- Vending machines in Japan are convenient and ubiquitous
- Be aware that Japanese banknotes have changed in 2024
- Be careful, as vending machines often don’t accept the new banknote designs!
- You also need to be careful with 500 yen coins.
- If you can’t fit 1,000 yen bills into your vending machine, check the design!
Vending machines in Japan are convenient and ubiquitous
For those of you who have come to Japan, have you ever used a vending machine?
Vending machines are extremely convenient as they can be found in many places around town, on train platforms, and in park parking lots.
Vending machines are very convenient, but as of 2025, there are some things to keep in mind when using banknotes, so we would like to introduce them to you.
Be aware that Japanese banknotes have changed in 2024
On July 3, 2024, new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen bills were issued in Japan. The new 10,000 yen bill features Eiichi Shibusawa, the 5,000 yen bill features Umeko Tsuda, and the 1,000 yen bill features Shibasaburo Kitasato.
The three people featured on the new bills made significant contributions to the modernization of Japan in areas such as the development of new industries, women’s empowerment, and scientific advancement.
For designs in the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen denominations, please also see this country’s page.
Be careful, as vending machines often don’t accept the new banknote designs!
The new banknotes were introduced last summer, but not all vending machines across Japan are compatible with the new banknotes.
To be more specific, you can use vending machines that have a sticker saying “New bills accepted” on the bill insertion area.
However, since the new bills have only been issued for about six months, there are not many vending machines that can accept the new bills. Therefore, if you put a 1,000 yen bill into a vending machine and it is ejected, try putting in an old 1,000 yen bill.
(For example, on the 1,000 yen note, the one with glasses is Shibasaburo Kitasato, so it’s the new note. The one without glasses is Hideyo Noguchi, so it’s the old note. The Hideyo Noguchi design is easier for vending machines to recognize.)
bottom is Shibasaburo Kitasato on the new banknote.
You also need to be careful with 500 yen coins.
I was taking a photo of a nearby vending machine and noticed that there was one that didn’t even take 500 yen coins.
The 500 yen coin was replaced in 2021, so it was quite a while ago, but I noticed it because of the sticker.
The new design is a 500 yen coin with a gold border and a silver center. However, please be careful as this coin cannot be used in some vending machines.
If you can’t fit 1,000 yen bills into your vending machine, check the design!
The reason I decided to write this article is because last year in Ueno I saw a foreign visitor having trouble getting his 1,000 yen bills into a vending machine.
It was a really hot day, so I think he wanted to buy a drink, but he was having trouble because he couldn’t fit a 1,000 yen bill in. I was told about it at the time, but I thought there might be other people out there who are having trouble, so I wrote this article.
When you come to Japan and exchange your banknotes, you get new bills, so you can’t use them in vending machines, which can be confusing.
It’s winter now, but vending machines in Japan sell interesting warm drinks like “oshiruko” and “oden,” so be sure to give them a try!
fanfanjapan!!
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