💴📉 Should you be Worried if the Japanese Yen Exchange Rate Goes Down?

[@mitchmurph]

Thank you Amy for explaining that I can still use my old notes, that’s really good to know. I’m planning to go back to Japan during the time of the cherry blossoms and the last time I’ve been to Japan was 2019 and I saved my yen because I knew I wanted to go back.

[@cakeswithfaces]

There's no point losing fees exchanging it back if you'll use it again one day! :-)

[@FieryKanata]

For a European the biggest cost for traveling to Japan is the airplane tickets anyway. As you say, at worst from what I remember 1 euro was about 100 yen, which still isn't bad at all. That 100 to 1 ratio was actually still the conversion I was using in my head to think about Japanese prices anyway even though 1 euro is 160 yen at the moment and has been for a while.

[@shpeen8835]

Im Canadian and since starting Japan trips in 1997 I'm thankful if 100Y = 1 CAD. Most of my travels I lost 10% but it's still cheaper than here for meals, hotels if you do your homework and dine with the locals. The cost of flights in 2022 and 23 compared to pre-covid wiped out any savings I could have made from the low yen.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, flights are so expensive now! 😭 I think your first trip to Japan is what sets the baseline conversion rate that you always think of as "normal"! :-)

[@FieryKanata]

@@cakeswithfaces Ive not traveled to Japan tho (not yet) :p I did use to import anime figures however and the base price was in Yen :D

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@FieryKanata That's another way to benefit from the exchange rate! 🙂

[@jumpskirt]

Great video! I was SO fortunate to be in Tokyo in the beginning of July and hit the high point and totally lucked out!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Great timing, that's lucky! How did you find the Japanese summer?

[@jumpskirt]

@@cakeswithfaces Well, yes, it was hot and humid, but I am from the Washington, DC area and our summers here are terribly hot and humid - so it was about the same there as it is here.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@jumpskirt Hope that helped cope with it!

[@EnWorks]

Yes, even in Australia where our dollar is currently buying around 95 Yen, Japan is considerably cheaper. Looking ahead, as the Bank of Japan has signaled it will resist raising interest rates again, the Yen will return to a weakening state. The key is to watch each country’s interest rates… the *expected* differential movement usually indicates which way the rates will go.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks for the tip! Let's see what happens...!

[@DoubleGaijin]

My mother and I are leaving for my first trip ever to Japan in less than 2 weeks (it'll be her first time back since she was a little girl) and your videos have been invaluable. I admit I was a bit discouraged by the recent market changes with the USD tp JPY exchange but overall I don't think it'll affect us much if at all. Thanks for the quick update!

[@cakeswithfaces]

That'll be so interesting for her to see how things have changed from how she remembers! The exchange rate's still excellent now compared to average. Have a wonderful time!

[@YonathanG]

Good video Amy, very informative. Wish I had a trip scheduled 🥲

[@cakeswithfaces]

Nothing wrong with dreaming of Japan! ✨✨✨ I don't have a trip booked either right now (but I got some Yen anyway...!)

[@briandemodulated]

Thanks for this rational video. Your message is so obvious in retrospect but I've been sweating it until now.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks, there's enough clickbait and drama around, so I always try & tell it like it is!

[@saikagyaru]

Thanks so much for relieving my growing stress with the economy. Appreciate it❤

[@cakeswithfaces]

There's too much to be stressed about already in this world...! 😅

[@sih4143]

My biggest worry is that a lot of places seem to have introduced "tourist prices" due to the buying power of visiting tourists and struggling locals. As things look to slightly be returning back down, will these places remove the higher prices? or will it potentially swing the other way and become too expensive as the chance for profits take over?

[@cakeswithfaces]

There've been so many stories about tourist prices recently, but in reality I've actually never seen them in Japan! In my experience, I think it's one of those things that was introduced in a handful of places, and caught the attention of the internet more than is proportionate in real life. Japanese culture is very honest and welcoming (generalisation obv!), and thankfully it's a country where people aren't out to scam you and make as much money as possible.

[@ChibiFallingStar]

We did just what you suggested. Bought all our yen for next month's trip back when the yen was really weak. Currencies fluctuate, so I didn't want to risk it going back up. 😅

[@cakeswithfaces]

Excellent, well done!! It'll be worth it when you're spending all those yen in Japan!

