Last updated on 12 September 2026
In Japan the ATM fee depends on something that matters nowhere else: your card network and the time of day. With a Mastercard you withdraw free at 7-Eleven. With a Visa card the same machine charges ¥110 or ¥220. And a Lawson machine in the evening costs more than the identical machine at lunchtime.
The 7-Eleven machine: the one that matters
Seven Bank operates the ATMs in Japan’s roughly 20,000 7-Eleven stores. They are accessible around the clock, accept foreign cards reliably and have English menus. For travellers they are the first choice.
| Your card | Fee at Seven Bank |
|---|---|
| Mastercard or Maestro ✓✓ | ¥0 |
| Visa ✓✓ | ¥110 up to ¥10,000 withdrawn ¥220 from ¥20,000 |
As of 12 September 2026. ✓✓ = confirmed by two independent sources (the POVNOMAD fee dataset, as of 1 September 2026, and independent travel guides retrieved 12 September 2026). Seven Bank’s withdrawal limit is ¥100,000 per transaction, or ¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe-only cards.
This is the single piece of information that makes a Japan trip cheaper: bring the Mastercard. If you carry both, withdraw with the Mastercard and pay with the Visa. Over a three-week trip with eight withdrawals that is around ¥1,760 in difference.
Every machine compared
| Machine | Fee for foreign cards | Max per withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Bank (7-Eleven) | ¥0 Mastercard/Maestro · ¥110–220 Visa | ¥100,000 |
| Japan Post (post offices) | ¥220 for most foreign cards, ¥0 for some | ¥50,000 |
| Resona Bank | ¥0 for some cards, otherwise ¥110–220 less on weekdays during office hours | ¥500,000 |
| Mizuho Bank | ¥0 or ¥220, by card type and time of day | ¥50,000 |
| Aeon Bank | ¥0 for some cards, ¥75 UnionPay | ¥50,000 |
| E-net (in Family Mart and others) | ¥110 from 8:45 to 18:00, otherwise ¥220 | ¥200,000 |
| SMBC | ¥110 for most cards, ¥75 UnionPay | ¥10,000 – 50,000 |
| Lawson Bank | ¥0, 110, 330 or 660 — by card and hour, cheaper 7am to 7pm | ¥50,000 |
| MUFG | ¥660 for most foreign cards ¥0 only for UnionPay, JCB and Discover | ¥50,000 |
| Family Mart (other operators) | ¥220 to ¥660, depending on the machine brand | ¥50,000 |
As of 12 September 2026, from the POVNOMAD fee dataset (ATM Fee Saver, as of 1 September 2026). The Seven Bank and Japan Post figures were independently confirmed on 12 September 2026; the remaining rows rest on the single source. The figure shown on the ATM screen is what applies.
Two rows deserve attention. MUFG is the expensive trap: summary listings often show it as fee-free, but it is free only for UnionPay, JCB and Discover cards. With an ordinary Visa or Mastercard you pay ¥660 there — six times Seven Bank’s Visa rate.
And Resona has by far the highest limit: ¥500,000 per withdrawal, ten times most others. If you need a lot of cash at once, that is where to go.
The time-of-day trap
Japan is the only destination in our dataset where the fee systematically depends on the hour. At Lawson, E-net and Resona, withdrawing during business hours costs less than in the evening, at night or at weekends.
The spread is substantial: at Lawson it runs from ¥0 to ¥660 for the same withdrawal, varying only by time and card. As a rule of thumb, weekdays between 8:45 and 18:00 is the cheapest window.
The simplest way to sidestep the whole issue is Seven Bank, where the fee is the same around the clock — and zero with a Mastercard.
Japan is still a cash country
This surprises many visitors. In Tokyo and Osaka you can pay by card in chains, convenience stores and larger restaurants, and IC cards such as Suica or Pasmo cover transport and kiosks. But many small restaurants, temple entry fees, rural ryokan, markets and taxis outside the big cities remain cash only.
