The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[teddymeow]

The last couple of times we have been out to Japan we have taken 25% of our spending money as cash and the rest as Travellers Cheques (Amex ones). This takes a bit of weight off of your mind in terms of losing so much money as they are insured and quickly replaced should you have a mishap.

Alternatively, take it all as cash and put a small lock on your bag when you go out if you want to feel mega-safe.

The hotel we stayed in the last couple of years have been kind enough to store our valuables when we've gone out for the day but really there is no need.

Speaking of hotels, this is where we plan on staying next October:

Hotel Gracery Tamachi

Newly opened back in 2008, looks rather comfortable and is on the Yamanote so easy access to Akiba!!!

Kryss, is that Boss coffee the Tommy Lee Jones one? I quite liked the Rainbow Boss back in February - good to start a cold morning!!

[briareos_kerensky]

Speaking of hotels, this is where we plan on staying next October:
Hotel Gracery Tamachi
Newly opened back in 2008, looks rather comfortable and is on the Yamanote so easy access to Akiba!!!

Looks nice...and expensive :P However its location is very strategical. Looking forward to comments on this hotel, might want to use it when I'll go next year.

[neoboy259]

Thanks for he responses. The last time I was in this situation was in Havana, and I had all my cash on me. Made me feel very unsafe >.<

I was thinking something along the lines of an international account I could set up ?*what about debit cards (I appreciate the conversion charges would still be an issue)?

BT, that 4k would also have to cover accommodation, so not quite as flush as it sounds

I never bothered with debit cards when I was out there, not many Japanese cash machines accept non-Japanese cards. I heard that branched of Citibank and the Post Office will accept them. Be prepared to get raped by your bank for charges and conversion rates though.

FWIW I carried the majority of cash on my person, and locked up the rest in my suitcase at my hotel. Japanese really is very safe, as long as you're sensible. HTH

[teddymeow]

Looks nice...and expensive :P However its location is very strategical. Looking forward to comments on this hotel, might want to use it when I'll go next year.

2 weeks with Virgin flights is ?1200 per person on Expedia which Idont think is "too" bad.

[neoboy259]

2 weeks with Virgin flights is ?1200 per person on Expedia which Idont think is "too" bad.

How times change I got cheaper than that for three weeks in 2005

[teddymeow]

How times change I got cheaper than that for three weeks in 2005

I know! It was ?1600 for the pair of us back in 2007 when we were on our honeymoon! That was at the ANA Intercontinental flying with BA!

Damn, that was a bargain.

[neoboy259]

Nice, you probably got a nice exchange rate too, well, better than the crappy 145 we can get now!

[saif]

I personally use a Post Office credit card when abroad as that has 0&#37; commission on FX, I think Abbey do one as well.
For changing money, I found places near Victoria [London] (there are a few) to be great value, and they beat the banks by about 5%. I used changelink.

[teddymeow]

Nice, you probably got a nice exchange rate too, well, better than the crappy 145 we can get now!

It was ?207 to the ?.

[Square]

I personally use a Post Office credit card when abroad as that has 0&#37; commission on FX, I think Abbey do one as well.
For changing money, I found places near Victoria [London] (there are a few) to be great value, and they beat the banks by about 5%. I used changelink.

Just found this link.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/money.html

From this I gather that I could use Post office or Seven Banks to access cash? That seems a bit too easy...

[Darwock]

Yeah, that's what I said earlier - 7-11 convenience stores allow you to access cash from foreign cards but you will get conversion charges.

Forget about relying on the post office imo, for starters they close at the weirdest times.

[kryss]

Might want to check if there are any national holidays too. The POs will definitely be closed and touristy places will be extra busy.

[Lorfarius]

I'm off to Tokyo for 2 weeks over Xmas and I'm hoping to grab a pile of retro geear, famicom, MD and SNES games that sort of thing. Whats the chance of getting copped by customs and if I do how much can I expect to pay considering its such old kit?

[teddymeow]

I'm off to Tokyo for 2 weeks over Xmas and I'm hoping to grab a pile of retro geear, famicom, MD and SNES games that sort of thing. Whats the chance of getting copped by customs and if I do how much can I expect to pay considering its such old kit?

Pack it well in your suitcase an just stroll through "nothing to declare"! No problems. The last 3 years there has been nobody on the customs desk when I've arrived back in Blighty anyway!

[r3z]

Yeah, that's what I said earlier - 7-11 convenience stores allow you to access cash from foreign cards but you will get conversion charges.

Forget about relying on the post office imo, for starters they close at the weirdest times.

I've always used Post Offices. They also do have some ATMs (marked 郵貯銀行) around that operate longer hours including weekends - there was one in my local station when I was living in Tokyo which was very convenient (Heiwadai).

Charges depend on your bank.. if you have a Nationwide debit card you'll almost certainly get a better rate withdrawing from a PO than changing cash at foreign exchange bureau or bank, even now they have introduced a small fee.