Japanese Yen Exchange Guide 2025: 4 Methods Compared, How Much is 10,000 Yen in TWD? Calculate Once and For All

This year, the Taiwanese dollar has already reached 4.85 against the Japanese yen, an 8.7% increase from 4.46 at the beginning of the year. If you’re still hesitating whether it’s worthwhile to exchange for yen now, it’s better to first understand how to exchange at the lowest cost before deciding whether to get on board.

Why is the yen worth paying attention to? Travel is just the surface reason

When it comes to exchanging foreign currency, many people instinctively think of the yen. But the value of the yen is far more than just buying cosmetics in Japan.

On a daily life level, Japan’s cash culture is deeply ingrained (credit card penetration is only 60%), and shopping in Tokyo, skiing in Hokkaido, or vacationing in Okinawa all require cash. The purchasing circle and Japanese online shopping also require yen payments. But what truly excites investors is the financial attributes of the yen.

The yen is one of the world’s three major safe-haven currencies (alongside the US dollar and Swiss franc). Japan’s economy is stable, with low debt, and whenever markets are turbulent, capital flows into the yen. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the yen appreciated 8% in a week, effectively hedging stock market declines. For Taiwanese investors, exchanging for yen is equivalent to buying insurance against Taiwan stocks.

Another attraction is the interest rate arbitrage opportunity. Japan’s ultra-low interest rate (only 0.5%) allows investors to borrow yen and invest in higher-yielding USD (the USD-JPY interest rate differential is 4%), then close positions and buy back yen when risks increase—this wave of operations has already produced countless winners.

How much is 10,000 yen in New Taiwan Dollars? Understand these four exchange methods first

You might think exchanging yen is just going to the bank counter, but choosing the wrong method can cost you several cups of bubble tea.

1. Traditional counter exchange: safest but most expensive

Bring cash NT$ to the bank or airport to exchange for yen bills. Simple to operate, but banks use the “cash selling rate” (1-2% worse than the spot rate), making it the most costly overall.

For example, as of December 10, 2025, Taiwan Bank’s rate is about NT$0.2060 per yen, meaning NT$10,000 can exchange for about 48,500 yen. Some banks also charge handling fees, reducing the actual amount received.

The cash selling rates among major banks are similar (between NT$0.2058-0.2069), but handling fees vary greatly. Taiwan Bank and Mega International Bank are free, while Cathay United Bank charges NT$200, making a noticeable difference when exchanging NT$50,000.

Advantages: safe, full denominations, assistance from staff.
Disadvantages: unfavorable rates, limited business hours, additional handling fees.

2. Online exchange + foreign currency ATM withdrawal: flexible but suitable for small amounts

Use an app to convert at the “spot selling rate” (1% better than cash rate) into yen and deposit into a foreign currency account. When cash is needed, withdraw from foreign currency ATMs. Suitable for phased entry and observing exchange rate trends.

Foreign currency ATMs support 24 hours, cross-bank withdrawal fee is NT$5, with a daily limit of NT$150,000 (example: E.SUN Bank). Drawbacks include only about 200 ATMs nationwide and fixed denominations (1,000/5,000/10,000 yen), which may sell out during peak times.

Advantages: 24-hour flexibility, low cross-bank fees, can average costs over time.
Disadvantages: limited ATM locations, possible cash shortages.

Suitable for: people who don’t have time to visit banks or need urgent cash.

3. Online currency exchange + airport pickup: the best pre-departure reservation plan

This is our most recommended intermediate solution. No need for a foreign currency account—just fill in the amount, branch, and date on the bank’s official website, complete the transfer, and pick up cash at the counter. Taiwan Bank’s “Easy Purchase” has no handling fee (NT$10 for Taiwan Pay payment), offers a 0.5% favorable rate, and allows reservation for pickup at Taoyuan Airport branches (14 locations, 2 open 24 hours).

For those who only realize they need yen just before traveling, this is a lifesaver—reserve 1-3 days in advance, pick up at the airport on the day of departure, saving the last-minute scramble.

