How much cash do I actually need in Japan for food, shopping, and other expenses?

I often go to Tokyo, and my impression is that most places in the city center accept credit cards now.
Especially shops and restaurants inside train stations almost always do. Many also accept transportation IC cards like Suica or PASMO, which are great for small payments.

However, in older neighborhoods like Asakusa, Ueno, Shibamata, or Kameari, many long-established shops are still cash only.
Also, it's pretty common that a restaurant takes cards for dinner but not for lunch.
Even if the website says "credit cards accepted," sometimes lunch is cash only, so it's worth double-checking!

Here's a rough idea of daily costs:

Lunch: ¥1,000–2,000 (up to around ¥3,000 at nicer spots)

Izakaya dinner: around ¥6,000 per person if you drink a bit

To stay comfortable, I'd recommend carrying at least ¥10,000 in cash per day while you're in Tokyo. That way you're covered even if you end up somewhere cash-only. 💴