The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Yup, sadly true. An Australian friend made the 3rd world comment many years ago while we were still living there. After a couple of years back in Oz, him and his wife are planning to return to settle I think though.

I would go back forever if I could get a job outside of english teaching.

After being back in Thailand for a month, i am getting strangely nostalgic about my stint in Japan.
Im missing my morning ramen and long train rides to work, reading "Our Man in Havana"


anyway

[kryss]

I miss it too ;(

[Jay]

Can I ask you guys for some advice about taking money to Japan?

I'm planning on taking about ?1000 spending money with me (changed into Yen, obv). But I'm nervous about carrying that amount of cash around with me. I know the country is pretty safe, so I'm not worried about being mugged or whatever, more that I'll lose it.

My gf is going to take half of her spending money with her and get the other half out of a cash machine when we're in Tokyo. It seems that post offices are the place to go to use a foreign card for withdrawing cash. That or a Citibank. I'm just worried about the hassle this will entail if for some reason we find we can't draw out cash. Can anybody advise?

The two hotels we've booked take credit cards, so we won't have to take cash for that at least.

EDIT: Actually, I don't have a credit card, I have a visa debit card. There's no reason a hotel which takes cards won't accept that, right?

[teddymeow]

Last time I went I took everything in cash and only took what I needed every day. Never had an issue.

Travellers Cheques are okay provided you are near a post office or your hotel has a bureau de change.

Debit cards are okay but be careful your bank doesn't put a security stop on it. They did that to me and I had to call them. Not happy & very expensive call.

[noobish hat]

You don't want to be relying on ATMs like you would in the UK because in Japan they're a JOKE. They close. Yes, they have closing times. They're also shut on Japan's national holidays, which make up about 80% of the year. Japanese people take FOREVER at the cash machine - seriously, they use them to sort out their life insurance, mortgage, send emails, park their cars remotely, and to write novels. As you rightly say, you're also limited to Post Office and Citi Bank ATMs. Your bank will probably make extortionate charges for foreign withdrawals, too. Take cash, dude. CASH.

[Papercut]

Traveller's Cheques in ? changed for Yen at CitiBank used to give you the best exchange rate, or a credit card that doesn't charge 2.5% commission and some careful planning around post office locations and opening hours.

Both require a bit of effort - I ended up doing 50% cash, 50% traveller's cheques, with a credit card as backup.

[briareos_kerensky]

CASH.

I agree. Also banks in Osaka had better exchange rates than my bank in Italy this August...if I knew I wouldn't have exchanged money beforehand. Never had an experience with Japanese ATMs but shouldn't be a problem with Maestro. I think Visa and Mastercard credit cards will be fine as well but withdrawn fees on the two will be horrible.

[Jay]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm still a little nervous about carrying all my eggs in one basket, so I think I'm going to take half of my spending money in cash and plan to get to a post office atm while we're there. In Tokyo we're staying near shinjuku station and it looks as though there's a post office right near the station. Of course, the annoying part is I'll get charged 20-odd quid to withdraw 500 quid, but I think it's worth it just to avoid the risk of losing all my spending money in one go.

One more question. The hotels we're staying in say they accept cards. That's going to include foreign cards like my Lloyds visa debit card, right?

[QualityChimp]

Call your bank or credit card people and let them know you're going to Japan. That way, your card won't get blocked when suddenly ?500 gets withdrawn.

Whilst you're on the phone, ask if they charge for converting a currency as you might get your next bill and see you've been charged every time you've used it.

I took money, split it between hold and cabin luggage and didn't have a problem.

I understand your caution though.

Have a great trip and we want pictures!

[sj33]

Don't forget that 7-Eleven convenience stores also have international ATMs, and I think they might even be 24 hour.

[Jay]

Call your bank or credit card people and let them know you're going to Japan. That way, your card won't get blocked when suddenly ?500 gets withdrawn.

Whilst you're on the phone, ask if they charge for converting a currency as you might get your next bill and see you've been charged every time you've used it.

I've done both of these things already Card is marked for use abroad and I know the charges are going to be 2.99% of withdrawn money plus 1.5% charge for something or other. Using the debit card to purchase is about the same. I'll only be using my card three times - once to draw money out and twice to pay for hotels.

Pictures will definitely be making an appearance. Thanks

[Jay]

Don't forget that 7-Eleven convenience stores also have international ATMs, and I think they might even be 24 hour.

Thanks

[Jay]

Just been reading some guides to Tokyo and one of the pieces of advice given is to avoid Kabukicho and Rappongi as these are considered crime-ridden, fairly dangerous areas. Are we best avoiding these areas completely? We weren't planning on visiting either of these areas anyway (although Kabukicho is fairly near to our hotel :/) but I'd like to know in case we end up wandering into either of these while exploring.

Cheers.

[noobish hat]

They're not really dangerous. I would certainly avoid Roppongi though, because it's the most overpriced, ugly, foreigner-infested **** hole in the whole of Tokyo. There's no reason to visit Kabukicho unless you want to be wanked off by a soaped up whore.

[speedlolita]

Kabukicho sounds awesome!

Surprised about that ATM stuff, good information though.