Convert JPY to USD Japanese yen ↔ US dollar Free Online Secure
Type an amount in Japanese yen and read it in US dollar at once. The page uses the European Central Bank's reference rate, and tells you which day that rate is from.
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The last thirty days
Where these codes and rates come from
The three letters in EUR, USD or JPY are not an abbreviation someone invented for a website: they are ISO 4217, a standard in which the first two letters are the country's own code and the third is usually the initial of the currency. The figures on this page come from the European Central Bank, which publishes one set of reference rates each working day, around 16:00 Central European time, agreed between the central banks of the Eurosystem. They are a daily snapshot meant for statistics and accounting, not a live trading feed — which is exactly why they are the same number for everyone, rather than whatever one bank happened to quote at one moment.
Where you meet an exchange rate
You meet an exchange rate four or five times a year without thinking about it: booking a trip, paying an invoice issued abroad, buying from a foreign shop, reading a salary offer in another currency, or checking what a card charge really cost. In all of these the reference rate is the honest middle, and the price you actually pay sits a little to one side of it. Knowing the middle is what lets you see how wide that margin is.
Questions people ask
Is this the rate my bank will give me?
No, and no page can promise one. This is the European Central Bank's reference rate: the midpoint published once a day for statistics. A bank, a card scheme or an exchange office adds its own margin on top — usually between half a percent and three percent, sometimes more at an airport counter. Use this figure to judge the offer you are given, not to predict it.
How often does the figure change, and what happens at weekends?
The European Central Bank publishes once each working day, in the afternoon, Central European time. There is no publication on Saturdays, Sundays or TARGET holidays, so on those days the page shows the last working day's rate and says which day it belongs to. The chart alongside is one year of the same daily series.
Is the answer exact?
Where both units are defined in terms of one another by whole numbers, yes — the page says so above the figure, and the only rounding is in how many digits are shown. Where the ratio has no finite decimal, the page shows twelve significant digits and says the relation is approximate rather than pretending otherwise.
Does anything I type leave my device?
No. The arithmetic runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded and there is no server to upload it to. Load the page once and it keeps working with the network switched off.
Contracts in dollars, homes in yen: Japanese baseball stars in America and the exchange rate behind their pay cheques
In 1995, a pitcher with a corkscrew windup named Hideo Nomo crossed the Pacific to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and opened a door that had been closed for decades. In 2001, Ichiro Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners and, in 2004, set a record of 262 hits in a season. In 2023, Shohei Ohtani signed a ten-year contract with the Dodgers worth 700 million dollars, nearly all of it deferred, the largest in the history of professional sport. Behind each of these stories stands a quiet question that every Japanese player, agent and fan has had to answer: what is a dollar worth in yen, and what are yen worth in dollars? This page answers it. It takes the European Central Bank's reference rates, in which the yen and the US dollar are each quoted against the euro, combines them into a yen-to-dollar rate, shows the result with the date and keeps your amount in your browser. The text below follows the Japanese stars of American baseball, and each chapter is a reason to Convert JPY to USD and to understand what the figure means.
Using the converter
Yen in, dollars out
Whenever a dollar price appears on a website, Convert JPY to USD in reverse and then forward, to check that the two figures agree.
Type an amount in yen and the page returns the value in US dollars, with the date of the rate beneath the result. Because a yen is worth only a fraction of a dollar, the results have decimals; read them carefully. At weekends the page shows Friday's figure and says so. A table of round amounts and a thirty-day line follow. For dollars into yen, use Convert USD to JPY.
Treat the figure as a ruler
The reference rate is the middle of the market, published once on each working day, with no margin for a bank or card network. What you actually receive is slightly worse, and the difference is the price of the service. Use the page as a ruler: under one per cent is excellent, two or three per cent is normal for banks, and above four is a reason to compare. Each time you Convert JPY to USD here, you obtain the ruler for that day.
Chapter one: Nomo, the pioneer
A loophole and a leap
For a modest 2 million dollar start, Convert JPY to USD and imagine the surprise of readers in Japan in 1995.
