株式会社ポケットチェンジ
Tokyo, JP · 3 known investors
Pocket Change operates a platform that lets people exchange various forms of physical cash and electronic money across currencies and payment media. The company aims to make money more freely interchangeable to enable value exchange across borders and languages.
Also known as Pocket Change · ポケットチェンジ
Investors · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026株式会社ポケットチェンジ (Pocket Change) operates a network of self-service exchange terminals in Japan that accept leftover foreign and domestic coins and banknotes and convert their value into electronic money, gift codes, travel-related credits or charitable donations. The terminals support ten currencies — Japanese yen, US dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, Korean won, Taiwan dollar, Singapore dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Thai baht and Vietnamese dong — with some currencies accepted in banknote form only, and the company states that additional currencies are planned.
The user flow is designed to avoid any text entry such as name or email address: a customer selects a destination service on the touchscreen, inserts coins or bills, confirms the on-screen result and takes a receipt, with the transaction completing in a few minutes. Exchange destinations include Japanese transit IC cards, Rakuten Edy, Amazon gift certificates, WAON and nanaco, as well as internationally usable options such as Ctrip, WeChat Pay and ecoPayz; users can also donate to organisations including UNICEF and JCV. A service converting balances into United Airlines MileagePlus miles was resumed in December 2025. The company also offers an Apple Wallet pass that pushes location-based coupons usable at nearby terminal sites.
Business model
Pocket Change deploys unattended kiosks at third-party venues such as stations, retail and amusement facilities, travel agency branches and cultural venues, converting inserted cash into a range of electronic value destinations selected by the user.
Latest developments
Between December 2025 and August 2026 the company resumed United Airlines MileagePlus exchanges, received a letter of appreciation from the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, added terminals at MoN Takanawa, Taito Station Minamisunamachi SUNAMO, JTB Kawagoe Crea Mall and Shinjuku Station, and published survey-based research on unused foreign currency held by Japanese travellers.
▸Full profile — technology, go-to-market, geography
Technology
Touchscreen self-service terminals that accept coins and banknotes in multiple currencies and issue electronic money, gift codes or donation credits without requiring the user to enter personal details; a companion Apple Wallet pass delivers proximity-triggered coupon notifications.
Go-to-market
Expansion proceeds through placement partnerships with venue operators including rail stations, amusement arcades, travel agencies and museums, supported by announcements of each new installation and consumer-facing press releases.
Inbound and outbound travellers and other consumers holding leftover foreign or domestic coins and banknotes.
Geography
Terminals are located across Japan, with a site locator covering Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku and Kyushu; recent installations include Shinjuku Station inside the JR gates, Taito Station Minamisunamachi SUNAMO, JTB Kawagoe Crea Mall and MoN Takanawa in Tokyo.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 1
by search overlap
Companies competing with 株式会社ポケットチェンジ for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsA Pocket Change terminal was installed near the east gate inside the JR ticket gates at Shinjuku Station.
The company published a press release reporting survey findings that around 90% of recent overseas travelers keep leftover foreign cash at home despite the spread of cashless payments.
A Pocket Change terminal was installed at the JTB Kawagoe Crea Mall store.
A Pocket Change terminal was installed at the Taito Station Minamisunamachi SUNAMO branch.
A Pocket Change terminal was installed on the second floor of MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives.
Pocket Change received a letter of appreciation and a commemorative gift from the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
The company announced the resumption of its service converting leftover currency into United Airlines MileagePlus miles.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- 株式会社ポケットチェンジpocket-change.jp · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 株式会社ポケットチェンジ do?
- Japanese operator of self-service kiosks that convert leftover foreign coins and banknotes into e-money, gift codes and donations.
- Who are 株式会社ポケットチェンジ's investors?
- 株式会社ポケットチェンジ's investors include DG Daiwa Ventures, Dnx Ventures, JR East Start UP.
- Where is 株式会社ポケットチェンジ headquartered?
- 株式会社ポケットチェンジ is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.