Japanese Yen & Price Signs: 円, Tax Tags & Discounts (2026)
How to read Japanese price tags — 円 (the character shops actually use), 税込み/税抜き, 割引, 無料, 有料 — so shelf prices and receipts make sense.
Inside Japan, shelf prices usually end in 円, not a Western ¥. Add 税込み vs 税抜き, plus 割引 / 無料 / 有料, and Japanese price tags stop being ambiguous. This 2026 guide is how to read yen signs on the ground. For which banknotes are legal tender (new 2024 faces and older designs), see Japanese yen banknotes accepted in Japan.
円
えん · en
Yen
Price tags, receipts, ATMs — the character used inside Japan
税込み
ぜいこみ · zeikomi
Tax included
Shelf tags and menus — see also restaurant/konbini guide
税抜き
ぜいぬき · zeinuki
Tax excluded
Tags that add consumption tax at checkout
割引
わりびき · waribiki
Discount
Sale stickers, coupon boards, outlet shops
無料
むりょう · muryou
Free (no charge)
Wi‑Fi, cloakrooms, samples, some museum days
有料
ゆうりょう · yuuryou
Paid / fee required
Toilets, luggage storage, parking, some Wi‑Fi
円 vs ¥ — what you will actually see
Tourist blogs love ¥. Local stickers and receipts prefer 1,200円. Same currency. If a tag says 税抜き, expect roughly 10% consumption tax on top at many shops (rules can vary; the receipt is the source of truth).
Counter phrases that pair with these tags — お会計, 持ち帰り, 温める — live in restaurant & konbini words.
FAQ
Is the yen symbol ¥ or 円 in Japan?
Both exist; everyday tags usually use 円 after the number.
What does 税込み mean on a price tag?
Tax included.
What does 税抜き mean?
Tax excluded — added at checkout.
What does 割引 mean?
Discount.
What is the difference between 無料 and 有料?
Free vs fee required.
For more guides, see yen banknotes, restaurant & konbini words, and Japanese signs for tourists.
Tags: japanese signs tokyo travel tips tourist guide japan
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