Currency of Japan: The Yen
Japanese yen · Bank of Japan · 58.0% cashless
Exchange Rate
The figures below are a reference snapshot, not a live feed, and not a bank or cash-counter quote. Actual rates vary by provider, card network and location.
Solid line: annual average rate, US Federal Reserve. Dashed segment and solid dot: 2026 is a partial-year latest observation, not a completed annual average. Hover a point for the exact value.
Banknotes and Coins
Banknotes
The Bank of Japan issues four denominations. New ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 notes entered circulation on July 3, 2024, the first redesign since 2004. The ¥2,000 note was not redesigned and remains uncommon in everyday circulation.
Issuer: Bank of Japan · Printer: National Printing Bureau
Coins
Coins are issued by the Japanese government and minted by the Japan Mint. The current bicolor ¥500 coin, Japan's highest coin denomination, was first issued in 2021.
Issuer: Government of Japan · Minter: Japan Mint
2024 Note Series: Security and Accessibility
The July 2024 banknotes introduced new anti-counterfeiting and accessibility features, according to the Bank of Japan.
A rotating portrait hologram, a new anti-counterfeiting feature.
Tactile marks and larger, clearer denomination indicators for visually impaired users.
Larger face-value numerals, easier to read at a glance.
Cashless Payments Are Growing
Japan's cashless payment ratio reached 58.0%* of consumer payment value in 2025, worth ¥162.7 trillion*, according to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. That is up from 32.5%* in 2021, per METI's own reporting.
Shares are of the ¥162.7 trillion* cashless total, METI, 2025.
Who Issues Japan's Money?
Banknotes are issued solely by the Bank of Japan. Coins are issued by the Japanese government. Both enter circulation through the banking system.
Why Is 円 Written "Yen"?
In Japanese, 円 is pronounced en. The Bank of Japan itself states that the exact historical reason the English spelling became YEN rather than EN is not definitively established, though several explanations exist. It remains an interesting, genuinely unresolved detail rather than a settled fact.
Currency History
The New Currency Act introduced the yen as Japan's currency unit.
The Bank of Japan was established as the central bank.
The first Bank of Japan notes entered circulation.
New ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 banknotes were issued on July 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japan's currency?
The Japanese yen, symbol ¥, ISO code JPY, issued by the Bank of Japan.
Why is 円 spelled yen instead of en?
The Bank of Japan itself states that the exact historical reason English uses the spelling YEN rather than EN is not definitively established, though several explanations exist. In Japanese, the currency is pronounced en.
How many yen banknotes and coins are there?
Four banknote denominations (1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen) and six coin denominations (1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen).
Is Japan a cashless country?
Not entirely. Japan's cashless payment ratio reached 58.0% of consumer payment value in 2025, up from 32.5% in 2021.
Sources & methodology
Sources for the data and definitions shown above.
View sources used for this page
Currency issuance authority, banknote series and issuance dates, and the yen/en spelling note.
2025 cashless payment ratio, total value, and payment-method breakdown.
Reference exchange rate snapshot and annual average historical series.
2025 Triennial Central Bank Survey: the yen's rank and 16.8% share of global FX turnover.