How to get ¥100 coins for gacha machines
Most gacha machines in Japan take only ¥100 coins, and a ¥300 turn takes three of them. The machine itself won't take a bill, so it helps to know where to turn bills into coins before you start.
What the machines take
- ¥100 coins are the standard. Check the price on the front: a ¥500 turn needs five coins.
- Some machines also take a ¥500 coin, and some newer machines in large stores take IC cards or other cashless payment. Look for a label or card logo next to the coin slot.
- Bills almost never work, and ¥1, ¥5, ¥10 and ¥50 coins are usually rejected.
Where to turn bills into ¥100 coins
- The change machine in a gacha shop or arcade. Large gacha stores and arcades have machines that turn a ¥1,000 note into ten ¥100 coins. Many take only ¥1,000 notes, and some also take ¥5,000 or ¥10,000. Read the label on the machine.
- The staff at the counter. If there is no change machine, or it won't take your bill, show your bill and say Ryōgae onegaishimasu (両替お願いします), "Could you change this, please?"
- A drink vending machine. Pay with a ¥1,000 note and the change comes back in coins, often including ¥100 coins.
- A convenience store. Buy something small and ask for your change in ¥100 coins: Hyakuen-dama de onegaishimasu (100円玉でお願いします). This is also the way to break a ¥10,000 note.
Getting cash in the first place
Cash is still the norm for gacha. ATMs in 7-Eleven stores and post offices usually have English screens, and many of them accept foreign cards. The fee depends on your card, so check with your bank. ATMs often pay out ¥10,000 notes, which many arcade change machines won't take, so break one with a small purchase at a convenience store first.
Tips
- Count before you go: ten turns of ¥300 is ¥3,000, or 30 coins. Coins are heavy, so a small pouch helps.
- If a machine takes your coins and gives no capsule, tell the shop staff. Many machines also have a contact label on the front.
- Currency exchanges usually won't take coins, so spend what is left at the airport. See gacha at Japanese airports.