Note: this is less of a complaint post and more of a trying to learn one.
Went shopping for the first time at a place called Lopia (Kanagawa prefecture). Got to the register and I was surprised that they were cash only. This place was also in a busy mall so I was kind of shocked to be honest; the Mister Donut that we went to right before took credit card no problem as did the little indoor play place that the mall has on the 3rd floor for kids.
I know it may be more common for smaller stores but was it this store? This chain? (I know there are other Lopia’s out there). Are there other chains that take only cash?
How much cash does a Japanese person normally take with them? Do they make weekly runs to the bank/ ATM just for cash? (I mean there are ATMs at the mall so I guess you could just withdraw it then).
I think part of my issue too is I’m still used to the American way of doing groceries about once a week. From what I hear, Japanese folks tend to go more frequently during the week.
16 comments
I try to carry 10,000 to 30,000 yen at all times. Withdraw at the konbini once every couple of weeks. 20 free konbini withdrawals per month through my bank.
We have a pretty big indie supermarket close to where I live and they’re cash only. I didn’t even know there are chains that don’t accept credit cards. Interesting.
I don’t carry that much cash anymore. Maybe 10-15k? My wife carries a bit more though, 30?
I don’t carry cash as much nowadays, but when I first came to Japan, I used to carry 10~20,000 with me at all time. And even today I still buy groceries every one or two days, which is about the same as when I was in my home country. It’s interesting to me that American buy that much groceries at once
I always have between 1-3man on me. I mostly pay in cash too. I ho shopping every 2 days for my family. We just don’t have the space to do once a week/month grocery shops.
We have Lopia in kansai too, and yeah, no cards except in one store in Tokyo. Says so on their [website](https://no-genkin.com/lopia/).
I think it’s changed, but a big chain Supercenter Trial used to only take cash or their prepaid cards. So it’s not just small shops.
I feel like most people try to keep a minimum of 10,000 to 30,000 on them.
There is a local supermarket chain here that is cash only. They don’t even take their own credit card as payment for groceries. I’ve gone mostly cashless these days but I usually keep around ¥20,000 in my wallet for times when I come across cash-only transactions.
They don’t want to pay the credit card processing fee. They probably take edy or some payment method similar.
Most smaller shops/restaurants/bars don’t take cards, but more and more of them take Paypay or Rpay etc so it’s getting easier
I usually carry around ¥5k on me. Everywhere is mostly cashless friendly. Very few places I’ve visited are only cash and it’s usually because they’re out in the boonies.
The little supermarkets in my neck of the woods that mostly cater for restaurants and the like would also be cash only. They usually have very good prices, though. But times have changed. Most shops that were cash only 20 years ago now accept cards or some sort of digital payment.
I usually carry about 5k or less on me. There are ATMs everywhere; no biggie if I need to pick up a little cash when needed.
Some places do, some places don’t. Usually you can tell by the machine next to the cash register or a sign that says it. If there’s nothing, I just ask before purchasing anything.
Me Japanese man don’t use much cash recently, I usually pay for things with iD, which backend is credit cards. one exception is lunch so I usually have 30k JPY in my wallet for a month and go ATM only once after the pay day of the month.
I think most people go to the supermarket almost every day. You get out the train station and stop at the supermarket or conbini on the way home from work.
As far as cash, I’d say most people again carry about ¥20-¥30,000 with them. This is quite a large amount of money in the US, where I typically carry just $20-$40.
I’m used to being able to use my phone to pay for literally everything (groceries, utilities, rent etc) before coming to Japan. But my local super only takes cash or credit. I’m not sure if my foreign cc works at the machine (it’s hit or miss). Was kinda embarrassed when I found out they didn’t take phone payments…and all I had on me was my phone. So now I just take 1man when I go shopping for groceries.
The way you’re describing it sounds like the one in Ebina where it’s located in a Lalaport.
They’re probably avoiding the credit card processing fees in order to keep prices low.
I usually withdraw cash 200,000 once every month / two months for situations like this. Not all stores will accept cashless.
Shopping frequency, I usually go every couple of days. Food tends to go bad quicker in Japan than where I’m from (Canada). Avoid weekends cause that’s when everyone does their shopping.
My local Gyomu, which I make one big trip a week to, is cash only. Not a big deal I just prepare an amount in advance and it’s all good.
Most others take card. Although if you want to collect points for their loyalty programs, you have to pay with cash on their own credit cards. I’ve heard it’s because they don’t need to pay the credit card processing fee, so they can give you the value back in points.