Numbers and Prices in Japanese: Understanding What Things Cost

Learn the Japanese numbers you need for shopping, how 10,000 (man) becomes the basic big unit, and how to read yen prices, tax and change.

Published October 20, 2026 at 2:20 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japanese counts from one to ten as ichi, ni, san, yon (or shi), go, roku, nana (or shichi), hachi, kyu (or ku), ju, then hyaku (100), sen (1,000) and man (10,000). Large numbers group in sets of 10,000, so 10,000 yen is ichi-man-en. Yen prices are read as number plus "en," and standard consumption tax is 10 percent, with 8 percent for most food and drink.

The numbers one to ten

The core Japanese numbers are short and regular. One to ten read ichi, ni, san, yon (or shi), go, roku, nana (or shichi), hachi, kyu (or ku) and ju. For prices, the most common readings are yon for four, nana for seven and kyu for nine, since these are the forms most learners meet first.

Counting past ten is easy once you see the pattern. Eleven is ju-ichi (ten plus one), twelve is ju-ni, twenty is ni-ju (two tens) and thirty-five is san-ju-go. The same building-block approach works up to ninety-nine, so a few memorized words unlock a large range of prices on tags, menus and ticket machines.

Zero is usually said as zero or rei, and you will meet it mostly in phone numbers and room numbers rather than in prices. Saying numbers aloud while you walk through a shop is a quick way to lock them in, and the same words appear on elevator buttons, platform signs and clocks.

Hundreds, thousands and the 10,000 unit

Above ninety-nine the key words are hyaku (100), sen (1,000) and man (10,000). Hundreds and thousands attach the digit in front: 200 is ni-hyaku, 500 is go-hyaku and 2,000 is ni-sen. A few sound changes appear along the way: 300 is sanbyaku, 600 is roppyaku, 800 is happyaku and 3,000 is sanzen.

The unit that surprises English speakers is man. Japanese groups large numbers in sets of four digits, not three, so 10,000 gets its own word. Ten thousand yen is ichi-man-en, and unlike in some other languages, the "ichi" is required here. Learning man early is practical, because many mid-range prices, such as hotel nights, fares and electronics, are written in tens of thousands.

A quick mental trick is to count the zeros: four zeros after a digit means that many man. So 30,000 is san-man, 50,000 is go-man and 90,000 is kyu-man. For the hundred-million level, Japanese uses oku, which you will see in news about big budgets and populations.

Reading a yen price

Yen prices use the word en after the number. The tag may show the number with a yen sign or with the character for yen after it, but it is spoken as the number plus en. So 480 yen is yon-hyaku hachi-ju en, and 1,500 yen is sen go-hyaku en. Digits on tags are usually written with commas every three digits, even though speech groups in fours.

For larger prices, break the number at the 10,000 point. 12,000 yen is ichi-man ni-sen en, 35,000 yen is san-man go-sen en, and 100,000 yen is ju-man en (ten times ten thousand). Practice by reading train fares, menu prices and shop signs as you pass them. Even partial understanding helps you notice when something costs more than you expected. Saying the amount quietly to yourself before you reach the register also makes the clerk's total easier to follow.

If a tag has a lot of digits, glance first at where the fourth digit from the right begins, because that is where man starts. This habit makes long numbers look like two short ones, such as 2 man and 5,000.

Notes, coins and what is common

Japan's everyday banknotes come in 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen, and a 2,000 yen note exists but is rarely seen, so it is worth a second look if one turns up in your change. Coins are 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen. The value of the 10,000 yen note in your own currency moves with exchange rates, so check a current rate before you travel.

Cash remains useful in Japan, and coins build up quickly, so a small coin purse is handy. Many places also accept cards or electronic payment, but policies differ, so look for logos at the entrance or ask before ordering at small shops and restaurants.

When you pay in cash, many shops place the money on a small tray at the counter, and the clerk reads the amount received aloud before giving change. Listening for those numbers is good practice. Cash remains useful in Japan, and the national tourism organization suggests keeping some on you, along with a small purse for coins.

Tax, tags and total prices

Consumption tax is part of everyday pricing. The National Tax Agency states that, since October 1, 2019, the standard rate is 10 percent and a reduced rate of 8 percent applies to food and drink excluding alcohol and dining out, plus certain subscription newspapers. That means an item on a supermarket shelf and a meal at a table can be taxed differently, and takeout and eat-in orders at the same shop may have different totals.

Price displays vary. Tags often show the tax-included price, sometimes alongside the pre-tax figure, and the words zeikomi (tax included) and zeibetsu (tax excluded) can appear. If you are unsure, check the total on the register screen or receipt. Rules and rates can change, so check the National Tax Agency's current page.

Useful phrases for prices

A few phrases cover most situations. "Ikura desu ka" means how much is it. "Zenbu de ikura desu ka" asks for the total, and "Kore o kudasai" means this one, please. "Zeikomi desu ka" asks whether tax is included.

At the counter you may hear the total in the pattern number plus en, such as "sen nihyaku en desu." Listen for man if the amount is large. If you do not catch the number, "mou ichido onegaishimasu" asks for it once more, and many staff will show the total on the display. A calculator screen or a written number bridges any gap.

Practice ideas and related ideas

A simple drill is to read prices in a convenience store or supermarket aloud as you walk along the shelves. Start with round figures such as 100, 200, 500 and 1,000, then add the odd ones like 138 or 298. Matching the number words to the yen amount on a tag turns a shopping trip into a quick lesson.

Also worth learning are counters for items, such as hitotsu (one thing), futatsu (two things) and mittsu (three things), which are used when ordering. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. With these numbers and phrases, price tags become much less mysterious and shopping gets friendlier and quicker.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say 10,000 yen in Japanese?

It is ichi-man-en. Man is the word for 10,000, and Japanese requires "ichi" before it in this case. Larger amounts build on it: 20,000 yen is ni-man-en and 100,000 yen is ju-man-en.

What is the consumption tax in Japan?

The National Tax Agency states that the standard rate is 10 percent and a reduced rate of 8 percent applies to food and drink excluding alcohol and dining out, since October 1, 2019. Rates and rules can change, so check the agency's current page.

How do I ask for a price in Japanese?

Say "Ikura desu ka?" (How much is it?). Point to the item and add "kore" (this). To ask for the total, use "Zenbu de ikura desu ka?"

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japanese for Your First Trip is available on Amazon.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: At the Register in Japan: Shopping Phrases and What the Clerk Will Ask, Asking for Directions in Japanese: Key Phrases and Understanding Answers and Tokyo on a Budget: A Realistic Day-by-Day Cost Guide.