Yes, it works. Foreign Visa/Mastercard in Japan, based on 3 reports from travellers and public sources. Works for: In-store (POS), ATM withdrawal, Contactless.
100% acceptance at convenience stores and major chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson). Drops to ~85% in city centres, 40–50% at small family restaurants and cafes. Contactless works at major retailers and new transit gates (March 2026+).
By payment type
Community notes
3 reports100% acceptance at convenience stores and major chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson). Drops to ~85% in city centres, 40–50% at small family restaurants and cafes. Contactless works at major retailers and new transit gates (March 2026+).
7-Bank ATMs in convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Japan Post) accept Visa/Mastercard 24/7 with English interface. Withdrawal fee ¥220 (cheapest option). Avoid bank-branded ATMs—often reject foreign cards.
Contactless Visa/Mastercard widely supported at major retailers. Apple Pay/Google Pay with foreign cards works via iD/QUICPay if enrolled, or direct Visa/MasterCard Contactless at new transit gates (Kanto region, 700+ stations as of March 2026).