[@heike_p]

Did the same and I'm now enjoying that very much haha (but definitely not with all of our yen, rate is indeed still very good for Euro right now)

[@edwardpickering9006]

We were in Japan last 2 weeks of July, 200+ Yen to the pound. It's worth tracking the rate on MSE but we bought three lots from Post Office before we went at 194+ which was a good rate. Re new bank notes, several vending machines stated they were not accepting the new notes yet so best stick to the old ones for now. We did get a new 1000 Yen as a suvineer! Keep on with the packing Amy!

[@cakeswithfaces]

I'd heard that from somewhere else about the new bank notes not always being accepted yet! It's a lot for small restaurants especially to change their ordering machines. Hope you enjoyed your trip!

[@AlanVByrnes]

Appreciate Amy been wondering too how this would affect including myself with the yen getting stronger again a bit it would seem I’ll be sure to keep this new helpful one in mind 🤝🤝🤝

[@cakeswithfaces]

Things are still cheaper in Japan compared to the USA, so even if the rate drops, it still won't seem too expensive in Japan!

[@AlanVByrnes]

@@cakeswithfaces 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@AlanVByrnes]

@@cakeswithfaces 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@acfbrown1]

Surely the rates change all the time Amy? My father got us £700 worth of Yen before the rate dropped the other day. I also have £500 worth of Yen in my bedroom drawer that he got me a couple of years ago. I think we will be buying a 7 day rail pass when we're there (as opposed to ordering it before hand like we did in 2019) and then buying the Nozomi supplement as well for when we travel from Tokyo to Nagasaki and have to travel via Hakata and Takeo Onsen.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, they change all the time! The recent drop suggested it might be the end of this exceptionally high rate, but who knows - it may go back up again. 🤷 Glad you're going to Kyushu! The upgrade will be worth it for the long journey. Since October 2023, I believe you can now only buy the JR Pass online again, so you might need to order it before you go.

[@acfbrown1]

@@cakeswithfaces Thanks, I know someone in Suffolk who moved down from Edinburgh recently who spent time in Kyushu (mainly in Beppu etc, I think she did the JET programme a while ago) but I've only been to Kyushu once in 2017 IIRC, to Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Nagasaki.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@acfbrown1 I went back there earlier this year, so I'll have some new Kyushu videos coming up! There are so many interesting, unique places.

[@MissAllanPoe1988]

I do expect the yen to get better until summer of next year. All reports showing a crash in the second quarter again. I wish the Japanese people well, but this is what I do. I crunch numbers, I understand the market. So atleast for a while it will continue to get better for them

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks for the insider insights!

[@MissAllanPoe1988]

@@hannesRSA Decisions like this are made far in advance. I wish I could disclose what I know, guess you’ll just have to see for yourself this year. The numbers and politics don’t lie though. Just continue to watch Brics and the next G7 summit. The writing is on the wall though.

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Hi Amy, great to know. 100JPY has been down to 6.65NOK, and as of today the rate has risen to 7.34NOK. The difference is not that big, and as you say, everything is cheaper in Japan anyway. I've booked my flight and hotel room a while ago, so I will not be affected if the JPY rate goes up more. I always bring JPY notes back home, to have enough for at least the first day in Japan. That way I do not have to rely on finding an ATM that will accept my credit cards. I've had no problem withdrawing cash at Haneda though, but I feel more safe having cash at hand when I arrive 🙂The new notes looks cool.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's a good idea to bring some cash - there was a time when my card didn't work in the USA, even though I told my bank I'd be travelling, so it's good to be on the safe side! Plus, one less thing to worry about when you arrive. :-)

[@michaelludvik]

I found the same - went just as Covid was ramping up and got hit with 100 yen = $1.5 AUD which stung but everything was still cheaper than Australia. That said, when it was parity on my last trip, it made things much more enjoyable (and meant I bought a LOT more)

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha, you have to make the most of the exchange rate by going shopping...! It'd be rude not to! 😝

[@squall6789]

But if it dips too much many attractions and popular eating locations could bring in "locals prices" and "tourist prices", making things cost as much as they do in EU/US.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Hopefully that's not too likely to happen; so only one or two places proposed it as an idea, that might never happen. Compared to attraction and restaurant prices in the UK and US, there's a long way to go before prices are matched.

