the Go Tokyo guide describes it as the rarest note, and it is unlikely to appear in your change.

Handling cash and shopping tips

The Go Tokyo money guide calls Tokyo a relatively cash-based city and says it is not uncommon for locals to carry 20,000 to 30,000 yen a day. It notes that many stores accept credit cards and transit IC cards, but that some independent shops may not take cards, so it is wise to bring cash as well. Tipping is not practiced, though some places add a service charge.

At many shops, you will see a small tray near the register for placing payment. Placing money on the tray is a polite and easy habit. Receive your change with a nod or a quiet thank you. Sort your coins into a small pouch to keep them organized, since you may end up with many 1 and 5 yen coins after a day of shopping. Check the amount shown on the register before you pay, and keep small coins handy for vending machines and coin lockers, where exact change often makes things quicker.

Where to get cash and where to check

The Go Tokyo guide says that Narita and Haneda airports have exchange counters and that most major Japanese banks and post office ATMs accept international cards. Check with your own bank about fees and limits. Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates and use official or well-established exchange points.

For the latest details on the new notes and on how older notes are handled, the Bank of Japan's pages are the authoritative reference. They include security features, a comparison with the previous series and notes on exchanging damaged cash. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. A short look at the Bank's site before a long trip can answer most questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Japanese coins have holes?

The 5 yen and 50 yen coins have holes in the middle. The 1, 10, 100 and 500 yen coins do not. The different sizes, weights, edges and holes help everyone, including people with visual impairments, tell the coins apart.

What banknotes does Japan use now?

The everyday notes are 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen. The Bank of Japan first issued a new series on July 3, 2024, with portraits of Kitasato Shibasaburo, Tsuda Umeko and Shibusawa Eiichi. A 2,000 yen note exists but is rarely seen.

Is Japan still a cash society?

Cash remains common. The Go Tokyo money guide describes Tokyo as relatively cash-based and says some independent shops may not take cards, though cards and transit IC cards are accepted in many places. Carrying some cash alongside a card is a sensible approach.

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