Convert US Dollar to Japanese Yen
Convert US dollars to Japanese yen at the live mid-market rate, and instantly size up amounts for travel, cross-border shopping, and money transfers.
🔒 Unit conversions are computed in your browser (exchange rates via public API only).
What moves the dollar-yen rate
USD/JPY is the second most traded currency pair in the world, and its direction is driven mainly by the interest-rate gap between the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. When US rates sit well above Japan's near-zero policy rate, the dollar tends to strengthen and the yen weakens; in times of market stress, the yen often rallies as a safe-haven currency. Japan's reliance on dollar-priced energy imports and the ebb and flow of the yen carry trade add further pressure. That is why the same $1 can buy noticeably more or fewer yen from one day to the next.
Reading the number — per dollar vs per 100 yen
Because a single yen is worth a tiny fraction of a dollar, USD/JPY quotes show large numbers: if $1 = 150 JPY, then $100 = 15,000 JPY. Exchange desks often flip this and post the yen the other way — for example, 100 JPY as a small dollar figure — so watch the direction carefully. This converter works from yen per one dollar. To go from yen back to dollars, just divide by the rate: an 8,500-yen item is about $56.70 at a rate of 150.
Live rates and how to use them
This tool cross-calculates the Korea Eximbank base (mid-market) exchange rate against the Korean won (KRW), refreshed once per business day around 11 a.m. Korean time (on weekends and holidays the previous business day's value carries over). The mid-market rate is the midpoint banks use between themselves, and it differs from what you actually pay: for travel, imports, or remittances, banks and card issuers add a spread plus fees, typically making the real rate 1-3% less favorable. A 20,000-yen hotel works out to about $133 at a rate of 150, but a card charge will run a little higher. Treat these figures as a budgeting baseline and confirm the final amount with your bank or card provider.
Frequently asked questions
Why is this rate different from what my bank gives me?
This converter shows the mid-market rate — the midpoint used between banks. When you actually exchange cash or pay by card, your bank or card issuer adds a spread and fees, so $100 buys slightly fewer yen than the mid-market figure suggests. Use it to plan a travel or shopping budget, then check the final amount against your provider's posted rate.
How many yen is one dollar right now?
There is no fixed answer — the rate changes continuously through the trading day. Over recent years USD/JPY has moved roughly between 130 and 160 yen per dollar. The converter above cross-calculates the current rate from the Korea Eximbank base rate against the Korean won, so check the figure displayed just before you calculate.
How do I budget for a trip to Japan?
Enter your dollar budget and the yen amount appears instantly. For example, $500 at a rate of 150 comes to 75,000 JPY. Keep in mind that card payments abroad and airport currency exchange add fees, so plan for a little less spending power than the raw figure and leave yourself some cushion.