There Are No 7 ELEVENs on Okinawa

OK not a big deal, but I thought I would mention it as the Sevens are often first choice for foreign card ATM use.

It may also be interesting that my UK issued MasterCard credit card worked in the Lawson ATMs. There was a charge of ¥216 for getting ¥50,000 which isn't bad and was the same in the Post Office ATM (didn't they used to be free?).

Just used a Seven on the 'mainland' and it didn't charge. I luv them Sevens.

Finally, I noticed the PO ATM offered me to pay in my home currency. Obviously I refused as this is a nasty rip off that is becoming more and more common when using cards abroad. Beware.

Not much use now,but 7-11 is planning to open stores on Okinawa starting early next year I think...

Thanks for the heads up Simon, I feel your pain. I will be making a visit to 7/11 shortly, to pay my electricity bill. I suffered a few terrible 7/11-less hours this weekend when I traveled south of the 7/11 line in the Kii Peninsula.

I haven't used a Post Office ATM since last year, but they were certainly free then.

Are you in Kyushu now? I hope you've been enjoying the same weather that we've been having in Kansai, which has been perfect for the last week or so.

AFAIK the post office ones are/were free to use...unless that has changed recently.

Your own card provider may well charge you to use their ATMs,but they don't (or at least didn't).

Lawson and Family Mart both charge I think....

When I first came to Japan it was (reported to be) difficult to find ATMs that took foreign cards. The PO was always the safest bet.

It now seems that there are a lot more ATMs we can use.

My card levies no charges, which is why I use it. The PO charge was definitely from them as I got 50,000 and they charged me 50,216.

Yes Giora, in Kyushu now. It was hotter than I expected in Okinawa, about 30 daytime and dropping little in evening. Here in Kagoshima, it felt a fair bit cooler in this early morning, but soon warmed up.

216 Yen is a very Japanese charge, it's a fee of 200 Yen plus the consumption tax of 8%.

What did you think of Okinawa? Did you get out to any of the smaller islands between there and Kyushu? I'd love to island hop there at some point. I suppose it will get chillier as you head north. Plenty of lovely stuff on Kyushu to detain you along the way though, I imagine.

The Japan post ATM web site does state that "When using certain cards issued abroad, an ATM usage fee (\216 (tax included) per use) may apply."

Ok,so its always been like that maybe....for some cards.It doesn't say which ones....

http://www.japanupdate.com/2017/06/7-eleven-formally-announces-opening-stores-in-okinawa/

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