Japanese Yen (JPY) Exchange Rates Today
Live rates, 30-day trends, and real talk about what banks charge you for Japanese Yen.
Mid-market rate - no bank markup 200+ currencies Free
What is the Japanese Yen?
The Yen has no subunit in daily use (sen are no longer circulated). Japan's ultra-low interest rate policy makes JPY a popular funding currency for carry trades.
Symbol: ¥ ISO code: JPY Central bank: Bank of Japan (BOJ)
BIS ranking: 3rd most traded (the 3rd most bought and sold currency worldwide) Used in: Japan
This page is a hub for all JPY exchange rates on our site. Use the converter above to check the current mid-market rate for Japanese Yen against any supported currency, or scroll down to browse individual pair pages with 30-day charts, historical data, and conversion tables.
How Japanese Yen is commonly exchanged
The Yen is a cornerstone of Asian FX markets and a popular funding currency for carry trades due to Japan's historically low interest rates. USD/JPY is the second most traded pair globally. EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY also see significant volume, with GBP/JPY known for its sharp moves.
Most JPY conversions pass through one of the major pairs listed below. For less common combinations, rates are computed as cross-rates through USD or EUR, which may carry a slightly wider spread.
Practical notes for Japanese Yen
Travel and card conversions
If you are spending in Japanese Yen, a card with no foreign transaction fee is typically the best option. Always choose to be charged in JPY (the local currency) at point of sale - selecting your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion, which adds an unnecessary 3-6% markup to your transaction.
Weekend and holiday pricing
Currency markets close Friday at 5pm Eastern and reopen Sunday at 5pm Eastern. During this window, the rate you see is Friday's closing price. Some providers widen their spreads on weekends. If your conversion is not urgent, waiting until Monday often means a tighter spread and a rate that reflects current market conditions.
Large transfers
For conversions above 10,000 JPY, consider a specialist FX broker rather than your bank. The difference in rate on a large transfer can be significant - even a 0.5% improvement on a large sum adds up quickly. Get quotes from at least two providers and compare the final amount the recipient would receive, not just the headline rate.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) and the Japanese Yen
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has maintained ultra-loose monetary policy for decades, including negative interest rates and yield curve control. This makes JPY unique among major currencies.
Policy tool: The overnight call rate and yield curve control (targeting 10-year government bond yields). The BOJ meets eight times per year.
Key data releases: BOJ policy statements, Tankan business survey (quarterly), and Japanese CPI. Any hint of policy normalization can cause sharp JPY moves.
Moments that shaped the Japanese Yen
Asian Financial Crisis (1997-98)
The yen initially weakened during the crisis as regional currencies collapsed, but then surged as Japanese investors repatriated capital. USD/JPY swung from 147 to 108 in a matter of months.
Abenomics (2012-2020)
Prime Minister Abe's aggressive monetary easing and fiscal stimulus weakened JPY from around 80 to 120 against USD. The Bank of Japan introduced negative interest rates and yield curve control, fundamentally changing how JPY trades.
Did you know?
- Japan's yen literally means 'circle' or 'round object.' The country moved to decimal currency during the Meiji Restoration in 1871, modelled on European systems.
Frequently asked questions
What is the JPY exchange rate today?
The live mid-market rate is shown in the converter above. It updates every 60 seconds during market hours (Sunday 5pm ET through Friday 5pm ET). Scroll down to see JPY rates against all supported currencies.
What is the mid-market rate for Japanese Yen?
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between wholesale buy and sell prices - the fairest benchmark before any provider adds markup. It is the rate shown on this page. Your bank or service will offer a different rate that includes their margin.
How is JPY performing this month?
Use the converter above and click through to any pair page to see the 30-day range bar, which shows where today's rate sits relative to the recent trend. The rate statistics panel shows 30-day low, high, average, and volatility.
Where can I find historical JPY rates?
Click on any pair page below and scroll to the history chart. You can view 7-day, 30-day, or 1-year history with daily rates. Use the date picker to look up a specific historical date.
What affects the value of Japanese Yen?
Central bank interest rate decisions from the Bank of Japan (BOJ) are typically the largest driver. Inflation data, economic growth figures, trade balances, and political stability also matter. On a day-to-day basis, scheduled economic data releases and central bank communication can cause noticeable moves.
Why do different sites show different JPY rates?
Different providers use different data sources, update at different times, and may show rates that already include their markup. The mid-market rate (shown here) is the most neutral benchmark. If a site shows a rate that is noticeably worse, that difference is likely their margin built into the number.
How is the JPY exchange rate set?
Most exchange rates are determined by supply and demand in the global forex market, where banks, funds, and corporations trade currencies 24 hours a day on weekdays. Interest rate differentials between central banks are the biggest long-term driver. No single entity "sets" the rate - it emerges from millions of transactions.
Learn more
- Bank of Japan - Foreign Exchange Rates - Official BOJ daily exchange rate data
- BOJ Monetary Policy - Policy decisions and statements from the Bank of Japan
- Statistics Bureau of Japan - CPI, GDP, and economic indicators that influence the yen
JPY rate statistics
Japanese Yen rate context
We compare the current Japanese Yen exchange rate against its recent trading range to help you decide whether now is a good time to convert. The live analysis updates throughout market hours.
Rate analysis updates when live data is available.
Forex Market Hours
The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. Trading passes between these major financial centers as the world turns.
| Market | Timezone | Local Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | AEST | — | — |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | JST | — | — |
| 🇬🇧 London | GMT/BST | — | — |
| 🇺🇸 New York | ET | — | — |
All JPY Currency Pairs
Live exchange rate pages for Japanese Yen against every supported currency.