[@Shreddawg]

Ive been to Japan with the yen around 110 for $1 USD and last year when I was there it was around 140 yen for $1. (I go every year) From a tourist standpoint it was nice to see the exchange rate for 1 USD increase all the way to 160+ yen. The reason is $1 is worth A LOT less than $1 from even last year, at least here in Los Angeles. Inflation has made things MUCH more expensive in LA. Hotel and airfare prices have also increased even from last year to this year. (Recently booked a hotel and airfare) Factoring this into the equation, a trip to Japan is probably more expensive this year than last year even with then USD > Yen exchange rate staying around 160. Exchange rate dropping to 140 essentially increases the prices much more. Even when you factor in the great exchange rate comparing prices from last year to this year (or even 2019 for that matter) things are still much more expensive. I do communicate with a lot of people in Japan and understand their point of view as well so in the regard, I am happy to see the yen gain strength. Either way, ill continue to visit Japan every year.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, even if the rate's terrible it won't stop us visiting Japan! :-) I went to California last year (San Francisco and Yosemite) - that's where I went to Kura Sushi, and everything was expensive compared to the UK.

[@staninjapan07]

Yes, I should be. If I had exchanged my GBP from my last visit to the UK in 2017 back in mid July, I would have had 208 yen for each of my pounds. Today it is 187 yen to the pound. I well lost out there.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's still a much better rate than average,even today. There are times I've been when the rate was much lower and would have dreamed of today's rate!

[@lz738]

Do you typically get yen in the UK before you land in Japan, or do you get cash (yen) when you're in the country? I was planning on getting money at Narita airport when I land there (in November) because it's really a pain in the neck to get foreign currency where I live (in a suburb of Chicago, USA).

[@cakeswithfaces]

I usually get yen before I go. Here in the UK you can get travel money delivered by post, so I don't know if that's an option in the US? If you have a card that's commission-free for foreign ATMs, you actually get a slightly better rate if you withdraw cash from the ATM when you're there. You can use ATMs at the Post Office and 7-Eleven, and there are international ATMs at the airport. I usually get cash before I travel because there was one time when I went to the USA and my card didn't work (even though I told my bank I'd be travelling). For most people it works absolutely fine, so it's probably nothing to worry about, but I wouldn't want to be stuck without cash. Maybe take several cards with you so you have options, just in case!

[@narfer]

Dealing with the Trudeau peso. I was watching the yen fall to 118:1. I managed to time it right. Got $3000 for our trip in the fall

[@cakeswithfaces]

Well done! It worked out for you!

[@slillibri]

My understanding with the new bank notes is that no all ticket and vending machines have been upgraded to accept the new notes, for example at restaurants and such. In that case you would probably do well to get the older bills rather than the new ones. Also, have you considered releasing your japan guide as an e-book?

[@cakeswithfaces]

It'll be interesting to see if they accept the new notes only, or both new and old. So far I've seen a few photos of machines that haven't been upgraded, saying "old notes only". 😅 I thought maybe it might make cards more widely accepted - if machines have to be upgraded, it's an opportunity to accept cards, but I'm sure there's a lot more involved, and it's a huge expense to businesses. My book's print version only - there are some pages you can fill in to plan your trip and record what you did, so it works best as a physical version. Plus, it has nice red page edges and shiny bits on the cover. 😊✨

[@nateshf9303]

My wife and I loaded up all 3 IC cards on our iPhones at the max amount when USD/JPY was 1:160.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Good idea!

[@ajh_1990]

Booked my accommodation and trains before the peak, so hoping it recovers a little for the car rental. But it still looks like good value and food is still cheap! Ordered some yen at the mid-190 rate so I have some cash at least.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Mid 190s is a great rate!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Mid 190s is a great rate!

[@ajh_1990]

@@cakeswithfaces Agreed! Was low 180s when I was starting to plan. Should have bought some yen at 200+ but you live and learn!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@ajh_1990 I missed the top rate too (bought some more yen recently, even though I don't have a trip booked...!) - but it's still excellent compared to how it has been on average.

