Cash / Money, Tokyo

16 Reviews

  for shopping
by machomikemd
 
  • for shopping
      for shopping
    by machomikemd
  • atm machine in convenience stores accept int cards
      atm machine in convenience stores accept...
    by machomikemd
  • hard to find atm that accept internatioal cards
      hard to find atm that accept...
    by machomikemd
  • only cash allowed at vending machine
      only cash allowed at vending machine
    by machomikemd
  • have extra wads of cash
      have extra wads of cash
    by machomikemd
  •   Cash / Money
    by yukisanto
  • How much for a hair-cut?
      How much for a hair-cut?
    by Wild_Orchid
  • Yen
      Yen
    by Jim_Eliason
 
  • Know where international atms are

    by tem13 Written Apr 21, 2005 1 reviews

    At a very few cashpoints you can withdraw money with an internaitonal credit card. Even when the Visa sign is there, it is mostly for japanase visas. You need to know in advance where, in every city of Japan, you can find an interational atm. If in trouble, get to the Visa office, they can give cash.

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    Don't Rely on ATMs for Cash

    by Rodan44 Written Dec 8, 2004 324 reviews

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    As the capital of one of the most developed countries in the world, you might assume that finding an ATM in Tokyo that accepts international cards would be no problem. Even in much less developed Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and even Vietnam it is not difficult to find ATMs on the Plus or Cirrus system in major cities. But incomprehensibly, the vast majority of ATMs in Tokyo accept only local cards.

    Unfortunately, I found this out the hard way late one evening in Shibuya after I blew the last of my Yen on some Yakitori and needed cash to buy a subway ticket back to my hotel in Shinjuku. Living in Singapore, where there is an ATM on every corner and they all accept international cards, I was utterly dumbfounded to find that not a single ATM in Shibuya would accept my American card!

    In the end, my wife and I were forced to make the painfully long walk back to Shinjuku, where I finally found a Citibank with a 24-hour ATM that would give me a cash advance on my Citibank Mastercard. If not for that we would have been totally screwed!

    Japan may be the technology hub of the world, but they are evidently still in the stone-age of banking.

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    Get a Haircut or Colour your Hair in Ginza

    by Wild_Orchid Written Sep 8, 2004 594 reviews

    4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

    How much for a hair-cut?

    Not sure if tip belongs here as a Warning or Danger, because as a smart traveller, you'd already know how expensive Tokyo is. I actually took a photo of this salon La Piece in Ginza to remind myself of how much everything costs and also to make a comparison with Kuala Lumpur prices.
    Cut including shampoo & blow Y6,300
    Perm & Cut Y12,600
    Colour Y6,300
    Shampoo & Blow Y2,620

    Actually, the prices were only 2-4 times higher than in KL, which is not too bad considering everything.

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  • o00o's Profile Photo

    Currency

    by o00o Written Aug 22, 2004 3730 reviews

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    Money changer kiosk in Tokyo is NONE, basically you have to go to the back between 08:30-15:00, or you can withdraw with your cash card from any back with a high service charge. If possible try to solve the money problem before your arrival in Japan or at least before stepping out of Tokyo International Airport to Tokyo.

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  • zizquark's Profile Photo

    The most important thing is...

    by zizquark Updated Aug 25, 2002 182 reviews

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    The most important thing is make sure you have plenty of yen when out for the day. Places to exchange money are extremely difficult to find.Most ATM's will not accept bank cards unless issued by a japaneese bank. Small businesses are resistant to accepting dollars in an emergency and although you may think you have enough yen it can go quickly when there are so many things you may want to try. Large Hotels can help in exchanging ,but if it is not your own be prepared for possible refusal.

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    If you're from the United...

    by sjvessey Written Aug 25, 2002 508 reviews

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    If you're from the United States or Western Europe, find out where the nearest Citibank or Post Office is as soon as possible. Beware - there aren't that many Citibanks, although Post Offices are fortunately common. The three Citibanks I know of are in Shinjuku, Shinjuku-sanchohme and Roppongi. The one in Roppongi is easiest to find - it's right on Roppongi Crossing by Almond (don't ask, you'll know when you see it), although rather unusually it's inside a building on the second floor, so you have to take an elevator up from the street.

    Why do you need to find a Citibank (or Post Office)? Because, in contradiction of what I've read elsewhere on VT, Citibank ATMs or Post Office Savings ATMs are the only ones you'll be able to draw money out of with VISA cards. Oh sure, most of the Japanese banks' machines have VISA symbols on them, but try to use them and your card will be spat back out at you and you'll be informed (probably in Japanese) that 'your card is difficult to read'.

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Comments (1)

  • May 16, 2013 at 11:46 AM

    I have found that the ATM's at Post Offices consistently work for withdrawing USD. Watch out for the exchange rates though as many of the high number Yen may exceed the daily withdrawn amount

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