One common issue during overseas travel is leftover coins when returning to Japan. Except for certain euros, it is difficult to exchange them into Japanese yen after returning home. In most cases, they were either saved for the next trip or donated to the airport’s donation box.
However, with Pocket Change, you can exchange not only paper bills but also coins from four currencies—US Dollars, Euros, Chinese Yuan, and South Korean Won—into Japanese e-money such as Suica and nanaco (as of November 2020. For Taiwan Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Thai Baht, and Vietnamese Dong, only paper bills are accepted.).
As of November 2020, 83 machines are in operation. They are increasingly being found not only in airports but also around town. This article introduces Pocket Change.
Converting foreign currency to e-money is easy—Just 3 steps
It's very simple to use! Just select the e-money you want to exchange to, and insert your foreign banknotes or coins all at once. It will immediately exchange them into e-money.
The exchange rate is displayed on the machine. Since it fluctuates with the market rate, if you have a Pocket Change machine nearby, check the rate regularly.
A wide variety of e-money options are available!
There are a variety of exchange destinations including Japanese e-money (transportation IC cards, nanaco, WAON, etc.) and gift cards (such as Amazon gift cards), as well as options that can be used in various countries. Pocket Change can also convert into foreign e-money like "WeChat Pay", making it possible to convert Japanese yen and send it to family or friends abroad.
A rapidly expanding network
A network of 83 machines stretches from Sapporo in the north (Tanukikoji, Sapporo Station) to Beppu in Oita and Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki in the south. They are installed not only at Haneda and Narita airports, but also in familiar places like Musashi-Sakai Station, Kameari, and Fuchu City in Tokyo. The network is continuing to expand.
If you have leftover foreign coins or currency at home, using Pocket Change is one way to put them to use. Although overseas travel is still limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, let's hope for the day we can travel freely again.
Provided by: PR TIMES
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