5 Best Travel Money Cards for Japan in 2024: A Guide for Australians
Planning a journey to Japan from Australia? Whether you're aiming to experience Tokyo's bustling cityscape or Kyoto's serene temples, selecting the right travel money card is great for managing your finances smoothly.
While Japan relies heavily on cash, you will likely pay for accommodation and restaurants with a card. So, which is the best travel card to take with you?
We have compared the best travel money cards in Australia to take to Japan in 2024 and have summarised their best points.
Best 5 Travel Money Cards for Japan in 2024:
- Wise Travel Card for the best exchange rates
- Revolut Travel Card for low fees
- Travelex Card - Best all rounder
- HSBC Global Everyday Debit Card for best debit card
- Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card for lowest interest rate
Revolut Card Offer
Revolut Card Offer
Sign up and get a $15 top-up. For new customers only, T&Cs apply.
Wise Travel Card - Best Exchange Rates
- 40+ currencies available
- Best exchange rates globally
- One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees
- Extremely low costs to send money overseas
Wise Travel Card
- Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
- Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise Card charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
- Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
- Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
- It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
- Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted
The Wise Travel Card is an excellent choice for those traveling to Japan, tailored to meet the unique needs of international visitors. A standout feature of the card is its offering of over 40 currencies at the interbank exchange rate, known for being the most economical rate globally. This is particularly beneficial for travelers to Japan, enabling them to convert their home currency into Japanese Yen (JPY) at highly competitive rates. However if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees. Finally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.
Revolut - Low Fees
- 30+ currencies available
- One of the best exchange rates globally
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
- No initial card fee
- Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
Revolut Travel Card
- No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
- Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
- Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.
Travelex Money Card - Best Support
Best Features
- Unlimited free ATM withdrawals
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Initial and replacement card are free
- No international transaction fees
- Lock in up to 10 currencies
Travelex Money Card
- Minimum load of $100 and maximum load of $100,000
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- Fees include a $10 closure fee, $5 for an additional card and $4 inactivity monthly fee.
- While Travelex don't charge ATM fees, some ATM operators may charge their own fees.
- Currencies that can be loaded are AU$, US$, EU€, GB£, NZ$, TH฿, CA$, HK$, JP¥, SG$
- If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash in your account through Moneygram or Western Union agents, with no charge
- Boingo hotspots offer free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map
The Travelex Money Card is a good all-rounder no matter if you are heading to the bustling streets of Tokyo or experiencing the tranquility of Kyoto.
You can use it to take money out of the ATM, for merchant purchases like restaurants and even for online shopping in foreign currency. While the exchange rates aren't as good as the Wise or Revolut cards, the support network if the card is lost or stolen is very good. This attribute can be quite practical when immersing yourself in the rich culture of Japan.
HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card - Best Debit Card
Best Features
- Great exchange rate offered for Japanese yen (JPY)
- No fees at ATMs in Japan to withdraw cash
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card, closure, account keeping or monthly fees
- No cross currency conversion fees
HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card
- 10 Currencies can be loaded are JPY, USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, CAD, NZD, SGD, INR and CNY (currency restrictions on CNY)
- No maximum balance for any currency
- Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
- ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
- Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with payWave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100.
- Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
- Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card is a good option to take to Japan and to spend money in Australia with no international transaction fees, international ATM fees and monthly fees.
Its worth noting that to withdraw Japanese yen from an ATM you will need to go to a 7-11 or a post office as most other ATMs in Japan will not accept a card issued outside of Japan.
Finally there is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card - Lowest Interest Rate
Best Features
- Lowest interest rate at 9.90%
- No international transaction fees on purchases
- Up to 55 days interest free on purchases
- Low annual fee
- Complimentary international travel insurance
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card
- Free annual fee first year, then $69 annual fee
- Free international travel insurance that includes the basics but does not cover cancellation costs, pre existing conditions and travellers over 80
- $6,000 minimum credit card
- 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then reverts to 9.90%
- 21.99% interest rate on purchases and cash advances
- Cash advance fee of the higher of $4 or 2% of cash advance
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
The Bankwest Breeze Platinum is a great no frills credit card that offers ‘no foreign transaction fees’ and the lowest interest rate on the market, at 9.90%. These two factors alone will save you hundreds of dollars when travelling throughout Japan.
In addition it has a low annual fee and complimentary international travel insurance. Finally for its price point it is a great value credit card that will be accepted most places in Japan.