Before 1995, Japanese players rarely left their country's league, partly because of contract rules. Hideo Nomo used a loophole, retired from his Japanese team, and signed with the Dodgers for a modest signing bonus and salary, around 2 million dollars. He won Rookie of the Year and sparked "Nomomania" in both countries. Television broadcasts in Japan started at dawn to show his games. His success persuaded other players and teams, and the relationship between the two leagues was reshaped.
What a salary meant
Contracts are usually quoted in dollars, so Convert JPY to USD for the sum to see what it means for a fan at home.
In the 1990s, 2 million dollars was a large sum in yen terms, because the yen was strong. Nomo's pay was many times that of most Japanese players. For Japanese fans, the figure was astonishing and made the move even more of a spectacle. The same salary today would look different, since both the exchange rate and the market have moved.
Money at the time
In 1995 the yen touched its strongest level against the dollar since the war, which made earnings in dollars worth fewer yen. A player paid in dollars saw his income fall in yen terms when the yen rose, a reminder that exchange rates can reduce even a large salary.
Chapter two: Ichiro and the seasons of hits
A career in two countries
Ichiro Suzuki won seven batting titles in Japan before moving to Seattle at age 27. In 2001 he was both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the American League. He went on to collect more than three thousand major-league hits, and with those in Japan, over four thousand professional hits. His routine, his stretching and his poised style became a symbol of discipline. His pay rose steadily, to about 18 million dollars a year at its peak.
The agent and the account
An agent splitting income between two countries should Convert JPY to USD for each endorsement fee on the date it is paid.
Japanese stars hire agents and accountants who handle contracts, endorsements and taxes in both countries. A player resident in the United States pays American federal and state taxes, while earnings from Japanese endorsements are taxed in Japan, with a treaty to avoid double taxation. They hold accounts in both currencies. When the yen is weak, dollar earnings are worth more at home. Players Convert JPY to USD for endorsement fees to compare them with their salary.
Chapter three: Ohtani and the 700 million dollars
The contract that changed the arithmetic
Shohei Ohtani, who both pitches and hits at the highest level, signed in December 2023 a ten-year, 700-million-dollar contract with the Dodgers. Almost all of the money, 680 million dollars, is deferred, to be paid out over a decade after the contract ends, so that his annual salary during the contract is 2 million dollars and the team keeps flexibility under the league's salary rules. The present value of the contract is lower than the headline figure, depending on interest rates. His endorsement income is also huge.
What deferral means in yen
For payments due years ahead, Convert JPY to USD today and again each year to see how the value in yen has drifted.
Deferred pay will be received years from now, when the exchange rate may be quite different. If the yen strengthens, the dollars will be worth fewer yen; if it weakens, more. For a player who intends to retire in Japan, the exchange rate at the time of payment will matter. Advisers think about such risk and may hold assets in both currencies. Ordinary people can learn from it: if you will need yen in the future, consider the risk.
Japan watches
Ohtani's games are broadcast live in Japan in the morning, drawing millions. His jersey sales in Tokyo and Los Angeles are enormous. A Japanese fan visiting Los Angeles pays about 150 to 400 dollars for a game ticket and 30 to 150 for a hat or jersey. Convert JPY to USD for the ticket, and you see a sum equal to a night out in Tokyo.
Chapter four: the Japanese fan in an American stadium
Tickets, hot dogs and the ritual
For a family day at the ballpark, Convert JPY to USD for the tickets, the food and the caps, then add the tip and the tax.
Japanese tourists travel to the United States to see their heroes. Tickets for a game at Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium or T-Mobile Park range from 20 to 300 dollars. Food and drink are costly: a beer 12 to 16, a hot dog 7 to 10, a cap 35. Fans arrive early to watch batting practice and to collect autographs. Tourists should budget around 300 to 600 dollars for a family outing.
For a round of meals, Convert JPY to USD for the menu prices and then add a quarter for the tax and the tip.
Travel to the United States
Before booking, Convert JPY to USD for the flight, the hotel and the daily budget, and write the total on one line.
