How Much Cash Can You Withdraw from an ATM in Japan?
Your ATM withdrawal limit in Japan depends on both your card issuer and the machine you use. A daily account limit and a per-transaction ATM limit are different: splitting a withdrawal can solve the second problem, but it does not reset the first.
For example, Seven Bank ATMs allow overseas-issued cards to withdraw up to ¥100,000 per transaction, or ¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe transactions. That does not mean your overseas bank will approve that amount—or allow repeated withdrawals up to any particular daily total.
This guide is for foreign residents planning a large cash payment, students using Japanese cash cards, and newcomers still relying on an overseas account. Information was checked on October 8, 2026.
Here is what to check before you need the money:
- Your card’s current daily withdrawal setting, not just the account balance.
- The ATM’s limit for one transaction and your particular card.
- Whether earlier transactions have already used part of the daily allowance.
- The fees and the procedure for changing a limit.
Daily limits and transaction limits answer different questions
A daily limit controls your total use over the bank’s defined day; a transaction limit controls how much one ATM operation can dispense.
Your bank controls the daily allowance
The bank or card issuer sets the permitted range, while your account may have a lower personal setting. The amount available today can therefore be smaller than the bank’s advertised maximum.
Look for these terms in your banking service:
- 引き出し限度額 — hikidashi gendogaku: withdrawal limit.
- 利用限度額 — riyō gendogaku: usage limit; check which transactions it covers.
- 1日あたり — ichinichi atari: per day.
- 1回あたり — ikkai atari: per transaction.
Do not assume that “usage limit” means cash withdrawals alone. Banks group transactions differently.
The ATM controls each operation
A machine can impose a smaller limit even when your bank allows more for the day. Its rules can also differ between domestic cards, overseas cards, and authentication methods.
For example, Japan Post Bank’s small ATMs installed at FamilyMart and similar locations limit withdrawals with Japan-issued cards to ¥200,000 per transaction. Its account-level daily allowance still applies. See Japan Post Bank’s ATM restrictions.
Consider a hypothetical account with a ¥500,000 daily cash allowance and a machine with a ¥200,000 transaction ceiling. With no earlier use, withdrawing ¥450,000 would require at least three transactions: ¥200,000, ¥200,000, and ¥50,000. Approval still depends on the account, card, and machine.
If only ¥150,000 remains in the daily allowance, repeating ¥200,000 requests will not help. Neither will walking to another ATM with the same card.
Japanese cash cards: ¥500,000 is a common default, not a nationwide rule
Several banks publish a ¥500,000 default daily withdrawal limit, but their maximum settings and change procedures differ.
These are examples for personal accounts, not a complete list of Japanese banks.
SMBC: ordinary withdrawals have a ¥500,000 ceiling
SMBC’s personal-account FAQ lists a basic daily withdrawal allowance of ¥500,000 for magnetic-stripe and IC-chip transactions, with a setting range of ¥0–¥500,000. It also states that convenience-store ATMs have a ¥200,000 per-transaction limit.
The same FAQ has separate conditions for biometric transactions, so the ordinary-card figure should not be applied to every service. Customers can check and change applicable cash-card settings through SMBC Direct. SMBC’s withdrawal-limit FAQ explains the categories.
Seven Bank accounts: a higher setting is possible
For a Seven Bank account, the published default daily ATM withdrawal limit is ¥500,000. Its IC and non-IC withdrawal settings each have a permitted range of ¥0–¥2,000,000.
An increase must be made through Direct Banking Service. A Seven Bank ATM can lower the setting but cannot raise it. The bank also maintains separate IC and non-IC settings, making the authentication method relevant when using different machines. See Seven Bank’s daily transaction limits.
These account settings apply to Seven Bank customers. They are not the limits for every card inserted into a Seven Bank ATM.
Japan Post Bank changed its rules in August 2026
Japan Post Bank now generally caps new ordinary personal-account ATM limit settings at ¥500,000, while preserving some earlier higher settings.
The change took effect on August 17, 2026. It covers newly opened personal accounts and requests to raise the ordinary limit above ¥500,000; personal-account customers include sole proprietors.
The important exceptions are:
- A higher limit set before August 17 was not automatically reduced.
- If a customer lowers that setting to ¥500,000 or less after the change, it cannot subsequently be restored above ¥500,000 through the ordinary setting.
- IC cash-card transactions using the Yucho Passbook App’s ATM biometric authentication retain a setting range up to ¥5,000,000.
The bank describes the biometric route as allowing withdrawals above ¥500,000 for a limited period of about 15 minutes. It is a specific authentication service, not simply any withdrawal performed with a smartphone. Check setup requirements before relying on it for a payment. These conditions appear in Japan Post Bank’s June 17, 2026 notice.
Earlier ATM payments can reduce the available amount
Japan Post Bank’s restricted transactions include ordinary withdrawals, ATM transfers, certain bill payments, and debit-card payments. Counter transactions, Yucho Direct, and transactions through the Yucho Passbook App are excluded from this restriction as described on its ATM rules page.
That matters when you make an ATM payment before collecting cash: the amount already used may reduce what remains available under the applicable limit. Check the transaction categories rather than counting cash withdrawals alone.