Advantages: favorable rates, often no handling fee, airport pickup available.
Disadvantages: requires advance reservation, pickup only during business hours.

4. Online foreign currency account deposit: an investment-grade option

If you don’t need immediate cash and want to earn interest, open a foreign currency account with E.SUN Bank or Taiwan Bank, deposit yen into a fixed deposit to earn interest (current annual rate 1.5-1.8%). Minimum deposit is NT$10,000 worth of yen, with minimal risk and stable returns, suitable for medium-term holding.

Cost comparison of four exchange methods

Based on exchanging NT$50,000:

Conclusion: Online currency exchange + airport pickup has the lowest cost and is the most convenient, especially suitable for planned travelers.

Is it really worthwhile to exchange yen now?

As of December 10, 2025, the NT$ to yen rate is 4.85, with NT$10,000 exchanging for about 48,500 yen. Since the beginning of the year, the yen has appreciated 8.7%, making the forex gains for Taiwanese investors quite substantial—against this background, in the second half of the year, Taiwan’s forex demand increased by 25%, driven mainly by travel recovery and hedging needs.

But whether it’s worthwhile depends on timing. The yen is currently in a volatile range. The US rate-cut cycle supports the yen, but the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is under pressure. Recently, BOJ Governor Ueda’s hawkish comments have increased market expectations of rate hikes to 80%, with a projected increase of 0.25 basis points to 0.75% on December 19 (a 30-year high), and Japanese government bond yields have hit a 17-year high of 1.93%. The USD/JPY has fallen from a high of 160 at the start of the year to around 154.58; short-term may rebound to 155, but medium to long-term forecasts suggest below 150.

For investors, phased forex exchange is a must. As a safe-haven currency, the yen is suitable for hedging Taiwan stocks, but short-term arbitrage closing positions could cause 2-5% volatility. Exchanging all at once might lead to losses.

What to do after exchanging yen? Four ways to make money work for you

After exchanging, don’t just sit idle—this is the second principle for earning from yen.

Yen fixed deposit: the most stable, with an annual interest rate of 1.5-1.8%, minimum NT$10,000 deposit.
Yen insurance policy: medium-term holding, Cathay and Fubon savings insurance with guaranteed rates of 2-3%.
Yen ETFs (00675U, 00703): growth-oriented, fractional shares available, suitable for dollar-cost averaging, annual management fee 0.4%.
USD/JPY forex trading: directly trade on exchange rate fluctuations, Mitrade offers zero commission and low spreads, suitable for swing traders.

While the yen is a strong hedge, it also fluctuates both ways. Rate hikes are positive, but global arbitrage unwinding and geopolitical conflicts (Taiwan Strait, Middle East) can also suppress the yen.

Common Q&A

Q. What’s the difference between cash exchange rate and spot rate?
Cash rate is the rate banks offer for physical cash, suitable for travel exchange, but worse (1-2%) than the spot rate. Spot rate is the foreign exchange market’s T+2 settlement rate, used for electronic transfers, closer to international market prices, but requires waiting for settlement.

Q. What should I bring when exchanging foreign currency?
Locals: ID card + passport; foreigners: passport + residence permit. Online reservation requires a transaction notification. For amounts over NT$100,000, you may need to declare the source of funds.

Q. What’s the daily limit for foreign currency ATMs?
After the 2025 new regulations, the limit has decreased to NT$100,000-150,000 per day (depending on the bank). Our bank cards have no cross-bank fee; other banks charge NT$5 per transaction. It’s recommended to withdraw in multiple transactions.

Conclusion

The yen is no longer just pocket money for travel; it combines hedging functions and small-scale investment value. Whether traveling to Japan next year or hedging against the NT$ depreciation, as long as you follow the two main principles of “phased exchange + reinvestment after exchange,” you can lower costs and increase returns.

Beginners can start with “Taiwan Bank online currency exchange + airport pickup” or “foreign currency ATM,” then move into fixed deposits, ETFs, or swing trading based on needs. This way, you can enjoy cost-effective travel and add a layer of global market hedging protection.