For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide.For an idea of how much money you need to travel in Japan, see How Much Money Do I Need For Kyoto?.Some of the information is a little dated, but it’s still useful. For more details on getting money in Japan, see the Getting Money in Kyoto page.Always carry sufficient Japanese cash as a backup. Don’t assume that you can use a credit card in small stores, restaurants and accommodations, particularly “mom and pop” places. While credit cards are become more widely accepted in Japan, cash is still king in Japan.Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in Japan, while American Express is often not accepted.Ĭredit cards © smemon A Few Final Notes and Links Credit cards are also very handy for paying for hotels, rental cars and fancy restaurants. A credit card can be used to do a cash advance if the account your bank card draws off runs dry. The best thing about 7-11 ATMs is that they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.ħ-11 ATMs in the Arrivals Hall of Narita Airport - image © Chris Rowthorn Bring At Least One Credit Card as a BackupĪs noted above, if your bank (debit) and credit cards are separate, it’s a good idea to bring at least one credit card as a backup. They also allow you to choose to withdraw from current (checking) or savings accounts, something other ATMs do not allow you to do. These ATMs work with almost all foreign cards and have clear English (and Chinese) instructions. Most are found in 7-11 convenience stores, which are everywhere, but you can also find standalone 7 Bank ATMs in places like international airports, including the arrivals halls of Narita, Haneda, and Kansai (Osaka) airports. The best ATMs for foreigners are 7-11 ATMs. Finally, in Japan, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted, while American Express is not accepted at many places. When you withdraw money from an ATM with a credit card, you are essentially charging the purchase of cash, and it will go onto your account balance like any other credit card purchase. And it helps to bring a backup bank and credit card if you have them, in case there’s a problem with one of your cards, or if one account gets maxed out. If your cards are separate, bring both your bank card and credit card. For other people, their credit card is a separate card. To make things simple, here is the general rule: 7-11 convenience stores and post office ATMs will likely accept your card, while Japanese bank ATMs will not.īank card © Quick Clarification: Bank Cards vs Credit Cardsįor many people, their daily bank card is also their credit card. The catch is figuring out which ATMs will accept your card. These days, many Japanese ATMs are linked to international cash networks, and your home bank card is almost certainly a member of these networks. Yes, you can bring travelers checks to Japan, but do you really want to spend a few hours sitting in a bank? And yes, you can bring your home currency and exchange it for yen cash in Japan, but do you really want to carry that much cash?ĭon’t waste your time and your money!! The best way to get Japanese cash is from an ATM in Japan after you arrive! You Can Use Your Home Bank Card in Japanese ATMs Yes, you can go to a bank in your home country and buy some Japanese yen, but the exchange rates will be awful. Japanese banknotes © The Best Way to Get Japanese Cash
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