Overseas-issued cards have two sets of rules
With an overseas card, both the Japanese ATM’s conditions and your issuer’s withdrawal controls must be satisfied.
Seven Bank publishes these per-transaction ceilings for overseas-issued cards:
- ¥100,000 for transactions other than magnetic-stripe transactions.
- ¥30,000 for magnetic-stripe transactions.
Its guidance also says that chargeable transactions incur fees for each transaction. A ¥100,000 machine ceiling is therefore not a promise of unlimited repeat withdrawals. See Seven Bank’s overseas-card instructions.
Before using an overseas card, ask the issuer:
- Is cash withdrawal in Japan enabled?
- What is the daily overseas ATM allowance, and in which currency is it measured?
- Does the allowance include withdrawals made elsewhere that day?
- When does the daily allowance reset, and which time zone applies?
- What withdrawal, currency-conversion, or cash-advance charges apply to this card?
An ATM may offer a choice between billing in Japanese yen and your home currency. Seven Bank describes this as dynamic currency conversion, or DCC. Compare the displayed conversion terms with your issuer’s charges; choosing a billing currency does not increase your cash allowance.
Plan a large cash payment before the deadline
For a payment larger than your usual withdrawal, confirm the payment method first and arrange access to the money before the due date.
A landlord, seller, school, or service provider may accept a bank transfer or another payment method. Ask whether cash is required, the exact amount due, and when payment must arrive. That avoids arranging a large withdrawal unnecessarily.
Step 1: check your actual settings
Use the bank’s official app, online banking, or customer support to confirm:
- Your current daily cash or usage allowance.
- The remaining allowance after today’s transactions.
- Any separate IC, magnetic-stripe, or biometric settings.
- Whether a change is permitted and when it becomes effective.
An advertised maximum tells you what may be configurable. It does not tell you what your account currently allows.
Step 2: choose the right route
If the amount fits the daily allowance but exceeds one machine’s transaction ceiling, multiple withdrawals may work. Calculate the number of operations and check the charge for each.
If the amount exceeds the daily allowance, ask the bank about a permitted increase or a counter withdrawal. Do not assume that a teller transaction has the same rules as an ATM transaction—or that the branch can immediately provide any amount requested.
If you can collect the money over several days, confirm the reset rule and leave enough time before the payment deadline.
Step 3: prepare for a branch visit
Ask the bank which documents and account items your procedure requires. Depending on the bank and request, it may ask for a cash card, passbook, accepted identification, or registered seal.
For a large counter withdrawal, also ask about advance notice, appointments, branch restrictions, and any fee. A residence card alone should not be treated as a universal checklist for every banking procedure.
Repeated withdrawals can increase the total cost
A withdrawal plan should account for fees per successful transaction, not only the amount of cash needed.
As a hypothetical example, if your applicable fee is ¥220 per withdrawal, three chargeable operations cost ¥660; one costs ¥220. These figures illustrate the calculation and are not a quoted fee for a particular card.
For a Japanese cash card, check the bank’s fee schedule for the ATM network, time, and account benefits you will use. For an overseas card, check both the Japanese ATM’s displayed terms and the issuer’s charges.
Compare the complete payment options:
- Cash: withdrawal fees, number of transactions, and time needed.
- Bank transfer: transfer fee, recipient details, and payment deadline.
- Card payment, if accepted: the card’s applicable charges and payment conditions.
The cheapest ATM operation may still be an inconvenient way to fund a payment if it requires several visits.
When a withdrawal fails, identify which limit you reached
A smaller request helps with a per-transaction ceiling, but a daily restriction requires a different response.
Use the error message or receipt to decide what to check:
- The requested amount exceeds the machine’s ceiling: try an amount within the published limit for your card.
- The daily allowance is exhausted: confirm the reset time or contact the issuer about another permitted route.
- There should be enough allowance: check available funds, card settings, and the issuer’s approval controls.
- The machine is unavailable: check operating hours, maintenance notices, or another compatible location.
Contact the ATM operator for machine trouble and the card issuer for account restrictions or declined authorization. Keep the time, location, requested amount, and error wording available. Never disclose your PIN to support staff.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating ¥500,000 as a rule for all Japanese banks.
- Confusing a bank’s maximum configurable amount with your current setting.
- Assuming a different ATM resets the same account’s daily allowance.
- Applying domestic-account limits to an overseas-issued card.
- Assuming an increase can be completed at the ATM immediately.
- Lowering an older Japan Post Bank setting without checking whether it can be restored.
What to check before your next withdrawal
The decisive details are your bank, card, authentication method, and ATM—not the city where you withdraw.
A bank’s published account rules generally follow the account across Japan. Location still affects which machines are available, their opening hours, and whether the relevant service is supported. A Tokyo convenience-store ATM and a regional branch ATM may offer different transaction limits even for the same card.
Before a large payment, write down three figures: the amount you need, your remaining daily allowance, and the machine’s per-transaction ceiling. Then confirm the fee and deadline. If those figures do not fit, arrange an approved alternative before payment day.