T-N meet up: 日本 Japan!! - Page 66

**Ar_Yue** · 10-11-2008, 11:03 AM

Sorry, misread... really shouldn't rush my posts during work. (TTnTT )

But yeah... that's true. Also, International cash point/ATM. That's annoying... so I have to bring raw money and go to the post office to exchange my money.

**freesia** · 10-12-2008, 01:44 AM

no no no... dont do that... remember my words on this one.. go find CITIBANK branch.. and on Citibank ATMs... TAKE yen out of ur PERSONAL banking account in ur home country!!!!! they are the ONLY ones that allow u to draw money from ur home country bank's bank account~~~~~~ *of course.. remember to bring ur bank card w/ u... * and their rates are usually A LOT better than what u can get from those currency exchange booth~ A LOT better... but keep ONE thing in mind... ur Cheque-ing/checking account has a Cash limit.. and the amount of yen u can redraw will based on that limit~ so.. remember to modify that cash limit based ur need if u plan on using this method~ and do remember to confirm with ur bank if ur bank account qualifies for such oversea redrawal ~ *usually has a PLUS logo on the back of ur bank card*

if u bring raw money.. according to what i was told... only Mizuho bank will do the exchange *besides all the currency exchange places at airport* CitiBank only takes USD if u do it over the counter~

**Ar_Yue** · 10-12-2008, 02:12 PM

Yeah, I did use Citibank in Shibuya, that was ok. Would all of the Citibanks outside Tokyo deal with International exchange? Wasn't too sure on the different regions apply. Heard from my friend that it's difficult to transfer money from different regions, or something like that...

Well... with my credit card, I don't pay the fees for using my credit card overseas. So, I get free of charge of transfers and use. Which is handy for me. Plus, I exchange my raw money at the airport first before I head out, I only exchange the money when I run out of it or can't find a cash point. So I head to the post office to exchange what I kind of needed.

***KirbyCorps*** · 10-12-2008, 03:52 PM

I haven't thought about money yet hahah

Need to think about that.. should I bring lots of YEN and my card or.. hmm *runs about*

**Ar_Yue** · 10-12-2008, 04:31 PM

Well... it's best to have some money exchanged on hand because you have to catch a train and pay for the hostel. Either do that at the airport or do a tiny bit of exchanging before you head out. With cards... use credit cards that is either Visa or Mastercard. I was thinking of using travellers cheques since that I haven't used them before but decided not to because I don't know if they accept cheques in Japan.

**freesia** · 10-12-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ar_Yue

Yeah, I did use Citibank in Shibuya, that was ok. Would all of the Citibanks outside Tokyo deal with International exchange? Wasn't too sure on the different regions apply. Heard from my friend that it's difficult to transfer money from different regions, or something like that...

Well... with my credit card, I don't pay the fees for using my credit card overseas. So, I get free of charge of transfers and use. Which is handy for me. Plus, I exchange my raw money at the airport first before I head out, I only exchange the money when I run out of it or can't find a cash point. So I head to the post office to exchange what I kind of needed.

aiya... dont say international exchange.. that's confusing....

the correct name for that ATM one is called.. oversea redrawal~

if u exchange yen at the counters + those other currency exchange places.. then it's truly EXCHANGE!!

ok.. put it this way.. for citibank, over the counter they only take USD~ what u need to use is the Citibank's ATM!!!!!! not the over-the-counter service!!!! i think if Citibank in tokyo works.. the rest of the Citibank ATMs would work.. cos u r not transfering money.. as long as all the ATMs link to the same network.. then no problem~~ and my friend who lives in tokyo said she tested ATMs from ALL banks.. only Citibank worked... donno how valid is that lah~

VISA/MasterCard is good.. but i dont think most places take CC... *well.. unless u go to department stores..* i doubt the small shops on the street would take CC.. i never bother trying~ what mine does though.. is... if u r doing a purchase in foreign currency... a percentage of the full amount of the purchase is the fee u have to pay~ and it's not listed separately on ur statement~ i think it's less than 5%... not sure~

^kirb
if u really want.. exchange enough YEN for getting to ur motel at least + possibly a meal or two~

if u r going to tokyo first... my hotel only costs me less than 2000 yen to get to...*from narita~* PER person~

Retrowiccan · 10-12-2008, 07:17 PM

If you are going from UK to JPN then the best thing is to get a couple of hundred pounds changed into Yen while still here... I suggest using Nationwide as they don't charge commision and have a very good rate of exchange.
Then when you are out there all you have to do is go to a Post Office to withdraw more money. From my experience UK cards are not accepted in ATM's anywhere apart from in the Post Office.
I have found that this is the most cost effective way of dealing with money in JPN as the currency exchange places always give bad rates and some places still do not take plastic as payment. Also I have tried several banks and found that none of my cards worked... I had Barclays, Sainsbury's, Halifax and Nationwide.
So that is my advise to British travellers.... I can not speack for those travelling from outside of UK.

