The unit of currency in Japan is yen.

By the way, “yen” means circle. It may just be a coincidence, but when you look at the main building of the Bank of Japan from the sky, it has the shape of 円 (the Japanese “Kanji” character for Yen).

There are six types of coins: 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen and 500 yen. Banknotes are of 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 10,000 yen and 2,000 yen even if this one is quite rare.
The characteristics of each one of them are as follows.

Currency list

  • 1 yen coin:

    Made of pure aluminium. It weighs precisely 1g and has a diameter of 20mm.
    It may be useful for other purposes besides its money value.

  • 5 yen coin:

    The new one is golden. It is very popular with children up to about 3 years old. An excellent thing is that it has a whole so you can pass a string through it.

  • 10 yen coin:

    Great copper colour. A beautiful thin layer sometimes emerges.
    Actually, there are some coins with jagged sides. If you find it, it’s a sign of good luck.

  • 50 yen coin:

    They have a whole.

  • 100 yen coin:

    It is a powerful coin as it can be used on its own to purchase different things. For example, at the convenience stores and some vending machines.

  • 500 yen coin:

    A power-up coin that is five times the price of a 100-yen coin. Its presence is also fabulous. It is an outstanding coin that will surprise you if you look closely.
    Don’t drop it as it is said that that might lead to some mental damage.

  • 1,000 yen note:

    Finding the literary master Natsume Soseki version is rare, but if you do, don’t think that it is a fake note.
    With the 1,000 yen note, you can get food in different restaurants. It features a bluish, fresh and chic look and it is probably the most frequently used banknote.

  • 5,000 yen note:

    Nitobe Inazo version is rare, but this is not a fake one either.
    If you drop it, you can incur in a full-fledged tragedy. Don’t lose it. By the way, women were first used for portraits drawn on this note.

  • 10,000 yen note:

    The highest note for value in Japan. If you have one in your wallet, you can feel almost invincible. The roll of these banknotes that is often seen in movies is impressive.

  • 2,000 yen note:

    It is a real phantom banknote because it appears rarely or never, like a spirit. There are only a few Japanese people who actually possess one. You could take it to the museum if you get hold of one.
    Please note that it cannot be used with ticket vending machines or vending machines in general.