Japanese citizens can visit under the Visa Waiver Program with an electronic authorisation, which costs a modest fee in dollars. Flights from Tokyo to Los Angeles take about ten hours and cost 800 to 1,800 dollars return. Hotels in Los Angeles cost 200 to 400 a night. Tipping is expected: 18 to 20 per cent in restaurants, which is unfamiliar in Japan. Sales tax is added at the till, so a menu price must be raised by about 10 per cent plus the tip.
Hawaii, the second home
Hawaii is the favourite destination for Japanese travellers, with direct flights and a large population of Japanese descent. Shops and restaurants speak Japanese and accept yen. The prices are in dollars, and the exchange rate affects how expensive the islands feel. In years when the yen is weak, Hawaii is costly for Japanese visitors, and the number of visitors falls.
Chapter five: the yen and the dollar over time
From 360 to 79 to 150 and beyond
The yen was fixed at 360 per dollar until 1971, rose to under 80 in 1995, and has since oscillated in a wide range. In recent years it fell to its weakest in decades. Behind these moves are interest-rate gaps between the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve, trade balances, and changes in risk appetite. When American rates are high and Japanese rates low, money flows to dollars and the yen weakens.
Who gains when the yen falls
To see the effect for yourself, Convert JPY to USD for the same product at two dates and compare the dollar prices.
Japanese exporters of cars, electronics and machinery gain, because dollar sales convert into more yen. Importers of oil, food and raw materials lose, since dollar-priced goods cost more in yen. Japanese tourists abroad pay more. Foreign visitors to Japan pay less. A baseball star paid in dollars gains in yen terms. The exchange rate redistributes in many directions at once.
The thirty-day line
The chart on this page shows the last thirty days. A calm line means it matters little when you convert; a restless one suggests splitting a large amount into parts. The chart does not predict, but it describes recent mood.
Studying in America on a yen budget
Tuition, housing and the real total
Parents planning four years of study should Convert JPY to USD for each year and revisit the plan every semester.
Thousands of Japanese students study at American universities every year, as exchange students, undergraduates and graduates. Tuition at private universities runs from 40,000 to 65,000 dollars a year, at public ones from 12,000 to 45,000 depending on residency. Room and board adds 15,000 to 25,000, health insurance 2,000 to 4,000, books 1,000 to 1,500. The total for a year is 35,000 to 90,000 dollars. For a family in Japan, converting to yen produces a very large number. Convert JPY to USD in reverse for the savings they hold, and see how many months or years they cover.
Scholarships and part-time work
Japanese foundations, companies and the government offer scholarships for study abroad, some covering tuition and living costs, others a stipend. American universities have assistantships for graduate students, with a salary of 20,000 to 40,000 dollars a year and a tuition waiver. International students on F-1 visas can work on campus up to 20 hours a week. Off-campus work requires special authorisation. The rules are strict, and breaking them can end a student's stay.
Cost of living by city
New York, Boston and San Francisco are the most expensive; rents for a room are 1,200 to 2,500 dollars a month. In mid-sized university towns such as Ann Arbor, Madison or Austin, a room costs 600 to 1,200. Food, transport and entertainment are cheaper in smaller cities. Choosing a university also means choosing a cost level.
Banking and cards for students
Before each transfer, Convert JPY to USD for the amount and compare the result with the offer on the screen.
A student opens an account on arrival with a passport, visa documents and a local address. Some banks have student accounts with no fees. A card with no foreign-transaction fee from home is useful at first. Parents transfer money from Japan, often by specialist service. Compare the yen sent and the dollars received against the reference rate. Over a year, one per cent of 30,000 dollars is 300 dollars.
Japanese companies in America
Cars, electronics and the assembly line
Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other Japanese companies manufacture millions of vehicles in the United States, in plants in Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana and elsewhere. They employ hundreds of thousands of Americans directly and indirectly. Their profits come in dollars and are reported in yen, so their results depend on the exchange rate. Many Japanese manufacturers publish forecasts based on an assumed rate; if the yen turns out weaker than assumed, profits beat the forecast.
Expatriates and their families
Thousands of Japanese employees and their families live in the United States on assignment, in communities such as Torrance in California, Fort Lee in New Jersey and Plano in Texas, with Japanese supermarkets, schools and clinics. Their pay is often in yen with allowances in dollars. They face the problem of two currencies daily: rent and school fees in dollars, home mortgage and pension in yen.
