A Bitcoin ATM is essentially the Bitcoin equivalent of a bank ATM. It allows you to cash out Bitcoin held in your own wallet as physical cash, or purchase Bitcoin with cash when you need it for payments or transfers.
Currently, standard bank ATMs found at bank branches or convenience stores do not support Bitcoin transactions; you must use a dedicated Bitcoin ATM. While the number of Bitcoin ATMs is significantly smaller compared to the
vast network of bank, credit card company, and insurance company ATMs nationwide, they are increasingly being installed in popular urban areas like Roppongi, Ginza, and Shibuya—particularly in restaurants and other venues frequented by large crowds—and their numbers are gradually growing.
These machines are installed at shops and entertainment venues that actively promote Bitcoin payments and are used by both Japanese residents and international travelers. For
visitors to Japan from abroad, using Bitcoin—a global currency—is often cheaper than exchanging their home currency into Japanese yen at the prevailing exchange rate. Furthermore, many people find Bitcoin, which they are already familiar with, easier to understand than the Japanese yen, which they may be using for the first time. As a result, these machines are increasingly being installed at establishments frequented by foreign tourists.
