Going to Japan next week - cash out questions

[FFGrey]

Hi there!

Me and my girlfriend are finally off to Japan for a well earned two week holiday next week. I had a hellish year in 2009 (hospitalised twice, bit of a long story) so we are really looking forward to it. I am now trying to work out my cash plan when I am there as I know they are a cash based society and their banks work a little bit differently!

Anyway, thanks to this very site I'm one of those smart peoples who owns a Wizard Clear Advantage card (what a great card for travel!!).

I am wondering - should I buy some Yen here in Australia to be on the safe side or just wing it and try hitting an ATM on arrival in Narita? We arrive about 6pm, so the airport banks will be closed. We'll need at least 40,000-50,000 yen to pay for a few days accommodation in advance that night and a meal or two. I then know on the next day I can find ATMs that will work in Tokyo city and pull some more yennage then. I've heard Post Offices are linked to Cirrus.

If I should buy yen, am I best to do this here in Melbourne city at a bank/bureau de change or at Tullamarine airport?

Along with the Wizard Clear Advantage, I also have Westpac Earth MC and AMX, and my Westpac debit card.

I will probably cash up my Wizard, and leave some cash in my Westpac bank account so I have the debit card as backup.

Any comments, help, hints or suggestions welcome.

Thank-you in advance!! :mrgreen:

 

[cosi]

Recommend you buy enough Yen at a currency shop in Melbourne City to last you the first few days in Tokyo.

Japan is very safe when carrying cash. I had a staff member leave his whole wallet and cash on the airport train and after reporting the matter, the wallet was returend to his hotel next morning with nothing missing

Post Offices are a good place for using an ATM

Enjoy the food especially the sushi.

Make sure you check out the food halls in the department stores.

 

[Dr Hiro]

Hi FFGrey:

Yep, I am also one of the lucky ones whose got a Clear Advantage MC. Have used it frequently at Narita Airport. Try the Citibank ATM. It's on ground level (after you leave customs). From memory, it's near the escalator as well. BTW, this is for Terminal 2.

The banks with currency exchange counter are open till 10pm or 11pm. This is my first post, so I cannot post links. But you can definitely confirm that on the official Narita Airport site.

There is also a Post Office ATM at the airport. Have not tried it personally.

I am originally from Japan. Large department store and almost all hotels would accept Credit Card now days. The ones that don't tend to be very small cafes on street corners. Though I have raised a few eyebrows using a foreign issued card.

To sum it up. I would only get a few loose change, if really necessary. Withdraw AUD1000 (equivalent in Yen) using Wizard at Nari'ta's Citibank ATM. Exchange money at Narita. Use Credit card for rest. I haven't found DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) to be prevalent yet in Japan.

Dr Hiro

 

[777]

From memory (last december) Post Offices and 7Elevens had ATMs that gave cash out on our cards but most major banks (and other convenience store chains) ATMs do not. Once we'd figured that out it wasnt hard to get cash.

777.

 

[Fifa]

From memory (last december) Post Offices and 7Elevens had ATMs that gave cash out on our cards

Just be aware that 7-Elevens no longer accept Mastercard.

 

[777]

Just be aware that 7-Elevens no longer accept Mastercard.

Ahh, ok. We were mainly using Visa. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[whoistheg]

We went last Dec and I had a lot of trouble with my visa and amex at 7-11 and post offices.

I found the best spot 100% hands down to get cash out is Cititbank ATM

99% of every other ATM would not accept our cards. So i just hit the
Citibank website and found a list of all their offices and made sure i knew
where the main ones were. When i did find Citibank i made sure i pulled out
a fair bit as well.

 

[wrldtrvllr]

I've used the Wizard MC before in Japan (last visit Apr 09) and found that because most bank ATMs (and convenience store ATMs) DO NOT accept MC you may struggle finding cash, particularly outside the major Japanese cities. Best bet is the ever reliable JP (Japan Post ATMs) and they will be located in most cities.


