GBP to JPY in 2025: the year in numbers
Updated September 26, 2026
One pound bought 197.21 Japanese yen on average in 2025, according to 255 cross rates calculated from ECB fixings. The yearly average was 1.89% above 2024 (193.56). Over the year the pound gained 8.22%, from 194.95 at the first fixing to 210.97 at the last.
Two halves of the year
January to April: sideways and down. The pound spent the first four months in a range. Monthly averages moved from 192.98 in January to 190.3 in February and 192.55 in March. April had the lowest average, 189.37, and the low of the year, 184.66, on April 9.
May to December: a steady climb. From May the pound rose month after month: 193.42 in May, 195.95 in June, 198.37 in July, 198.54 in August, 199.72 in September, 202.12 in October, 203.78 in November and 208.57 in December. The high of the year, 211.36, came on December 22.
GBP/JPY monthly averages for 2025
| Month | Average | Low | High | Last rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 192.98 | 189.73 | 197.62 | 192.55 |
| February | 190.3 | 188.42 | 192.96 | 190.01 |
| March | 192.55 | 189.04 | 195.11 | 193.45 |
| April | 189.37 | 184.66 | 193.18 | 190.98 |
| May | 193.42 | 190.86 | 195.82 | 193.72 |
| June | 195.95 | 193.22 | 198.43 | 197.74 |
| July | 198.37 | 196.44 | 199.79 | 198.31 |
| August | 198.54 | 195.83 | 199.86 | 198.11 |
| September | 199.72 | 198.92 | 200.74 | 198.95 |
| October | 202.12 | 197.83 | 204.74 | 202.06 |
| November | 203.78 | 200.53 | 206.89 | 206.32 |
| December | 208.57 | 205.38 | 211.36 | 210.97 |
British travellers in Japan
For a UK visitor to Japan, the second half of 2025 was clearly the better time. A pound bought 189.37 yen on average in April and 208.57 in December. Hotels, rail passes and meals priced in yen cost noticeably fewer pounds at the end of the year.
For budgeting a trip, the monthly table shows how much the rate can change within a few months. Travellers who book far in advance and pay locally later carry that exchange risk in the meantime.
Japanese visitors and businesses dealing in pounds
For Japanese travellers to the UK, each pound cost more yen as the year went on. Japanese companies paying British suppliers in pounds saw the same effect on invoices. British exporters selling to Japan in yen received fewer pounds per yen in the second half.
A cross rate with two drivers
The GBP/JPY figure is derived from EUR/GBP and EUR/JPY on the same day, because the ECB publishes rates only against the euro. That also means the pair responds to moves in both the pound and the yen. To understand a move in GBP/JPY, it helps to look at both components: the GBP/JPY in 2025 page shows the pair itself, and the daily pages show each fixing.
Reporting and budgeting rates
| Purpose | Rate |
|---|---|
| Yearly average | 197.21 |
| First fixing | 194.95 |
| Last fixing | 210.97 |
| Low, April 9 | 184.66 |
| High, December 22 | 211.36 |
For annual accounts, the average of 197.21 is the usual choice for income and expense items where policy allows, and the closing rate of 210.97 for balances. For next year's planning, the most recent monthly averages describe the current level better than the yearly figure, since the rate spent the last quarter well above it.
The widest months
The monthly low and high columns show that the pair rarely sat still. April ranged from 184.66 to 193.18, and November from 200.53 to 206.89. A traveller who exchanged all their money on one day in such a month could have received noticeably more or fewer yen than someone who exchanged a week later. Splitting a large exchange over a few dates is a simple way to reduce that effect.
What to do
- Open GBP/JPY in 2025: monthly table for full monthly detail.
- Compare GBP/JPY in January 2025 with GBP/JPY in December 2025.
- When planning travel costs in yen, use the latest monthly average rather than last year's average.
- Check the GBP to JPY exchange rate today before exchanging money.
Questions and answers
What was the average GBP to JPY rate in 2025?
The pound averaged 197.21 yen in 2025, based on 255 cross rates from ECB data.
When was the pound weakest against the yen in 2025?
The low was 184.66 yen on April 9, 2025, and April had the lowest monthly average at 189.37.
How much did the pound gain against the yen in 2025?
From 194.95 at the first fixing to 210.97 at the last, a gain of 8.22%.