**Ar_Yue** · 10-12-2008, 08:42 PM

@Fressia: Gomen Freesia... been rushing the posts replying... been working. (TT__TT ) I only use my credit card for hotels and running out of moeny. It's more a back up emergency than the main usage. So, it's fine, also stuff there is cheap so food and travel isn't a problem for me to spend that much. What I found is that fruit, technology and pubs/bars are expensive items. But still I need to like mark down the Citibanks in Osaka and Sapporo just in case.

@Retro:Knew about Nationwide, it's my main building society, hence the free of charge on overseas transfer on my credit card. With the post office is alright with raw money on hand since that I did this when I went to Hiroshima with my friend. But if you have no option it's pretty much there best way to get money. Eh? How many cards did you take with you to use? (O_o ) Cos I only took two, one being my credit card and the other being my debit.

**freesia** · 10-13-2008, 01:16 AM

wi-chan.. tried Citibank's ATMs?

i was using my card issued from a canadian bank~~ but my friend was using HSBC's~ a good indication.. would be to look on the back of ur card.. if it says PLUS or Cirrus (both appeared as LOGO).. it usually useable.. but u still need to look for Citibank's ATMs~

Citibank's ATMs definitely give higher rates than random exchange places~~ it's the rate + a fixed fee per redrawal charged by ur home bank *5 bucks for my bank.. 3 bucks for HSBC*~ so.. do take out more at once if u need it~

funny to note.. my friend works for Barclay's in tokyo.. lol

**Ar_Yue** · 10-13-2008, 05:48 AM

I don't like Barclays bank... it took about 5 weeks to close my account from them. I thought it was closed until they started charging me for interest fees. I'm surprised that there was a Barclays bank in Japan. LOL!

**freesia** · 10-13-2008, 06:13 AM

i dont think she works in the public banks lah.. she works for Barclays Capital.. is that diff.? @___@

**Ar_Yue** · 10-13-2008, 09:05 AM

Not sure.... to be honest. If it's has a blue logo of a bird/eagle looking thing on it then it's Barclays.

Retrowiccan · 10-13-2008, 10:05 AM

First trip to tokyo I just had my Barclay's and Sainsbury's cards... I got the Sainsbury's credit card because there were no charges for the first 12 months.
Second time I went I took my new Nationwide and Halifax debit cards, Nationwide being the main card as it has no fees.
I tried all the ATM's, even citibank and none of them worked.... It made getting cash hard because I had to search for Post Offices but most of the shops I went to took cards. I prefer to use plastic anyway.
But I always advocate taking a couple of hundred pounds in cash with you to begin with as I found that you can not guarentee that an ATM or Counter Service will take your card. Also just getting off the plane with no money can be dangerous, as customs can ask you to prove you have the means to support yourself at the beggining of your trip... If you can't they can and do send you back and cancel your visitors visa.

***KirbyCorps*** · 10-13-2008, 11:09 AM

Usually when I go away to somewhere, I take a big wad cash with me and my MasterCard... MasterCard being my emergency money withdrawal

I tend to change my money at Marks & Spencers mainly becuase they don't charge commission and their rates are pretty high and also.. they have the money there already and you don't need to order it in

@yue: I never used traveller's cheques, but I'm sure you can change them at P.O?

**Ar_Yue** · 10-13-2008, 12:49 PM

@Retro: I didn't have that... been asked on the money issues, has customs changed? I've heard that they ask for a fingerprint and maybe a photo from Freesia, but it's been four years since I last went. Japan's changed alot.

I was going to say... it wasn't like in one big bunch of cards on one trip.

@Dory: I don't know.... but I'm planning not to use them. Just to be on the save side. But I already have some money that I exchanged before leaving Japan. I knew I was coming back ;P LOL!