Local Tip
Kyoto has no airport, but Kyoto Station has Travelex on 2F (8am to 7pm) and, open later, a SMART EXCHANGE machine at the Central Exit 7-Eleven that turns sterling notes into yen until 11.30pm.
Where to change money in Kyoto
Kyoto Station has staffed exchange counters and a machine that takes sterling notes. The city tourist office's December 2025 list adds exchange machines in Porta, JR Kyoto Isetan (2F) and Kyoto Tower (3F), open during each building's hours.
- Travelex Kyoto Nishiguchi On 2F of the JR Kyoto Station building, opposite Kyo Navi along the north-south passage; open 8am to 7pm, closed 31 December to 2 January.
- Trip.com Group Currency Exchange On 1F of the station building, just outside the Karasuma central gate; open 9.30am to 7pm daily.
- SMART EXCHANGE, Kyoto Station Central Exit This machine at the 7-Eleven Heart-In on 1F accepts twelve currencies, sterling among them, and pays out yen only, from 6.30am to 11.30pm daily.
Changing money at the airport
Kyoto has no airport of its own. At Kansai International (KIX), the directory lists Travelex and KIX Currency Exchange counters, including the latter's arrivals shop (1F North, 6.15am to 11pm), plus 24-hour exchange machines and Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank ATMs. Osaka's Itami Airport (ITM), domestic flights only, lists Seven Bank ATMs in its north and south areas (5.30am to 10pm; hours depend on the card).
ATMs and cards in Kyoto
The tourist office lists a Seven Bank ATM on 2F of the JR Kyoto Station building (5am to 1.30am, though hours vary by card company) and Japan Post Bank's Kyoto branch at Karasuma-Shiokoji, west of the bus terminal (7am to 11pm weekdays, 7am to 9pm otherwise). Seven Bank's limit for an overseas card is 100,000 yen a withdrawal, with a fee that differs by card brand; Japan Post's ceiling is 50,000 yen, and it may charge certain foreign cards 220 yen. At these Kyoto machines, pick yen on the currency screen so your UK bank converts it, which MoneySavingExpert favours, as the machine's own conversion is often worse. Fees may change.
Paying for transport in Kyoto
Kyoto's city buses and subway accept ten IC cards, ICOCA, Suica and PiTaPa among them; the city asks you to top up beforehand at a station or convenience store. ICOCA is on sale at JR West ticket offices and ICOCA-marked machines. Kansai One Pass, the card for overseas visitors, has been withdrawn outlet by outlet since 1 November 2025, though issued cards still work. Bank-card taps aren't accepted yet: the transport bureau said in November 2024 that card payment couldn't be used on the subway, and in December 2025 chose suppliers for a bus and subway touch-payment system.
Good to know
- Since 1 March 2026, Kyoto's accommodation tax has run from 200 yen per person per night (stays under 6,000 yen a head) to 10,000 yen (100,000 yen or more), paid to your hotel or inn.
- Tipping plays no part in Kyoto's restaurants, taxis or hotels. A hired guide or interpreter used to foreign customs might accept one, JNTO notes, ideally inside an envelope.
Key Areas in Kyoto
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Kyoto travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Kyoto?
Kyoto Station: Travelex on 2F (8am to 7pm) and Trip.com Group Currency Exchange outside the Karasuma central gate (9.30am to 7pm), plus the SMART EXCHANGE machine at the Central Exit 7-Eleven, which takes sterling notes until 11.30pm.
Where can I get yen on arrival for Kyoto?
At Kansai International, KIX Currency Exchange's arrivals shop opens 6.15am to 11pm and exchange machines run 24 hours; Seven Bank has ATMs there too. Itami, Osaka's domestic airport, has Seven Bank ATMs from 5.30am to 10pm.
Can I tap a UK bank card on Kyoto's buses and subway?
No, not when checked in September 2026: use an IC card such as ICOCA, Suica or PiTaPa, topped up before you ride. Card touch payment is planned, so check nearer your trip.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Kyoto City Tourism Association (Kyoto City Official Travel Guide) Β· Travelex Japan Β· SMART EXCHANGE Β· Kansai International Airport Β· Osaka International (Itami) Airport Β· Wikipedia
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