Japanese Currency Guide -Coins-

Have you ever had an experience where your wallet got fat with Japanese coins? The Japanese government is in the process of promoting a cashless society, but still, many small stores do not accept cashless payment services such as credit cards and Apple Pay. So let’s learn about Japanese coins together! There may be information you have never even heard of!

For paper currencies, check out this article!
Japanese Currency Guide -Banknotes-

1 yen coin

• In Japanese
  「¥1」,「1円(玉)」,「一円(玉)」,「いちえん(だま)」
  
• Design
  • Obverse
    From the top: “日本国” (Japan), a young tree, and “一円” (one yen).
  • Reverse
    From the top: value in Arabic numerals and year of minting
    
• Tips
  • 1 yen coins were minted in large quantities when the consumption tax was first introduced in Japan.
  • In Japan, in order to give the impression of being inexpensive, they often sell a 300 yen item for 298 yen or a 400 yen item for 398 yen. Because of this, my wallets often get thicker with 1 yen coins. I am personally envious of countries such as Australia and Canada that have stopped minting one-cent coins…
  • A 1 yen coin is exactly 1 gram!

5 yen coin

• In Japanese
  「¥5」,「5円(玉)」,「五円(玉)」,「ごえん(だま)」
  
• Design
  • Obverse
    From the top: ear (head) of rice, a gear (around the hole), water, and “五円” (five yen).
  • Reverse
    From the top: “日本国” (Japan), sprouts and year of minting
    
• Tips
  • This coin is a little tricky because the numbers are only written in Kanji. If you find a coin with a hole, remember that a gold coin is a 5 yen coin and a silver coin is a 50 yen coin. (And 50 yen coins have Arabic numerals on them!)
  • The ears of rice, gear, and water on the obverse are designed in hopes for the growth of agriculture, manufacturing, and fishery, respectively.

10 yen coin

• In Japanese
  「¥10」,「10円(玉)」,「十円(玉)」,「じゅうえん(だま)」
  
• Design
  • Obverse
    From the top: “日本国” (Japan), The Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple (Website),  “十円” (ten yen).
  • Reverse
    From the top: value in Arabic numerals, year of minting, and evergreen tree
    
• Tips
  • Most 10 yen coins have smooth edges, but some coins minted in the past have milled (jagged) edges. They are called “gizaju” (giza means jagged in Japanese), and some of them, especially those from 1958, are priced at about 100 yen.

50 yen coin

• In Japanese
  「¥50」,「50円(玉)」,「五十円(玉)」,「ごじゅうえん(だま)」
  
• Design
  • Obverse
    From the top: “日本国” (Japan), chrysanthemum, “十円” (ten yen).
  • Reverse
    From the top: value in Arabic numerals, and year of minting
    
• Tips
  • Only 50-yen and 100-yen coins have the year of minting written in Arabic numerals. The year of minting is written in the year of the Japanese calendar.

100 yen coin

• In Japanese
  「¥100」,「100円(玉)」,「百円(玉)」,「ひゃくえん(だま)」
  
• Design
  • Obverse
    From the top: “日本国” (Japan), cherry blossom,  “百円” (one hundred yen).
  • Reverse
    From the top: value in Arabic numerals, and year of minting
    
• Tips
  • 100 yen coins have milled (jugged) edges.
  • 100 yen coins are the most frequently used coin in our daily lives. There are so many situations where you need it, such as (coin-operated) lockers, vending machines, and carts at grocery stores or shopping malls.

500 yen coin

• In Japanese
  「¥500」,「500円(玉)」,「五百円(玉)」,「ごひゃくえん(だま)」
  
• Design
  • Obverse
    From the top: “日本国” (Japan), paulownia, “五百円” (five hundred yen).
  • Reverse
    From the top: bamboo, mandarin orange, value in Arabic numerals, and year of minting
    
• Tips
  • 500 yen coins have milled (jugged) edges.
  • A new 500 yen coin will be minted from November 2021. The design will be the same, but instead of a single color of gold, it will be a bicolor with silver in the middle and gold around it. (Just like a 1 euro coin).

Image courtesy of the Ministry of Finance

Would you like to get rid of coins in your wallet?

Have you ever been in a situation where you have tons of coins in your pocket and don’t know what to do with them? The following are recommended places in Japan to spend your coins!

• Gashapon (Gachapon / Gacha-Gacha) machines
  Gashapon is a variety of vending machine-dispensed capsule toys popular in Japan. The price is usually between 100 yen and 500 yen and is perfect for consuming 100 yen coins. You can find them in shopping malls, train stations, airports, etc.
  
• Pocket Change kiosks
  Pocket Change is a machine that allows you to exchange your leftover coins and bills for electronic money, vouchers, or donations. They are located in airports, shopping malls, hotels, etc. The number of machines is not that many yet, so please check the location on the Pocket Change official website.

How do you always get rid of your coins? If you’ve got any other suggestions, I’d love to hear them in the comments!

Related articles:

A Guide to Exchange and Withdraw Cash in Japan

How to “Danshari” with Your Leftover Coins in Japan?