ATMs in Japan

Hi there,
Im going to be in Japan rather shortly (Tokyo/Kyoto), and I was curious about how difficult it is to find ATMs that take foreign cards (US in my case)? Last time I went to France, I remember it was a real headache at times!!! :banghead: . Any info would be great. Thanks.

 

I am not sure about US cards in general, however Visa and European cards work in cash machines in post offices. (there is even a nice option to change it into english and it talks you through the whole thing!)

 

Any major bank (most of them that is) will accept Visa or Master cards atthe ATM. Some banks have an English option on the machine however not all options are available (not that you'd use them anyway) The Post Office ATM will also accept Visa or Master cards and have FULL English options. You shouldn't find it a problem. Try the following banks or any post office - Sumitomo Mitsui bank, UFJ bank, Mizuho bank, Mitsubishi UFJ bank of Tokyo (all over Japan) and Citibank Japan. There are more but these should be everywhere you go. Many local banks also accept Visa and Master cards. Here al of our local banks do - Yamaguchi Bank, Oita Bank, Nishi Nihon Bank, Shimonoseki City Bank and so on.

Yakumo

 

I even found out that my EFTPOS card (a direct debit card we use back in New Zealand), can draw money directly from my savings accounts back in New Zealand. I have only tried it at CitiBank terminals so far, but I hear that any ATM that accepts Visa and Mastercard will accept my EFTPOS card. Comforting.... for me at least.

Citibank requires you to show your Alien Registration card (ARC or "Gaijin card") to open an account, but it will become active that day.
But you shouldn't need to open an account if you are simply visiting... and you won't be able to open one without an ARC.

If you draw cash from your Visa/Mastercard you can be hit with some pretty nasty fees. I think the usual deal is that you get charged interest from the moment you draw the cash out, so be sure you can zero your CC as soon as you can once you've withdrawn the money.

 

All banks do that. You can't have a ATM card though without owning an incan (name stamp). You can get a paining in book which can also be used to withdraw money over the counter though by just signing the forms. The idea of incans is stupid anyway. It's far easier to copy an incan than somebody's signature.

Yakumo

 

I've used my Band of America Check Card and Business Check cards at the Post Office ATMs here. I've also used my Paypal debit card in the post office. You can also choose to have the screen/spoken instructions given in English.

You won't have any problems, just remember the post office closes at 5 PM and most things you'll do at night in Japan require cash.

Actually, now that I think about it, things have changed recently. We're probably giving you the information we've been programmed to say heh. Convenience stores are now stocked with ATM machines with the Visa logo. That's been a new addition within the last year or so. I've never tried to get money from them with my Visa (just my Japan Net Bank account) but I'll give it a shot and let you know. Those will be available 24 hours a day.

Wow, remember the old days when you had to get to the bank before it closed to get cash? I've now lived through that experience in two different countries.

 

Hey, thanks for the info everyone. I started looking up some of the banks Yakumo mentioned and stumbled upon this site for locating Plus Sign ATMs worldwide: http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/. A LOT of places in Tokyo/Kyoto take plus cards, so I dont think ill have any problems finding an ATM. Ill probably end up getting my cash out of the post office, just because theres one right near where ill be staying.

 

Any Visa/Mastercard Debit card should work, but yes, but warned -- they will pound you on the conversion. Changing traveller's checks and/or cash will save you a couple percent I would say.

And for the love of God don't change into yen in the states

 

I don't know if thats country specific, I'm in the UK and if I visit the US then it's cheaper to use my credit card abroad than to buy American Express travellers cheques.

I recently had some fraudulent activity on my credit card in Canada. They were taking 400 canadian dollars a day, it only cost a couple of pounds in fees. Whether thats fixed or a percentage I don't know as they took the same amount each day.

I wouldn't draw cash on my credit card though as it's an expensive way of doing it even in your own country, a visa debit card is a better bet but the fees might be different abroad.

smf

 

From my one trip to London from Japan, it was ass-rape central on the conversion. In America, it is just some mild sodomozing w/ a broomstick.

 

When it comes to owning and effectively using a credit card, Japan sucks! With all their technology and fancy shmancy gizmos and robotized toilets, you would think they'd get around the credit card concept by now. No souch luck.

Sure, you won't have many problems with major cards when you go to a bank, but try a grocery store and you'll see what I mean. They're used to carrying bundles of cash over there, and that's that. They hang onto them, just like they hang onto their stupid MO drives.

And don't get me started on japanese gas stations. When you run out of gas and you're not in a totally big major city, you can start walking without the empty can, since you won't get gas anyways. Damn them.

P.S. - The cash / credit card thing creates a strange problem. It's easier to just have cash on you, but then again it's not hard to get mugged, especially in cities like Tokyo. If they beat you up and take your money, you can be sure they'll leave credit cards behind.

 

HOw long ago were you last in Japan? I use my credit card (visa) all over the place from small shops including the likes of 7 eleven, petrol stations to used games stores. Just about everywhere these days accepts them. Over the last 3 years things have really taken off.

Yakumo

 

I've got a MasterCard through Washington Mutual, not sure if they're outside the US or not. Their policy is worded so that you can use your card at any ATM to withdraw from your bank account and not incur any fees. Wonder if that includes conversion rates.

 

I am going to Japan this summer, so would it be best to take money in cash (and in Euro) with me, and convert it into yen in Japan?

 

Sounds like either not very long at all, or was there a long time ago. CC usage is different in Japan, and not as widely accepted in smaller shops. Japan is home to the small business. Small businesses can't always afford to eat the 4% fee the CC companies charge, so don't. They opt not to accept CC, or make the customer pay.

It is harder to get mugged than not get mugged in any city in Japan, even Tokyo... and I've been in the dodgiest of dark allies at all hours of the night, w/ plenty of cash, and barely able to walk.

:thumbsup:

 

That's what I meant. Places you usually want to go [smaller shops] don't accept credit cards and that was a huge problem. I guess it all depends on why are you going there. It is a fact that credit cards are not as popular as they are in the US or Europe. So it's definetly better with cash.

P.S. - GaijinPunch: You got lucky [Didn't get mugged]

 

Yeah, but small tinny shops in any country don't accept credit cards, that's common sense. I've never seen a game shop no matter how tinny that doesn't accept them. The only place I do know of that doesn't accept credit cards is book off which is part of the hard off chain.

Yakumo

 

...And I think the Book Off near me actually does accept credit cards.

The ATM situ in Japan is pretty dire, but the credit card? Not so bad. Pretty much anyplace I want to use one I can.