Accessing money in Japan
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Oct 20, 2012 5:20 AM Last Post By: x4ksandra
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Accessing money in Japan
HiAm planning a month in Japan. Will bring ATM cards but have heard foreign issued cards sometimes not accepted widely. Would also bring some cash - does anyone know if bureau de change/money exchange places are common ? I've heard exchanging cash at banks is very slow and that post offices can change cash at similar rates. Is this right? Also coming from Australia would Aussie dollars be easy to exchange (I've heard they prefer US dollars but that would involve another currency exchange for me and you tend to lose a bit each time you exchange..)
Thanks for your advice
1
I was in Japan March last year and used a MasterCard "Debit" card in an ATM at the 7 Eleven store at Kyoto station. Very easy. At Melbourne Airport there are multi currency ATM's that dispense Yen. I will be in Tokyo on Thursday and will again use my MasterCard Debit card at Narita airport to access my bank account.Any card with MasterCard of VISA on them will work.
2
For me the ATM's of 711 stores worked really well but I'm not from Australia. Use google maps to see where the 711 stores are located.3
Where in Australia?What credit card and what normal bank card do you have? Do they have Maestro/Cirrus symbols on them?
Do not exchange AUD in Japan. If you are in Sydney then exchange AUD for JPY somewhere like KVB Kunlun. If Melbourne, then use KVB or Everforex. If elsewhere try and get close to those rates or just order through Auspost (allow 24 hours or so) or Westpac/Commonwealth.
Read this for information on ATMs in Japan
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2208.html
Note also that 7-11 means 7-11 branded stores, there are many different varieties of convenience stores in Japan but if you plan to use the ATM you will need a 7-11 branded one (not Sunkus, Family Mart, am/pm, Lawson, etc)
Usually notify your bank before you travel too.
In general don't use EFTPOS for everything while you are in Japan (can be difficult/impossible to anyway), withdraw JPY in large chunks from an ATM machine and use cash.
4
exchange your aussie dollars at the airport in Japan, don't bother changing them to USD.You can also use your ATM card at the post office ATMs , but they are not open 24hrs
5
exchange your aussie dollars at the airport in Japan, don't bother changing them to USD.
Definitely don't do this!! The exchange rate for AUD to JPY is ridiculously bad in Japan.
Here's the exchange rate at Narita:-
http://www.narita-airport.or.jp/exchange_e/index.html
AU$1000 = 70870 yen at Narita
AU$1000 = 75894 yen at Auspost in Australia
AU$1000 = 79010 yen at Everforex in Australia
Current spot rate at xe.com is $1000 = 80151 yen.
So, unless you like lighting money on fire, don't exchange Aussie dollars at Narita!
