Cash per day in Japan?

I did a 32-day backpacking trip through Honshu. My daily budget was about ¥5,000, but I cooked some of my meals and stayed in cheap hostels. Cash was a must for almost everything under ¥1,000. I kept ¥7,000 to 10,000 on me each day and used my Santander Forex card for bigger bookings. Japan is very safe, even in the evenings, but I still kept cash in different pockets just in case. No tips needed - even cab drivers and hotel staff don’t expect any.

I travelled with my partner and we budgeted around ¥6,500 per person per day. We stayed in guesthouses and ate mostly at mid-range spots or local izakayas. IC cards like Suica were great for metros and some convenience store payments, but we still needed cash for buses, small shops, and street food. We carried ¥15,000 in cash between us daily, withdrew every few days from Seven Bank ATMs. No tipping, ever, even in nicer restaurants.

I spent a full month in Japan last year. I had a daily budget of ¥7,000 including food, local trains, and museum tickets. Kept around ¥5,000-¥10,000 cash on me daily, and used my Revolut card for hostels and train bookings online. Most small restaurants and shrines only take cash. I never tipped anywhere, it’s considered awkward here. You’re safe carrying up to ¥20,000 in cities, just be cautious in crowded places.

I did a solo trip across Japan for 28 days and averaged around ¥8,000 per day. That covered basic meals (convenience store breakfasts, ramen lunches, and an occasional sushi dinner), JR Pass travel for intercity, and metro rides in Tokyo and Osaka. I kept about ¥10,000 in cash on me at all times, refilled every 3 days at 7-Eleven ATMs. Japan’s super safe so carrying that amount felt fine. You won’t need cash for tips - tipping is not a thing here.