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Let’s be trustworthy: The subject of tips on how to withdraw money in Japan just isn’t a horny one. Once I created this website a few years in the past, I by no means thought I might wish to write an article about it!
Alternatively, many substances of the sexiest Japan journeys are the least horny (and definitely, probably the most sterile). The fact is that and not using a pocket stuffed with yen on this surprisingly cash-centric nation, you merely gained’t get very far.
TIP: Have a PASMO card and an iPhone? You may set them as much as work collectively, all however eliminating your want for money when touring in Japan!
The dangerous information, traditionally, was that foreigners had restricted choices for withdrawing money in Japan. The excellent news? That’s altering, though you continue to can’t insert your card into any outdated ATM machine.
My Crash Course in Japanese ATM Madness
Image it: JR Tottori Station, mid-April 2014. I do know nothing about ATMs in Japan—it’s my first journey to the nation, in spite of everything—and I plunge my international card right into a strange-looking machine whose menu is totally in Japanese. I knew nearly instantly that I wouldn’t be getting any money out; it was nothing in need of a miracle that I used to be in a position to get my card again, given my utter ignorance of the Japanese language on the time.
It was solely upon Googling what had simply befallen me minutes later that I spotted how elementary my mistake had been: Most Japanese ATMs don’t settle for international playing cards. This was very true again in 2014, when international tourism had solely simply begun the dramatic rise that reached its pre-pandemic crescendo in 2019. Fortunately, the variety of Japanese ATMs accepting worldwide playing cards has vastly elevated since then.
Japanese ATMs That Settle for Overseas Playing cards
7-11
Particularly, solely two sorts of ATMs reliably accepted international playing cards within the mid-2010s. The primary had been ones inside 7/11 shops, that are fortunately all over the place in Japan. Lately, you may really discover standalone 7/11 ATMs (which generally say “7&i Holdings” as a substitute of “7/11,” which is nice contemplating I’m at all times tempted to interrupt my first ¥10,000 invoice after I get money inside a kombini.
Japan Put up
The second place the place foreigners had been assured to have the ability to use ATMs in Japan was the Japan Put up. Though these shops aren’t fairly as widespread as 7/11 in Japan, there’s not less than one in each metropolis, even small cities on random islands far offshore. With this being mentioned, I haven’t gotten money from a Japan Put up ATM in all probability since my first journey.
Lawson
Throughout my first of two 2017 journeys to the Kansai area, I ended in a Lawson retailer not removed from Kyoto’s Ginkaku-ji temple, and was shocked to see an indication above the ATM inviting foreigners to make use of their playing cards in it. Since then, I’ve gotten money at ATMs in a number of Lawson areas, though I’ve come throughout sure ATMs that don’t settle for international playing cards.
FamilyMart
One other comparatively surefire place foreigners can use ATMs in Japan today is FamilyMart, though the prospect of those machines not working is larger than in Lawson (and, definitely, 7/11). As a normal rule, FamilyMart tends to not be my favourite Japanese comfort retailer, so I’ve by no means really tried to withdraw yen in a single!
AEON
I first encountered the Japanese banking model AEON in Thailand in 2012, when a random machine of theirs at Bangkok’s MBK Heart Mall was the one one within the metropolis to not cost the exorbitant transaction charge of 150 baht, which has since risen to 220. I’ve by no means used an AOEN ATM in Japan, though they’ve apparently accepted international playing cards for across the previous yr or so.
Automated Overseas Alternate Machines in Japan
Having money is crucial when touring in Japan, however you don’t essentially must get it at an ATM. Nor do that you must fill out tons of paperwork on the “official” airport alternate counter, as I’ve made the error of doing on one too many events. Lately, automated foreign money alternate machines are popping up throughout Japan at a fast fee, not solely in airports and transport hubs, but additionally even in sure motels and vacationer sights.
In some methods these are extra foolproof than ATMs in Japan for foreigners, because the solely purpose for denial can be broken or counterfeit international foreign money, or a scarcity of Japanese foreign money out there to dispense. Moreover, these machines have a tendency to not cost charges and supply up-to-the-minute market alternate charges, which signifies that they find yourself constituting the most effective bang on your buck, which will probably be particularly essential if the yen ever strengthens once more.
Different FAQ About ATMs in Japan
Which ATMs in Japan settle for international playing cards?
Foreigners can reliably withdraw money from ATMs inside 7/11 and Japan Put up shops; these machines at all times settle for international playing cards. More and more, different ATMs settle for international playing cards, particularly these in different comfort shops, resembling Lawson and FamilyMart. Do US ATM playing cards work in Japan? These ones do.
How a lot does it price to withdraw cash in Japan?
ATM charges in Japan are comparatively low, given the comparatively excessive price of touring within the nation. The bottom charge is ¥108 (round 1 USD), although sure ATMs cost multiples of this, mostly ¥216 or ¥432, and often as a result of extraordinarily giant quantities being withdrawn.
Ought to I carry money in Japan?
You completely want to hold money in Japan! Whereas many motels and a few eating places settle for bank cards, it’s not unusual to should pay money for payments as excessive as ¥10,000 or much more. Normally, I like to recommend withdrawing at least ¥50,000 every time you go to the ATM, and re-upping when you’ve lower than ¥20,000 in your particular person.
The Backside Line
Need to know tips on how to withdraw money in Japan? The subject is far much less complicated and contentious immediately than it was after I first visited the nation, however it’s best to nonetheless pay attention to sure limitations and constraints. Past the difficulty of ATMs themselves, it’s important to comprehend the extent to which Japan remains to be a cash-centric nation, which belies its status as someplace futuristic and even ahead considering. For extra details about the subject of cash in Japan, make sure you learn the article the place I deal with the query “is Japan costly?” (and reply it in nice element) ; depart no stone unturned in your subsequent journey if you rent me to plan it!
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