How to use the Wise card in Japan [2024]
Japan is a dream destination for many people. Whether you’re looking forward to a trip exploring the cultural highlights, heading over to experience the buzz of the cities, or getting away from it all on a ski trip, you’ll need ways to spend conveniently and cheaply in Japanese yen. Wise can help.
In this article, we’ll look at how you can use the Wise card when traveling to Japan, the fees involved, your card withdrawal limits, and some useful tips to save money when spending in Japanese yen.
Here’s what we’ll look at in this full guide on how to use the Wise card in Japan:
- Is it possible to use my Wise card in Japan?
- About Wise card & how does it work?
- Fees applied when using the Wise card in Japan
- How to withdraw money in Japan with Wise card
- How to get a Wise card: step by step
Is it possible to use my Wise card in Japan?
Yes. You can use your Wise card for convenient spending and withdrawals in Japan, which will mean you get the mid-market exchange rate and dodge DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) fees. No matter what currency you hold as a balance in your Wise account, the card’s smart technology will pick the right one to pay with to get the lowest available fee. That means there’s no risk of getting caught out by hidden DCC costs.
You may not have heard of DCC, but it’s an expensive headache for many travelers. DCC is when you’re asked at an ATM or by a merchant, if you’d prefer to pay in dollars or the local currency wherever you are. Paying in dollars sounds easier because you’ll be able to instantly see how much your purchase is costing you. However, the bad news is that paying in dollars will usually mean you run into extra fees, including a marked up exchange rate.
When you choose to pay in dollars, the merchant picks the exchange rate used to calculate the conversion, rather than your card network. The rate is very likely to be worse than the rate your card network would offer, and can include extra fees and a high markup, too.
With Wise it’s easy to make sure you always pay in the local currency wherever you are, to avoid DCC, and keep your final costs down.
About Wise card
The Wise card is an international debit card linked to the Wise multi currency account. You can hold 40+ currencies in your Wise account, and it’s free to spend from any enough currency balance you hold.
If you don’t have the right currency balance for your transaction, the card can automatically convert for you, with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%.
There’s no foreign transaction fee to worry about, no monthly maintenance fee, and no minimum balance. Just add the amount you need for spending, and you’re ready to go.
How does Wise card work?
As we’ve already discovered, the Wise card is an international debit card. To use your Wise card in Japan you’ll need to add a balance in dollars or any of the 20 or so supported currencies for topping up. You can add money with a card, bank transfer or wire, and then either convert to Japanese yen instantly in the Wise app, or just leave your balance in dollars and let the card handle the conversion for you when you pay.
You’ll also be able to make ATM withdrawals with your Wise card – important as cash is still a popular payment method in Japan.
Read also: Wise card review
Fees and costs when using the Wise card in Japan
There’s a one time fee when you order your Wise card, but no monthly or annual charges after that. You’ll be able to spend any currency you hold in your account for free, and if you don’t have money in the right currency for wherever you are, Wise uses smart conversion technology to convert your funds from the best currency possible. There’s a small conversion fee when you spend a currency you don’t hold in your account, and the exchange is processed using the mid-market exchange rate.
Here’s an overview of the key Wise card fees you’ll want to know about. We’ll look in more detail about how to use the Wise card at an ATM a little later, too.
| Service | Wise card fee |
|---|---|
| Order a Wise card | 9 USD |
| Spend a currency you hold | Free |
| Spend in a currency you don’t hold | Currency conversion fees from 0.43% |
| ATM withdrawals | 2 withdrawals, to the value of 100 USD a month fee free After that a fee of 1.5 USD + 2% of the withdrawal value applies |
| Order a replacement card | No fee to replace an expiring card 5 USD for a replacement at any other time |
Fees correct at time of writing – 20th November 2023.
How to withdraw money in Japan with Wise card
Once you have your Wise card, it’s easy to withdraw money from an ATM in Japan. Bear in mind that not all Japanese ATMs are able to support international card withdrawals. You’ll need to look out for one which is marked as international – often found in post offices and 7Eleven stores.
Once you’ve found a convenient international ATM which supports Visa or MasterCard, you can make a ATM withdrawal with your Wise card by following these steps:
- Insert your card and select the option to make a withdrawal
- Enter the amount you want to withdraw
- Enter your PIN for security
- Your money will be dispensed and your card will be returned
Wise ATM withdrawal limits
Wise cards have spending limits for security, which can vary by payment type. If you have a Wise US issued card, you’ll be able to view your limits in the Wise app. Wise card ATM limits are set to a default limit automatically, but you can also adjust the limits up to a maximum level within the app if you’d like to.
Here are the Wise ATM withdrawal limits you’ll need to know about:
- Single payment: default limit 250 USD, maximum limit 1,000 USD
- Daily: default limit 250 USD, maximum limit 1,000 USD
- Monthly: default limit 1,500 USD, maximum limit 6,000 USD
Wise card ATM withdrawal fees
With a Wise card you can make up to 2 withdrawals every month, to the value of 100 USD, fee free. However, you’ll need to bear in mind that the ATM operator may charge a fee – and you may lose out if you choose to pay for your withdrawal in dollars instead of the local currency where you are. That’s because of DCC – and the potential extra costs involved with it – that we looked at earlier. Learn more about DCC and how to avoid it at the Wise help center.
Here’s a reminder of the Wise card ATM withdrawal fees:
| Service | Wise card fee |
|---|---|
| 2 withdrawals, to the value of 100 USD a month | No Wise card fee |
| 3 or more withdrawals | 1.5 USD + 2% of the withdrawal value applies |
Fees correct at time of writing – 20th November 2023.