So plan for cash and withdraw generously. Because the fee in Japan is flat, and zero at Seven Bank with a Mastercard, that costs you nothing extra.
A practical note: Japanese machines dispense mainly ¥10,000 notes. And you will not need cash for tipping — it is not customary in Japan and can be taken as impolite.
What your own bank adds
The yen figures above are the Japanese operator’s charge and apply whoever issued your card. On top, most banks add a foreign transaction fee, commonly around 1 to 3 percent, and some add a flat charge per withdrawal.
Look up both before you travel: the foreign transaction fee as a percentage and the flat charge per withdrawal. We deliberately name no individual issuer’s terms; they change often, and only your bank can confirm them.
And the universal rule applies here too: if the machine offers to bill you in your home currency, decline. Why that costs so much is covered in With or without conversion? — the ATM screens are reproduced there.
Why you want a signal at the machine
Many banks now require approval through a push notification in their app for withdrawals abroad; with no data connection the card is declined. In Japan there is the added benefit of finding the nearest 7-Eleven on a map rather than ending up at an MUFG machine.
A Japan eSIM from POVNOMAD starts at €2.90. Install it at home by QR code; validity starts when it first connects in Japan. Unlimited plans include tethering at no extra cost up to the daily allowance, after which the connection continues at 1 Mbit/s. How we compare with other providers is in our Japan eSIM comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Can I withdraw cash at 7-Eleven in Japan?
Yes, and for most travellers it is the best option. The Seven Bank machines in Japan’s roughly 20,000 7-Eleven stores are accessible around the clock, have English menus and accept foreign cards reliably. With a Mastercard or Maestro the withdrawal is free; with Visa it costs ¥110 (up to ¥10,000) or ¥220 (from ¥20,000). The limit is ¥100,000 per transaction.
How much does it cost to withdraw cash in Japan?
Between ¥0 and ¥660 per withdrawal, depending on the machine, the card network and the time of day. Cheapest is Seven Bank at 7-Eleven: free with Mastercard, ¥110 to ¥220 with Visa. Japan Post charges ¥220, while MUFG takes ¥660 for most foreign cards. As of 12 September 2026.
Visa or Mastercard for Japan?
Mastercard, clearly, for withdrawing cash. Seven Bank charges nothing for Mastercard and Maestro cards but ¥110 to ¥220 for Visa. If you carry both, withdraw with the Mastercard. For paying in shops there is no meaningful difference.
Which ATM is most expensive in Japan?
MUFG. It charges ¥660 per withdrawal for most foreign cards and is free only for UnionPay, JCB and Discover. Summary listings sometimes show it incorrectly as a fee-free bank. Lawson and Family Mart machines can be similarly expensive at unfavourable hours.
Does the ATM fee in Japan depend on the time of day?
At several operators, yes. Lawson Bank, E-net and Resona charge less on weekdays during business hours than in the evening, at night or at weekends. At Lawson the range runs from ¥0 to ¥660 for the same withdrawal. Weekdays between 8:45 and 18:00 is the cheapest window. At Seven Bank the hour makes no difference.
How much can I withdraw at once in Japan?
Usually ¥50,000. Seven Bank allows ¥100,000, E-net ¥200,000 and Resona by far the highest at ¥500,000. Magnetic-stripe-only cards drop to ¥30,000. Japanese machines dispense mainly ¥10,000 notes.
Do I need cash in Japan?
Yes, more than most visitors expect. Card payment works well in Tokyo and Osaka in chains and larger restaurants, and Suica or Pasmo cover transport and kiosks. But small restaurants, temple entry fees, rural ryokan, markets and taxis outside the big cities remain cash only. Tipping is not customary.
Will my debit card work in Japan?
Only if it carries an international network and your bank has enabled withdrawals outside your home region. A credit card is more reliable — and for withdrawals specifically a Mastercard, because Seven Bank charges nothing for it. Check in your online banking before you travel that international use is switched on.
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