The advice to “bring lots of cash to Japan” is one of the most repeated pieces of travel wisdom out there, and it’s more outdated than most people realize. In the areas most visitors actually spend their time — cities, convenience stores, chain restaurants, and public transit — cashless payment is now the norm, not a lucky exception.
That said, the old reputation isn’t entirely wrong either. There’s a real, fairly consistent line between where cards work and where cash is still required, and it tends to fall exactly where you’d least expect it: the small, independent, characterful places tourists are often most excited to visit.
Knowing roughly where that line sits — rather than assuming Japan is either fully cash-based or fully cashless — makes it much easier to travel light on cash without ever actually getting stuck.
Medium:
Want the specific list of places that are almost always cash-only, including one very common food stop most visitors don’t expect? Read the complete guide on Medium →
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