Job Discussion Forums

JRJohn · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 175

I teach in Korea. I am going to Osaka for my summer holiday on Friday, and will be there for some time. I would like to use my U.K. card, in Japan as I have just sent some money home. I will also carry cash.
But Japan (and Korea but not China) can be truly weird when it comes to ATMS and foreign cards.
When I lived in Japan, I found that I could use my Japanese card and my U.K. card at the post office. But the post office switched off the ATM's
for the whole weekend and public holidays. I was usually prepared for this, but it never made sense.
Does this still happen? Someone told me it doesn't. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on this subject.
I also want to use the post office to send postcards from Japan. Where is the main post office in Osaka? Does it open on weekends?

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

I've never had a problem using my UK debit card in any ATM in Japan. I've used it in various banks and convenience stores and it's always worked without a problem. I've also never seen a machine turned off at night or at the weekend, but I've only ever used a 7/11 ATM at night so I don't know if other places do.

Post offices are usually open on Saturdays. If you are worried about the opening hours just buy some stamps as soon as you get a chance and then you can post them anytime.

Rooster. · Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Posts: 247

Look at the back of your card and it might have a logo on it like "Plus", "pulse", "Diners Club International", etc. If the ATM also has that logo then it means it should work.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

Post office 7/11, Shinsei Bank and Citibank ATMs are your best bet if you need cash. Please note that these ATMs close on weekends and at nights so you might not be able to get money from them then...

7/11 ATMs have the best hours but you can only use the ATM with increments of 10,000 yen.

Solar Strength · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 557 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Post Office ATM machines close at 7:30pm on weekdays and 5:30pm on weekends. They're also closed on holidays.

Post Office ATM machines do not accept foreign issued ATM cards.

Japanese Banks do not accept foreign issued ATM cards.

7-11 ATM machines are usually open 24 hours, 7 days a week and will accept most foreign issued ATM cards.

Citi Bank is only available at major train station areas - Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukaro, Rappongi, Aoyama, Akasaka, Ginza in Tokyo and in Osaka, Shinsaibashi, Umeda and Osaka ekimae.

You should have no problems using the 7-11 and Citibank ATM machines. Forget about the Post Office and Japanese banks with foreign debit cards.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

The hours for the post office vary; in a big city the ATMs can be used until midnight on weekdays. In most places finding a post office is far easier than finding a 7/11.

One thing to note is that Shinsei and Citibank ATMs have a card reader at the door (that you use after-hours) - for some reason my overseas cards have never worked with those.

kah5217 · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

The ATM in my local 7/11 is available 24/7, I've used it at all hours of the day and night, weekends and weekdays. So if they do close them, it must only be in some stores.

However, I used it today and there was a sign up saying that from April 2013 they wouldn't take Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus cards anymore, which (for people from the UK at least) only really leaves Visa debit and Plus. A quick Google search suggests this is some sort of problem with EMV cards and a network upgrade is needed, so it may get sorted at some point.