Yen: the Japanese currency

Formerly known as 両 ryo, Yen 💴 is the Japanese official money, also known by its symbol ¥.

Currently, its range consists in 6 coins and 4 bills to be freely used:

• coins: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500
• bills: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000

Coins

They are produced by the Japan Mint.

¥1 (~US$0.01)

The smallest value is also the smallest in its measures: made of aluminum, the coin has a diameter of 20 millimeters and weighs about 1 small gram. It has kept its light gray color and the same ornaments since its inauguration in 1955. At that time, its design was supposed to represent Japan’s progress.

While being more and more used in the everyday life, because of the VAT since 1989 (and its regular increases) which generates not rounded prices, this coin will be the one mostly staying in your purse at the end of your travel. Do not hesitate to use it when you have the occasion, for small purchases in a konbini for example.

Quick anecdote: it is being said in Japan that the ¥1 coin costs ¥3 to produce!

¥5 (~US$0.03)

Made of zinc and nickel, we can see the design of a branch of rice, a key-ingredient of the Japanese food. Its shape being pierced in the middle reminds of very old coins, but this version dates back from 1949.

In Japanese, goen (¥5) is homophone to 御縁 "destiny, good fortune". Therefore, it is said to bring luck.

¥10 (~US$0.07)

This coin can be recognized by its bronze color, and proudly carries the main building of Byodo-in temple in Uji.

¥50 (~US$0.33)

Made of copper and nickel, this coin did not always have a hole in the middle. It obtained it in 1959, to avoid confusion with the ¥100 which shares a lot of common aspects, starting by their color.

On the back, we can see a branch of chrysanthemum, which represents the imperial power in Japan.

¥100 (~US$0.66)

Inaugurated on December 11th, 1957, it is the closest equivalent of the €1 coin or $1 bill, meaning it's the cornerstone of the Japanese money system. On its back, another Japanese symbol: the sakura 🌸 flower.

Attention: contrary to what one can think, the ¥ 100coin is not enough to purchase an item in the 100-Yen shop, as this price is not VAT included.

¥500 (~US$3.31)

The strongest value is also the most recent one (introduced at the end of the 20th century). With its 2 millimeters of thickness and its 7 grams, it is not a discrete one. Lots of lunches cost ¥500, which allows to eat lunch with only one coin.

In the past, there was a ¥500 bill but it disappeared a long time ago from the circulation. It displayed the image of nobleman Iwakura Tomomi, adviser at the imperial court during the 19th century, notably known to have unified the empire and the shogunate as well as being opposed to the opening of Japan towards the rest of the world.

A new ¥500 coin will be put in circulation in 2024.

Limited Editions

The Japan Ministry of Finance will mint 3 coins in limited edition to commemorate Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 🏅.

• One gold coin: ¥10,000 (~US$66.11)
• Two silver coins: ¥1,000 (~US$6.61)
• Two bronze coins: ¥100 (~US$0.66)

The newly enthroned emperor Naruhito also gets limited edition coins:

• A ¥500 (~US$3.31) copper coin
• A ¥10,000 (~US$66.11) gold coin, with a selling price of ¥140,555 (~US$929)!

Bills

The first Japanese banknotes were produced in 1885. Today, they all share the same 76 millimeters height, but their length varies from 15 to 16 centimeters. The bills are issued by the central bank of Japan: Nippon Ginko.

New ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 banknotes will be put in circulation in 2024.

¥1,000 (~US$6.61)

It is certainly the most used bill in the purse of travelers in Japan.

Its front presents the bacteriologist Hideyo Noguchi, famous for the discovery of the syphilis pathogen agent 1911. On the back, famous images of Japan: Mount Fuji 🗻 and cherry tree branches.

The next version of the ¥1,000 banknote will be in circulation from 2024, that is to say 20 years after its last renewal. It will picture Kitasato Shibasaburo (1853-1931) a physician and bacteriologist famous for the co-discovery of the bubonic plague infectious agent in 1894. The back of the note will display Hokusai’s famous etching The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

¥2,000 (~US$13.22)

This one happens to be the rarest, and for a reason: its production stopped in 2004. Moreover, it is not accepted in the vending machines. If by chance you happen to have one in your hands, keep it for your collection!

Are represented, on one side the great Shureimon gate of Shuri in Okinawa and on the other, the court lady Murasaki Shikibu (10-11th century) and her famous novel The Tale of Genji.

¥5,000 (~US$33.06)

Behind its purple color you can discover two important names from the cultural history of Japan: Ichiyo Higuchi, considered as one of the first modern woman writers of the archipelago, and Ogata Korin, painter from Kyoto during Edo period, notably famous for his iris flowers, in this case the Kakitsubata-zu.

The new 2024 version will feature the portrait of Umeko Tsuda (1864-1929), a feminist who advocated for the education of women.

¥ 10,000(~US$66.11)

Strongest value of the range, it shows since 1984 (reviewed in 2004) Fukuzawa Yukichi, the intellectual of the Meiji period (19th century) and founder of Keio University. On the back, once again, a small statue of the phoenix from Bodyo-in temple's roof is represented.

Ideal to pay the restaurant bill with friends/family, this banknote is not so appreciated for small purchases because it requires a lot of small change, even if the seller will not show it to you. It is also the one you will mostly find at the currency exchange offices or in ATMs.

The new ¥10,000 note will honor Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931), the "father of Japanese capitalism" on the front, and Tokyo Station on the back.

The visuals of the new ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 notes have been published on April 2023, and they are currently being printed for release in 2024.