When travelling in Japan, cash transactions are still daily, often allowing travellers to accumulate large amounts of change. Nowadays, many tourist attractions, shops, and airports have introduced various small consumption methods to improve change use.

Japanese coins come in various denominations, including 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 yen. (Photo via MERXWIRE)

OSAKA, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – Travelling often involves the minor inconvenience of accumulating loose change. Bringing it back home may not be practical, and throwing it away feels wasteful. Fortunately, many tourist attractions, shops, and even airports in Japan now offer “coin-friendly” spending options, allowing visitors to use their coins effortlessly.

Cash transactions remain prevalent in Japan, especially in traditional markets, shrines, and small shops where many establishments accept only cash. While cash payments are straightforward, collecting too many coins can become a hassle—heavy to carry and inconvenient when making change. Effectively managing these coins has become a common challenge for travellers, but here are some innovative ways to spend them wisely!

Many tourists use omikuji at shrines to spend a small change. Popular sites such as Sensoji Temple and Fushimi Inari Shrine offer omikuji for just 100 to 200 yen per draw, making it easy to use 1-yen and 5-yen coins while enjoying a fun fortune-telling experience.

Beyond shrines, many souvenir shops sell small items priced for convenient coin use. Miniature charms, stamps, magnets, and capsule toys typically cost between 300 and 500 yen, providing both a practical way to spend coins and a memorable keepsake to take home.

When talking about Japan, how can we not mention vending machines? These vending machines come in a variety and sell various products, such as snacks, drinks, tickets, hot meals, and even electronic products. Some of them also have tourist-limited items. Travellers can buy local delicacies and speciality drinks for just a few hundred yen, which is convenient and practical.

For gaming enthusiasts, coins can be used in entertainment centres. Claw machines, pinball games, and other arcade machines—typically costing 100 to 200 yen per play—are found in malls across Japan. Both children and adults can enjoy the thrill of winning small prizes or adorable collectables to take home.

As the trip ends, airports also offer solutions for leftover coins. Major airports such as Narita and Kansai feature coin exchange machines, allowing travellers to convert change into stored value on Suica or PASMO transportation cards for future use. Some airports also have donation boxes where travellers can contribute their spare change to charitable causes, leaving a positive mark on their journey.

Vending machines are one way to use up your change. (Photo via MERXWIRE)

While electronic payments are becoming more common, dealing with loose change is inevitable in travel. By taking advantage of these “coin-friendly” spending options, travellers can reduce hassle while enhancing their trip with unexpected delights.

Media Contacts:
Japan Easy Travel Club

PR Agency:
MERXWIRE INC.
Ada Huang
[email protected]

SOURCE: Japan Easy Travel Club

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