Converting yen to dollars (cash)?

I was just reimbursed - in cash - for my plane ticket to (and from) Japan and for living expenses (2 weeks) while in Japan. Quite a chunk of change. What's my best option for converting that back to U.S. dollars? Exchange it while still in Japan (bank? airport?)? Carry it back to the US and do it there (I live near NYC - no shortage of banks there)? Something else?



I don't think it really matters. Just do it whenever its convenient for you.




You will get a better exchange rate in Japan, and unlike American financial institutions, most Japanese places don't charge commission, so you're doubly better off making your exchange in Japan.





Or you can walk into a Citibank branch and get your cash converted to a cashier's check in US dollars. You will get an exchange rate that's even better, but there will be a handling fee which will likely set you back. But it would be much safer than carrying around a large amount of cash.





The exchange rate fluctuates every day, so it will be impossible to time the market. You will have to live with the rate you get and accept the losses or potential profit you didn't make.




Nobody can answer the best because the rate will fluctuate everyday.


If you have no schedule to go back to Japan soon, convert all balance at the teller in airport but you can only change Yen bills, not Yen coins anywhere.





You could consume up your Yen coins with your credit card at the airport Kiosk too. You can't use any Yen coin in NYC indeed.