Westpac Worldwide Wallet - Best Card from Big Banks
Best Features
- No foreign transaction fees
- No fees on initial card, load, unload or inactivity fees
- Competitive exchange rates for Japanese yen (JPY)
- Free additional card
- Flight delay pass
Westpac Worldwide Wallet Global Card
- 11 Currencies can be loaded are JPY, AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, HKD, SGD, THB & ZAR
- Lock in exchange rates before you leave
- No cross currency transactions fees
- No ATM fee at 50,000 Global Alliance ATMs worldwide
- $2,000 maximum limit on ATM withdrawals overseas within 24 hours
- $50,000 maximum limit on currencies loaded on to travel card
- $3 roughly for ATMs that are not within the Non Westpac Global Alliance
- If you run out of one currency on the card, you can pay with other currencies without the expensive cross currency transaction fee
- No foreign transaction fees, initial card, load, unload or inactivity fees
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- According to the Westpac it can take up to 8 business days to receive the travel card
- Secure from fraudulent transactions with Mastercard Zero Liability protection
- 2 cards per account for free
The Westpac Travel Card is a no frills handy travel card with very low fees, no foreign transaction fees, access to some free ATMs worldwide and competitive exchange rates, especially on JPY, USD, EUR, GBP and CAD.
In addition it has the South African Rand (ZAR) which is not common in visa prepaid travel cards. Finally it has access to a flight delay pass in case your flights are delayed and you need to access airport lounges.
Why Choose a Travel Money Card for Japan?
Travel money cards offer several advantages for travelers in Japan:
- Convenience: Simplify purchases and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
- Security: Enhanced security features protect against loss or theft.
- Savings: Potentially lower fees and better exchange rates compared to traditional banking methods.
Key Features to Consider
When selecting a travel money card for Japan, consider the following:
- Exchange Rates: Look for cards that offer competitive rates for converting AUD to JPY.
- Transaction Fees: Choose cards with low or no fees on international transactions and ATM withdrawals.
- Reloading Ease: Ensure the card can be easily topped up online or via an app.
- Acceptance: Confirm the card is widely accepted in Japan, especially important for regions less familiar with international cards.
Tips for Using Travel Money Cards in Japan
Maximize your card’s benefits with these practical tips:
- Inform Your Provider: Notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid any security holds.
- Withdraw Strategically: Utilize ATMs at convenience stores and post offices which are widely available and often have English instructions.
- Backup Payment Methods: Always carry a backup card and some cash in yen for emergencies or smaller establishments that may not accept cards.
- Avoid Hidden Fees: Choose to be billed in yen (JPY) to circumvent additional currency conversion charges.
Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.
Learn more about the best credit, debit and prepaid cards for travel
FAQs
The best travel cards to use in Japan are the Wise Multi Currency card, which offers the best exchange rate for Japanese yen, a HSBC Global, Citibank Plus or Westpac Wallet card for ATM withdrawals and the BankWest Platinum Breeze cards for credit purchases. All of these cards do not charge an international transaction fee of 3%.
You should bring both card and cash to Japan. Japan relies heavily on cash and cards are needed to pay for big items like accommodation. We advise you to buy Japanese yen before you leave and take a prepaid card like Wise, a card to withdraw money from ATMs like HSBC or Citibank and a credit card as a back up like Bankwest Breeze Platinum.
Travel money cards for Japan should be free of charge. All the travel cards in the top 14 travel cards guide are free. On some prepaid travel cards you might have to pay for load, unload and inactivity fees, however if you choose a HSBC Global or Citibank Everyday card you will not have to pay these fees. You will also not have to pay an international transaction fee.
A travel money card is better than cash because it is more secure. With a travel money card you have to punch in your 4 digit code for transactions over $100. Therefore if you lose your card or if it is stolen, then you won't lose your money as you can cancel your card online.
Mastercard, Visa and JCB are the three most common cards accepted in Japan. This includes Mastercard debit, Mastercard credit, Visa debit and Visa credit cards. American Express and Diners cards are rarely accepted because the cost is too high for the merchant.
HSBC, Citibank and Westpac offer the best bank travel cards for Japan. They all have very good currency exchange rates, no international transaction fees, no initial card fee, no load, unload fee and no inactivity fees. They all offer access to other currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, HKD, SGD and CAD. HSBC offers 2% cash back, Citibank offers free bottles of wine and Westpac offers complimentary travel insurance.
Yes you can withdraw cash from a travel card in Japan. However, depending on the travel card you can pay an overseas ATM withdrawal fee and international transaction fees when using a debit card overseas. It is more expensive if your travel card is a credit card because you will also pay higher interest on cash advances. Save $15 on a $300 cash withdrawal and choose the correct debit travel card or prepaid card for travel.