Read also: How to withdraw money abroad from Wise card
How to get a Wise card: step by step
You can open a Wise account and order a Wise debit card easily and without even needing to leave home. You’ll just need to have a valid email, proof of your address, a working smartphone, and a valid ID document.
Register a Wise account online or in the Wise app, by entering some personal and contact information, and uploading images of your ID and your proof of address. Once your account is verified – which can happen instantly – you’ll be able to order your Wise card, ready for use in Japan. Here’s how to go about it.
How to order a Wise card on the app
Here’s how to request a card through the Wise app:
- Log into your Wise account on the Wise app
- Tap the Cards tab
- Tap the Order card option
- You may be prompted to upload your ID and proof of address if your account has not been fully verified
- Follow the prompts to enter your SSN
- Pay the one time 9 USD card order fee
You’ll receive an email when your card is on the way, and you’ll need to activate your card before you can use it.
On the site
You can also order your Wise debit card online through the Wise desktop site. Here’s how:
- Visit the Wise desktop site and log into your Wise account
- Click the Cards tab
- Click the Order card option
- You may be prompted to upload your ID and proof of address if your account has not been fully verified
- Follow the prompts to enter your SSN
- Pay the one time 9 USD card order fee
When your card has been dispatched you’ll receive an email to let you know it’s on the way.
How do I activate my Wise card?
Once your card arrives you’ll need to activate it before you can use it for the first time. It’s important to know you can only do this step in the US, so you must complete the activation process before you head off to Japan.
Here’s how to activate your Wise card:
- Log into your Wise account on the Wise app or desktop site
- On the website, go to Debit card. On the app, go to Account, then click the card icon at the top of the screen
- Enter the 6-digit code that’s on the card below your name
How do I add money on the Wise card?
You’ll need to top up your Wise account to be able to spend with your Wise card. You can add money to Wise digitally, and choose from a variety of ways to pay, depending on your preference.
There are low cost payment methods available, and you can usually also top up using a bank card. Fees vary for the different top up methods available, but you’ll be shown all your options and the associated costs before you confirm how you’d like to pay, which means you can compare and choose.
Here’s how to add money to your Wise card:
- Log into your Wise account in the Wise app or on the desktop site
- Go to Home and select the currency you want to top up
- Enter the amount you want to top up and select your preferred payment method
- Follow the prompts to complete the top up
- Your balance will be available for use once the payment has cleared
Is it safe to use the Wise card in Japan?
Wise is safe to use, in Japan and elsewhere in the world. As with any debit card, you’ll need to take basic safety precautions such as avoiding sharing your PIN and not letting your card out of your sight when making a payment. But it’s good to know that Wise is fully regulated and licensed for the services it offers, in the US and also by overseas regulatory authorities.
As a digital first provider, Wise also has safety features built into the app. You can get instant transaction notifications to your phone, you’ll be able to review your balance at a glance across 40+ currencies and you can easily cancel the card and order a new one if you’re ever concerned your Wise card has been compromised, lost or stolen.
Use Google Pay or Apple Pay and spend with your phone
If you prefer to make mobile payments, you can use your physical Wise card with a wallet like Google Pay or Apple Pay, to tap and pay with just a phone or smart device. You’ll be able to add your Wise card to your preferred wallet in just a few steps, by tapping on the wallet app and following the onscreen prompts.
The exact process to add your Wise card to a wallet depends on which one you pick, and on your specific device, but you can often simply scan the card with your phone’s camera to fill in all the required information to link your card.
Advantages of using the Wise card in Japan
Using a Wise card in Japan is secure, convenient and can bring down your costs. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate every time you need to convert from dollars to yen, and can either exchange your balance upfront in the app, or just let the card do the conversion when you spend or make a withdrawal.
Here are a few ways the Wise card can be handy when you’re in Japan:
- Get mid-market exchange rates when converting from dollars to yen
- Spend and make cash withdrawals conveniently with low or no fees
- No foreign transaction fee – currency conversion can cost as little as 0.43%
- Secure option as you’ll have no need to carry too much cash at any one time
- No need to waste time at a money changer, just convert in Wise and make cash withdrawals when you need to
- Open a balance in Japanese Yen in Wise account, hold and exchange JPY
Conclusion: is it worth using your Wise card in Japan?
Yes. Using a Wise card in Japan can be convenient and can also mean you spend less on fees overall.
Wise cards let you hold a balance in yen if you’d like to set your spending budget in advance – plus you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%. If you’d prefer, you can also leave your balance in dollars and just allow the card to do the currency conversion when you make a payment or withdrawal. You’ll still get the mid-market rate, and the card’s smart technology will make sure your funds are converted in the cheapest possible way based on your account balance.
How to use a Wise card in Japan FAQs
How can I use my Wise card in Japan?
You’ll be able to use your Wise card in Japan just as easily as you can at home. Tap to make contactless payments, make cash withdrawals in yen conveniently, and you can even add your card to a digital wallet for mobile payments if you’d like to.
Where can I use my Wise card in Japan?
You can use your Wise card in Japan for spending at merchants, and for making cash withdrawals. Choose to either hold a balance in yen for simple spending, or to leave your money in dollars and let the card do the conversion when you transact – in either case you get the mid-market exchange rate and the lowest available fees.
How can I withdraw money with my Wise card in Japan?
Make cash withdrawals with Wise in Japan, at international ATMs which support the Visa or Mastercard networks. Bear in mind that not all Japanese ATMs have international functionality. You’ll usually be able to find an international ATM at a post office or 7Eleven if you need one.
