Prepare cash before visiting tourist hot spots! Money exchanger in Osaka

photo by jun560

Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, many tourist spots gather around Osaka, attracting a large number of tourists from the outside of Japan every year. Osaka city often becomes a base for sight seeing for such tourists. Unfortunately, many privately owned shops in tourist spots only accepts cash payment, while most of super markets, giant retailers and shopping centers are now accepting both cash and cashless payments. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare some cash on you when visiting Kansai area. There are money exchange counters in surrounding cities, though, the best way is exchanging your money when you arrive in Osaka. There are many money exchange dealers in Osaka.

Money Exchangers

Compared to Tokyo, the number of money exchangers in Osaka is not many. Other than Travelex which is a world wide business, Peach Exchange has a shop in Osaka city. While Travelex has 5 shops in Osaka trading a number of currencies, Peach Exchange only has Shinsaibashi store, though, their rates are better.

Travelex

Shops in Osaka city: Kita-ku (2 shops), Nanba (2 shops), Tennoji
Currencies: 31 currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, RUB, AUD, ZAR

Peach Exchange

Shops in Osaka city: Shinsaibashi only
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, THB, SGD, PHP, MYR, AUD (12)

Ticket Shops

There are many ticket shops in Osaka, trading foreign currencies. Other than big companies such as Daikokuya which have shops nationwide, a number of small ticket shops operate just in Kansai area, selling and buying currencies at better rates than other money exchangers. On the other hand, such small shops trade smaller number of currencies, though, they cover major currencies as well as some of rather minor currencies. Inquire shops if a currency you want to exchange is available.

Kounan Ticket

Shops in Osaka city: Nanba (3 shops), Umeda (2 shops), Kyobashi (2 shops), Midosuji, Tennoji, Yodoyabashi
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, KRW, THB, AUD, NZD, CHF (12)

Daikokuya

Shops in Osaka city: Shinsaibashi (2 shops: sells only USD/EUR), Nanba, Umeda
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, THB, SGD, PHP, AUD (12)

Ticket Zone

Shops in Osaka city: Umeda (inside Osaka station)
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, IDR, THB, SGD, PHP, MYR, VND, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, XPF, CHF, RUB, MXN, TRY (23)

iGift

Shops in Osaka city: Umeda
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, IDR, THB, SGD, PHP, MYR, VND, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, XPF, CHF, RUB, MXN, TRY (23)

Banks

Major city banks and Japan Post Bank branch offices in Osaka also exchange foreign currencies. There are some downsides: smaller number of currencies are available compared to money exchangers, and their rates are less competitive than ticket shops. However, banks have many branch offices across the city, while most ticket shops dealing foreign currencies cluster around the city center. Especially, Japan Post Bank has more than 10 branch offices within Osaka city, trading only major currencies.

Mizuho Bank

Branches providing money exchange service: Iamzato, Dojima, Imahashi, Senba, Minami-senba
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, THB, SGD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, DKK (Inquire a branch for availability)

SMBC Trust Bank

Branches providing money exchange service: Umeda, Nanba
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, IDR, THB, SGD, MYR, AUD, NZD, CHF (Inquire a branch for availability)

MUFG

Branches providing money exchange service: 16 branch offices in Osaka city
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, HKD, TWD, KRW, THB, SGD, AUD, NZD, CHF, SEK, NOK, DKK (Inquire a branch for availability)

Japan Post Bank

Branches providing money exchange service: 19 branch offices in Tokyo
Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CNY, KRW, AUD, CHF

Time is Money

Just like Tokyo, there are so many money exchange shops in Osaka. Notably, money exchangers’ shops and ticket shops tend to cluster around the city center, while bank branch offices are located evenly across the city. Also, there are not many money exchangers’ shops in Osaka, but there are a number of ticket shops trading foreign currencies. Most of such ticket shops are located in the city center, so that tourists can compare rates. More interestingly, ticket shops in Osaka trades a greater number of currencies than those in Tokyo.