what to do with all these small coins

[AdriaticBlue]

aside from the obvious - gradually try to use them all in purchases...

is there any way to cash in 1, 5, and 10 yen coins?
i suppose like the equivalent of a CoinStar in the US would be great; does something like this exist in Japan?
do banks count/cash in these small coins? or would you need to pre-sort them and roll them yourself like american coins..

[ArmandV]

aside from the obvious - gradually try to use them all in purchases...
is there any way to cash in 1, 5, and 10 yen coins?
i suppose like the equivalent of a CoinStar in the US would be great; does something like this exist in Japan?
do banks count/cash in these small coins? or would you need to pre-sort them and roll them yourself like american coins..

Good question. I have a growing collection of Japanese coins. Some I've given away to friends and family.

[Harvey]

if you bring them to the post office in Japan, they will dump them into a counting machine and give you the equivilant in bills. No charge at all. Totally free service.

I did it once with my pile and came out with more than 10,000 yen!

[AdriaticBlue]

glad to hear it, hopefully my local post office won't mind...

[yukio_michael]

I used mine in vending machines...

[ArmandV]

It wouldn't be practical for me. I really don't have any more than maybe 400 yen in coins left.

[Mike Cash]

I used mine in vending machines...

The 1s and 5s?

[nurizeko]

I only have a few left lying about.

Huzzah for tight budgets!. :cool:

[JimmySeal]

I dunno about yours, but my ATM allows me to dump in coins 30 at a time, which it then counts and deposits into my bank account.

[Mars Man]

Oh that's easy !! Just walk down to the nearest railway, and put them on the tracks and wait for the next train to roll by flatening them out into funny shapes, then tack them on the wall for conversation pieces, or make necklaces and sell them at the next local flea market, or.....hee, hee, hee....sorry, I just wanted to give someone a little smile today !! MM

[epigene]

if you bring them to the post office in Japan, they will dump them into a counting machine and give you the equivilant in bills. No charge at all. Totally free service.
I did it once with my pile and came out with more than 10,000 yen!

Yes, banks don't like them, but the post office will take it, especially the large ones. Very small post offices may not have those counting machines.

There are a lot of people who keep small coins in boxes and bottles (like piggy banks) and take them to the post office when full. Once, my husband got 50,000 yen from a large box. :-)

I'm not sure whether you need to sort them. But, we did sort by type of coin. There is no need to roll them up.

[yukio_michael]

The 1s and 5s?No not those, you're right, the machines didn't take them... So I usually just used them bit-by-bit at the convenience store.

But, I had a lot more 10en coins I think... So for about 120en, you could get a drink... I'm sure the prices are still the same?

[mr.sumo.snr]

You keep a jar in the genkan, dump your loose change in there every evening, wait till it's full and then take it to the bank - your own branch is best. They count it up and deposit it into your account. No fuss or bother. Your own branch is definitely NOT going to refuse your money, no matter how it's presented.

I always end up with a few Canadian, US, UK or Australian coins mixed in the jar 'coz I use those for 'play' money in my classes. The bank staff just politely hand them back.

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