Best place to change USD -> Yen?

You could try sell something on ebay.

Unfortunately, the exchange rates are pretty horrible right now in general. It really all comes down to transaction fees, in which some methods do better than others. Most credit cards charge a percentage on the transaction so you'll need to shop around to see which ones are the best value.

As for changing cash while in Japan, the banks are probably your best bet. They don't hit you quite as hard with fees as some of the places that are geared towards serving tourists or people that just got off the plane.

can't really get a "best place to exchange x currency to x currency. If this was the case, everyone would be doing it.
Best bet is to just keep checking the exchange between usd and yen everyday
If you find a good deal, you can buy some yen and sell it off later when the usd decreases.

You may need to have a certain kind of bank account to allow multiple currencies at once. I'm not sure of the logistics of a multiple currency account, but you'd still be subject to exchange rates and possible exchange fees just like you are with PayPal.

The best way to get cash for an actual trip to Japan is to keep an eye on currency exchange agents in your area and exchange what you can when there's a good rate. If you start, say, six months before your trip, you're bound to get some good rates if keep an eye out.

The most important thing to remember is that, like Suteki said, there's not necessarily a "best place". It's almost entirely about the right time - exchange rates fluctuate even by the minute, let alone larger changes from day to day or week to week. When it comes to ordering online, you're likely better off sticking with PayPal's exchange rate than trying to have some yen in your account all the time; it's probably not as bad as you think (it isn't for me, exchanging between the AU$ and the yen).

If you do decide to have a multiple currency bank account, just remember that timing is generally more important than location.

A bank issue card helps, got a 100 to 93USD using my bank issued card which is the best rate I can get. Depends if you're in good standing/credit with your financial institution whether you get tackled fees or not.

I know this is irrelevant to your question but 3 years ago =D, that was when $1 was 110-116 yen T____T

let me explain to u people why the japanese yen is so strong even throu japan was in recession with the rest of the world in 2008-2009. due to the market crash in japan during the 90s, japan's interest rates have been about the 1% for a good few years. during this time, foreign markets expanded (proporty markets around the world e.g. Dubai). what foreign banks did is to borrow yen from JP because of the low interest rate and sell/exchange them for their local currency, there by flooding the money market with yen and thats why the yen was so cheap a few years ago. as the recession hit, foreign banks had to pay back the money they borrowed in yen and that is why the yen is so strong (supply/demand).

No idea but im in Tokyo and i'll tell you the current rates.

It's around $1 USD -> 84-87 Yen.
Pretty bad. It makes my wallet cry :(

for trips i'd say currency exchange places with low transaction fee. do it when it favors your currency of course.

paypal is alright, but right now usd to yen, for me aud to yen is at its lowest ever in my online shopping life time xD;; i miss the 1 to 90s T_T

When i was gettign ready to go to japan i just went to my local bank here in the states and order some yen, the exchange rate is whatever the stockmarket says it is that day. it just took a few days for the bank to get it in as a bank in the middle of NY state doesn't carry it on hand.

and i was lucky enought ot find a branch on my bank randomly walking around the streets of tokyo, (it might have been the only branch in tokyo) so i was able to get more using my normal ATM card with no fee, (as that days exchange rates)

Oh, and as a follow up to my previous comment, HSBC offers a credit card with no fee for foreign transactions (aside from the exchange rate). Unfortunately, it's only available to their Premier members, which has the qualification of keeping $100k in funds across all your accounts.