You may find this useful:
Japan National Tourism Organization | Arrange Your Travel | Essential Info | Money

 

[wrldtrvllr]

Also, if you are looking to do cash-for-cash exchange (ie. AUD for JPY) then have a look at:

KVBKunlun

I've used them before in Sydney and their rates are very competitive - their bid-ask spreads are soooo much tighter than banks and other money exchanges. And their prices are dynamic throughout the day as the wholesale market changes (unlike traditional banks/money exchanges who will strike the exchange rate in the morning).

Good luck and enjoy - Japan's one of my favourite countries to visit.

 

[Holly]

Also, if you are looking to do cash-for-cash exchange (ie. AUD for JPY) then have a look at:

KVBKunlun

I've used them before in Sydney and their rates are very competitive - their bid-ask spreads are soooo much tighter than banks and other money exchanges. And their prices are dynamic throughout the day as the wholesale market changes (unlike traditional banks/money exchanges who will strike the exchange rate in the morning).

Good luck and enjoy - Japan's one of my favourite countries to visit.

I'm heading to Japan in 2 weeks myself and was planning on exchanging some yen before I leave Aus and use the WCAM at Citibank ATMs when I arrive. Good to know that there are Citibank ATMs in Narita. I'll need to exchange my JR voucher when I arrive as well (OT: does anyone know if the ATM and the JR pass voucher exchange office are both in terminal 2?)

Anyway I've previously had good experience with Travelex online (no commission if ordered online, and then it's ready to collect in 3 days' time where you make payment by cash/EFT when you attend in person), but they've changed it now so you have to order at least 5 days in advance and pay by B-pay or else get charged 1.5% fee if settling by credit card.

I've been monitoring the yen which is continuing to fall, so I wasn't keen to lock in anything until next week. Good to know about KVBKunlun - might compare it before I decide whether to use Travelex online again.

 

[Hvr]

Am currently here in Japan and have found the Post Office the best bet to withdraw cash.

Just be aware that they aren't open particularly late and it can be hard getting cash outside of main shopping hours so a little forward planning is essential.

 

[kiwitripper64]

We arrived into Japan as part of RWT and tried to get money out of ATM at airport. The ATM refused to give us cash, kids were tired, we were not thinking clearly and got train into Tokyo. Tried anther 2 ATM and still no cash. We couldnt understand what we were doing differently from previous trips. Rang bank in NZ and we were very embarrased to be told cards were working, but we were trying to withdraw more than our daily limit in one hit. . Re-calculated exhange rate and were fine from then on. We got out enough in Tokyo to last in Niseko ski village where the nearest ATM was 20 min away.

 

[FFGrey]

To everyone who responded to my thread. THANKS!!! (or should I say DOMO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!)



OK - here's what we'll do... we are going to chance it and just go over with our cards - I've got two creditcards (Wizard Clear Adv. cashed up + Westpac Earth as back up) and also my Westpac Mastercard Debit card (cashed up also), so that is three cards I can try. All card issuers have been called and told of my pending trip (an essential task these days). My girlfriend also will be carrying at least one credit card, plus a debit card as well, all cashed up.

As soon as we clear customs, we are going to hit the Citibank ATM in Terminal 2, and take about 70,000 out (close to $1000)... more than enough to cover our first few days in Tokyo. We'll deal with the rest later. I know that it's a good idea to cash up and carry cash in the major cities to take to the country areas so we'll factor that in as well. We'll look out for Citibanks mainly but will keep Japan's many post office ATMs in mind as well.

We are also going to take a few hundred Aussie dollars over as back up to exchange if all 5 or so cards fail to deliver the goods. We may even do that on arrival in Narita as well if we find a Bureau open.

I think this is a pretty good plan. I really can't be bothered with travelers checks like in the old days.

Thanks for all your help. Any other additional feedback welcome!!

 

[kiwitripper64]

just make sure what your daily withdrawal limit is.

 

[blu]

Went to KVLKunlan today for JPY.
Receipt shows exchange rate of 78.80. Exchange Rate in SMH is 80.2
It's almost embarassing to write 'nil yen' on the immigration card at NRT.

Niseko has an international ATM now at Hokkaido Tracks office - Visa is OK, but doesn't take Mastercard.