[@ajh_1990]

@@cakeswithfaces Great idea! Means you have to book another return trip :)

[@princess_sarina_aria_elysia]

My thought is: why not grab a load of yen in cash when the exchange rate is great, and then you can plan your trip for whenever you want! Dated tickets for attractions and transport would still be affected in the future by the worse rate but you'd save a bit on food and any shopping

[@cakeswithfaces]

Exactly - that's an excellent plan. I just got some (more!) yen last week, even though I haven't got any flights booked at the moment. Lock in that good rate! 💯

[@PlasticSquare]

Since yesterday's caution about possibility of Mega quake, we've got more to worry than the exchange rate now 😅

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's best not to think too much about the mega quake...! 😅

[@unicode0040]

I found Japan to be inexpensive even at 105JPY/USD when I was there in 2020. Btw, how's Kura in Japan vs USA? I go to the Kura Sushi in Orlando regularly, so I'm curious to try one in Japan when I'm there later this year!

[@cakeswithfaces]

I love Kura, it's everywhere in Japan now! (Be prepared to wait at dinner time as it's popular). The menu's slightly different, but the quality and set-up's actually really similar. And Japan's MUCH cheaper. 😂 I made a quick short about it: kzbin.infowtzT9UE29yM

[@nateshf9303]

All imported Chinese seafood

[@fuzexi]

During my stay a few weeks ago it was averaging around 200 yen to the pound.

[@fuzexi]

Smart advice about buying while the exchange rate is good. I think I will!

[@cakeswithfaces]

That's an excellent rate, you were very lucky!

[@XNick291X]

I'll hold off until December/Janaury before exchanging!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Fingers crossed it goes the right way for you! 🤞

[@sonh788]

Will the usd recover vs the yen so the exchange rates goes up ?? Im going there in 10 days 😅

[@cakeswithfaces]

You'll have to ask the investment bankers that one! 😂 Keep an eye on that exchange rate & get cash if it looks like it's going down more!

[@AlanVByrnes]

Really hope to still go and have to get there really hope this doesn’t mess things up for me those earthquakes won’t either have to watch out for also since what they are talking about I’ll get and still be in one piece??? On my mind at the moment thanks you still though 👌👌👌

[@cakeswithfaces]

Earthquakes are always a thing in Japan unfortunately. However, modern buildings are built with that in mind. Everyone who lives there is well prepared and knows what do to. Earthquakes are often minor, but if there is a more serious one, just follow what other people are doing, or follow the advice of staff, wherever you are.

[@AlanVByrnes]

@@cakeswithfaces good to know information for sure there and will do when I’m there thanks a real bunch for that helpful one Amy 🫶🫶🫶

[@loopyfrog]

Good luck with all those orders!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Finally got through them all! 😅

[@loopyfrog]

@@cakeswithfaces oh well done you! Little speedster!

[@colinmathie2710]

Love the hair 😀

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thank you!! ✨

[@impylse]

I dont think the rate will go any lower, since the Bank of Japan has said they will not raise interest rates again (which is what caused it) when "markets are unstable". Which is probably code word for, untill the US presidential elections are over

[@cakeswithfaces]

Sounds plausible! Thanks for the insight!

[@nixzynat]

Get out of my brain 😂 I've been looking at this stuff for the past week 😂 I missed the 194 grrrr so Im keeping my eyes open haha.

[@cakeswithfaces]

I just panic-grabbed some more yen last week when it started falling! 😅 Didn't manage get the top rate - I should never be an investment banker...! 😂

[@rabul123]

Got the book today, can't wait to read it all

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yay, thanks so much! ✨

[@juanitajones7169]

*$50K USD 🇺🇸 💵

[@arjunsrinivas7849]

Yeah, I noticed that the Yen has been improving over the past few months. I was in Japan in May. 1 Indian Rupee was like almost pretty close to 2 Yen. But currently an Indian rupee is like 1.74 yen. Nevertheless it was still expensive compared to India. I can afford my trip. That’s another story. But compared to India, Japan is more expensive

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, whether it's expensive or not depends on how things are priced where you live! :-) Hopefully it's worth it!