American companies in Japan
In the other direction, American firms such as technology, retail and food chains have large operations in Japan. A hamburger in Tokyo costs about the same as in the United States, but a coffee or a movie ticket may differ. For a US visitor, the yen has been cheap in recent years, and the same dollars buy much more.
Everyday prices in the United States, seen from Japan
Food and drink
A fast-food meal costs 10 to 14 dollars, a casual restaurant meal 20 to 35, a dinner at a mid-range restaurant 50 to 100 with tip. A coffee costs 4 to 6, a beer in a bar 7 to 10. Portions are huge, and many Japanese visitors share dishes. Water in restaurants is free; ice is plentiful. Convert JPY to USD for a round of meals and then add 25 per cent for tax and tip.
Shopping and sales tax
At an outlet mall, Convert JPY to USD for the price tag and compare it with the Japanese price of the same item.
American prices are marked without sales tax, which varies from zero in some states to over 10 per cent in some cities. Clothing, shoes and electronics are often cheaper than in Japan, particularly at outlet malls and during holiday sales. Tourists from Japan fill suitcases at outlets, buying brands at a fraction of the Japanese price. Check import limits and the baggage rules of your airline.
Getting around
Distances in the United States are huge, and cars dominate. A rental costs 50 to 100 dollars a day, fuel is sold by the gallon, and Convert L to gal turns litres into gallons. Public transport is good in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, with day passes of 10 to 15 dollars. Domestic flights are an option for long trips, at 100 to 400 dollars.
American habits that surprise Japanese visitors
Tipping, tax and talk
In the United States, service workers earn much of their income from tips, so 18 to 20 per cent is customary in restaurants and 15 to 20 in taxis. Prices on menus exclude tax. Casual conversation with strangers is common. Customers are expected to ask for what they need. These differences take some getting used to for visitors from a country without tipping.
Health care and insurance
Medical care for visitors is very expensive. A visit to an emergency room can cost thousands of dollars. Travel insurance with high medical limits is essential. Keep your policy documents handy. Prescriptions from Japan may not be valid, so carry medicines in original packaging with a doctor's letter.
Safety and manners
American cities have safe and less safe areas. Ask your hotel about neighbourhoods to avoid, especially at night. Keep your valuables on your person. Public manners are relaxed; people eat while walking and speak loudly. Politeness takes a different form from that in Japan, but friendliness is widespread. Smiling and saying thank you go a long way.
Practical money for Japanese in the United States
Cards, cash and the accounts
Cards are accepted nearly everywhere in the United States, and cash is little used for large amounts. A card without foreign-transaction fee is best. Cash machines dispense dollars at a rate near the reference one, plus the machine's fee. Choose to pay in dollars, never in yen, when a terminal offers the choice.
Sending money home
Japanese workers and students in America send money to relatives. A bank transfer is safe but costly. Specialist services show the rate and fee in advance. Compare the yen received with the dollars sent, and with the reference rate. A saving of one per cent on a monthly 1,000 dollars is 120 dollars a year.
Related conversions
Other currencies for an American tour
A trip that goes on to Europe can use Convert JPY to CHF for Switzerland and Convert JPY to RON for Romania.
For Canada, a frequent add-on to a US trip, Convert JPY to CAD; for Australia, Convert JPY to AUD; for the euro and the pound, Convert JPY to EUR and Convert JPY to GBP. Distances in America are in miles, and Convert km to mi helps readers from Japan. Temperatures are in Fahrenheit, and Convert °C to °F converts.
Mistakes to avoid
Forgetting tax and tip
American prices exclude sales tax and service. Add 20 to 30 per cent to restaurant prices before you compare with Japanese ones.
The terminal's offer
If a card machine offers to charge you in yen, say no. Pay in dollars and let your bank convert.
Old rates
A rate noted last month may be a percentage point or more away from today's. The date beside the result protects you.
Final inning
The page downloads only the table of daily reference rates. The amount you type never leaves your device, and no account is needed. From Nomo's windup to Ohtani's swing, the habit is the same: Convert JPY to USD, read the date, compare any offer against the figure and keep a note.