Good to know
Good to Know
- Seven Bank ATMs (in 7-Eleven) are your most reliable friend: 26,000+ locations, 24/7, no operator fee, English menu. Go here first.
- Always choose to pay in JPY (not your home currency) at ATMs and card terminals to avoid unfavorable Dynamic Currency Conversion markups.
- Contactless 'tap to pay' is now standard at every major chain (2026). Carry a contactless Visa/Mastercard + an IC card (Suica/ICOCA) + small cash (¥5,000–¥10,000).
- Osaka's local food alleys (Sennichimae, Shinsekai, Dotonbori street food) are ~50% cash-only. Carry extra yen for these areas.
- Coin lockers, vending machines, onsen showers, laundromats, and capsule toy machines all still require coins—don't spend all your cash notes.
- Tipping in Japan is not just unnecessary—it can cause awkward moments. Servers may refuse or chase after you thinking you forgot money. Simple verbal thanks ('gochisousama deshita') is the correct etiquette.
- Japan Post Bank ATMs have limited hours on weekends/holidays; plan ahead if using post office ATMs.
- Notify your home bank you're traveling; Japanese ATMs may flag sudden overseas use as fraud and block your card.
- If paying by card in smaller restaurants or shops, ask 'カード使えますか？' (kādo tsukaemasu ka?) to confirm they accept cards before ordering.
- Most hotels and department stores now accept cards; street-level restaurants, shrines, temples, and festivals typically prefer or require cash.
ATM Access
- ATM Fees Detail
- Foreign cards incur operator fees (¥110–¥220 per transaction, depending on time/network) plus potential card-issuer fees. Seven Bank has no operator fee. Always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion and pay in JPY.
Withdrawal Limits
- Typical Daily Limit
- ¥100,000
Most foreign bank ATM daily limits; varies by card/issuer
- Recommended Per Withdrawal
- ¥50,000
Larger withdrawals minimize per-transaction fees
Foreign Card Friendly Networks
Seven Bank (7-Eleven)
- Hours
- 24/7
- Languages
- English available
- Locations
- 26,000+ stores nationwide; abundant in Osaka
- Reliability
- Highest for foreign cards
- Fee Structure
- No Seven Bank withdrawal fee; check on-screen for card issuer fees (typically ¥110–¥220 per transaction)
Japan Post Bank
- Hours
- Limited (closes nights/weekends at smaller branches)
- Languages
- English available
- Locations
- 20,000+ post offices; nationwide
- Reliability
- Very reliable; good backup
- Fee Structure
- Charges ¥220 per international withdrawal; card issuer may add additional fees
Family Mart / Lawson / AEON Bank
- Hours
- 24/7 at convenience stores; AEON malls vary
- Languages
- English often available
- Locations
- Not all branches; select locations
- Reliability
- Try if 7-Eleven unavailable
- Fee Structure
- Varies; ¥110–¥220 typical
Tipping Norms
- If Tip Offered
- Staff may politely refuse or look confused. Do not insist. A simple 'arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you very much) is the correct approach.
- Emerging Change
- Some tourist-heavy cafes in central Osaka have quietly introduced optional tip boxes, but this does not reflect mainstream cultural practice. Most Japanese staff prefer not to accept tips.
- Standard Practice
- Tipping is not expected and can be considered rude in Osaka and all of Japan. Excellent service is already built into prices.
Where Not To Tip
- Restaurants and cafes (including upscale dining)
- Taxis and rideshares
- Hotels and ryokan (staff already compensated)
- Bars and nightclubs
Rare Acceptable Situations
Discreet envelope with cash, not expected but appreciated
- Context
- Private tour guides or interpreters accustomed to overseas practices
Ryokan with personal attendant (nakai-san)
- Approach
- ¥1,000 per person in sealed envelope during check-in
Geisha experiences
- Approach
- Optional small gratuity; done discreetly
Card Acceptance
- Summary
- Osaka is highly card-friendly for a major Japanese city. Contactless Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at chains, department stores, convenience stores, and mid-range hotels.
- Ic Card Note
- Rechargeable IC cards like ICOCA (Kansai region), Suica, or PASMO work system-wide for trains, convenience stores, and many vendors. Highly recommended.
Cash Requirement Contexts
- Small family-run restaurants and izakaya
- Local street food vendors and festival stalls
- Temple and shrine offerings and admissions
- Coin-operated services (laundromats, lockers, vending machines)
- Some traditional ryokan
Banking Setup
- Account Opening Process
- In-person at branch or online (depending on bank). Small deposit typically ¥1,000 minimum. Account setup free at most banks; Prestia charges ¥2,200 monthly maintenance (waived with high balance).
- Key Note
- Opening a Japanese account is essential for salary deposits, rent payments, and utility bill setup. Tourist visas (90 days) cannot open accounts. Non-resident yen accounts exist but have severe restrictions (no overseas remittances, no automatic debits).
- Osaka Specific Note
- Landlords often require automatic bank transfers (kozafurikae) for rent. Some properties only accept certain banks. Traditional megabanks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho) more widely accepted by landlords than digital banks.
ATM Fees
- Note
- Varies by bank, time of day, and ATM operator. Online banks often reimburse.
Required Documents
- Residence Card (Zairyu Card) showing registered address
- Japanese phone number (required for verification)
- Juminhyo (resident certificate from ward office, costs ¥300)
- My Number Card or notification (increasingly required for tax purposes)
- Personal seal (inkan/hanko) - optional at many foreigner-friendly banks
Residency Requirements
- Shinsei Bank
- Flexible; accepts applications with 6+ months remaining on visa
- Japan Post Bank
- 3 months residency with valid long-term visa
- Most Traditional Banks
- Minimum 6 months residency in Japan required
Account Maintenance Costs
- Most Personal Accounts
- Free
Recommended Banks For Expats
Shinsei Bank
- Features
- Most foreigner-friendly. Full English online platform and app. No account maintenance fees. ATM access at convenience stores. Overseas remittance flat rate ¥2,000.
- Online Capable
- Yes
- Visa Requirement
- 6+ months remaining on visa
Smbc Prestia
- Caveat
- Minimum balance requirement (typically ¥500,000) to avoid fees. Fewer branches.
- Features
- Full English support. Multi-currency accounts (17 currencies). Premium service for international professionals.
- Visa Requirement
- 6+ months, stable employment preferred
Japan Post Bank
- Caveat
- Limited English at physical branches. Higher overseas transfer fees (¥3,000-¥7,500).
- Features
- Largest ATM network (24,000+ branches). English mobile app available. 16 languages supported. More flexible residency requirement.
- Online Capable
- Yes
- Visa Requirement
- 3 months residency
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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- 2.chase.com
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- 4.wise.com
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- 27.modernlivingjapan.com
- 28.japanlivinglife.com
- 29.maidorealestate.com
- 30.japan-property.jp
- 31.japan-experience.com
- 32.e-housing.jp
- 33.wise.com
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- 36.travel.joogostyle.com
- 37.matcha-jp.com
- 38.matcha-jp.com
- 39.livejapan.com
- 40.japanlivingguide.com
- 41.investing.com
More About Osaka
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.