Japanese Yen Banknotes: Every Bill Accepted in Japan (2026)

Every yen banknote you can spend in Japan in 2026 is listed below — the July 2024 redesigns and the older series the Bank of Japan still treats as valid. If you are staring at a bill and wondering “is this fake or just a new face?”, match the portrait here. For reading price tags (円, tax included/excluded), see our yen & price signs guide.

Banknotes currently issued

Same denominations as the Bank of Japan’s official “currently issued” page — shown with the images from that reference.

¥10,000 · 2024 series

Front: Eiichi Shibusawa (渋沢栄一)

Back: Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Building)

¥10,000 · 2004 series

Front: Yukichi Fukuzawa (福澤諭吉)

Back: Phoenix statue (Byōdō-in)

¥5,000 · 2024 series

Front: Umeko Tsuda (津田梅子)

Back: Wisteria (fuji)

¥5,000 · 2004 series

Front: Ichiyō Higuchi (樋口一葉)

Back: Iris flowers (Kakitsubata)

¥2,000 · 2000 series

Front: Shureimon Gate (Okinawa) (守礼門)

Back: Tale of Genji / Murasaki Shikibu

Uncommon in everyday change — still legal tender.

¥1,000 · 2024 series

Front: Shibasaburō Kitasato (北里柴三郎)

Back: Hokusai’s Great Wave (Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji)

¥1,000 · 2004 series

Front: Hideyo Noguchi (野口英世)

Back: Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms

¥10,000 — largest everyday note

2024 series: front portrait of financier Eiichi Shibusawa; back shows Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building.

2004 series: front portrait of educator Yukichi Fukuzawa; back shows the phoenix of Byōdō-in.

ATMs and airport counters often dispense these. Break a ¥10,000 early at a konbini or station if you expect small shops — some prefer smaller notes.

¥5,000 — the useful middle note

2024 series: Umeko Tsuda (educator) on the front; wisteria on the back.

2004 series: writer Ichiyō Higuchi on the front; irises on the back.

A stack of ¥5,000s is often easier for taxis, casual restaurants, and markets than only carrying ¥10,000s.

¥1,000 — workhorse bill

2024 series: bacteriologist Shibasaburō Kitasato; back uses Hokusai’s Great Wave from the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji set.

2004 series: bacteriologist Hideyo Noguchi; Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms on the back.

Vending machines, ticket machines, and tip-jar moments usually want ¥1,000s and coins — keep a few ready.

¥2,000 — real, just uncommon

Issued from 2000 for the millennium / Okinawa theme. Front: Shureimon at Shuri Castle. Back: scenes tied to The Tale of Genji and Murasaki Shikibu. It was not redesigned in 2024 and remains legal tender. Do not reject it as fake if a cashier hands you one.

Coins currently issued

Same set as on the Bank of Japan page (currently issued coins):

• ¥500 — bicolor clad (2021); paulownia / bamboo & tachibana
• ¥100 — cupronickel; cherry blossoms
• ¥50 — cupronickel; chrysanthemum
• ¥10 — bronze; Byōdō-in Phoenix Hall
• ¥5 — brass; rice, gear, water
• ¥1 — aluminum; young tree

Many machines need exact coins; cashiers will make change from notes.

Practical tips for travelers

• Both designs are fine — 2024 and 2004 portraits for the same denomination are both money.
• Machine quirks — if a brand-new note is rejected by an old machine, pay a person or try another device.
• Damaged notes — heavily torn bills may be refused at a shop; Japanese banks / Bank of Japan branches can advise on exchange rules for damaged cash.
• Foreign bills — USD/EUR notes are not “accepted yen”; exchange or withdraw yen first.
• Price tags — shops write amounts with 円; decode tax labels in the price signs guide.

FAQ

Are old Japanese yen bills still accepted?
Yes. The Bank of Japan kept the previous series valid after the July 2024 redesign.

What yen banknotes are used in Japan?
¥1,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000 day to day, plus a rare but valid ¥2,000 note.

Will shops refuse the new 2024 yen bills?
People almost always accept them; a few older machines may still be picky.

Is the ¥2,000 yen bill real?
Yes — Shureimon / Genji design, legal tender, just uncommon.

Do I need cash if Japan takes cards?
Less than before, but still useful. Prefer a mix of ¥1,000 and ¥5,000 notes.

For more guides, see yen & price signs, restaurant & konbini words, and Japanese signs for tourists.

Tags: japanese yen banknotes tokyo travel tips tourist guide japan