Job Discussion Forums

Sabine · Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 10

Hi,

Just a quick question. Very Happy

I am going to Iberagi in April to teach English.
What is the best option?
Is it better to bring cash or travellers cheques or both?

Thanks.
Sabine.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Travellers cheques, you get a much better rate when you change them.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Traveler's cheques in yen are even better.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Sorry to contradict but... I wouldn't touch a traveller's cheque with a 10-foot (er.. 3-meter) pole.

It really depends on HOW/WHEN/WHERE you intend on using them...

The few extra dollars you may save on a better exchange rate won't help you one bit if you can't use the stinkin' things anywhere. The only thing traveller's cheques are good for is to take to a bank to get cash and so you don't get robbed on the way there. Which is fine.....

I have yet to see a single business outside of an international hotel or "duty-free" electronics store in Akihabara accept traveller's cheques.

Personally, I'd bring cash... If you're afraid of losing it and getting robbed, leave the cash in your bank account and withdraw it from the ATM when you get here... Postal Savings machines and Citibank machines accept most North American ATM cards.

Albright · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 39

The information I'm receiving from ECC is suggesting that I bring as much as possible in cash, and that travelers' checks are only logical if I'm bringing more than 300,000 yen or so (that's not gonna happen). The reasons are as stated above; unlike the US, nobody takes them. This seems to be quite a blow to my mother, who works in a travel agency and takes AmEx travelers' checks pretty much any time she drives more than a hundred miles from home; she's convinced herself that I'm going to get robbed at the airport or something.

So now I've gotta find a bank somewhere in my rural NoCal home that'll cash me out some yen...

Celeste · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 6:23 am Post subject:

I would take cash. Travellers cheques are not convenient in Japan, and you will be safe with cash here. (Japanese people tend to walk around with considerably more cash on hand than your average N. American. ) Credit cards are becoming more useable here, but I have yet to see any form of personal cheque, and I have never seen a store that accepts travellers' cheques.

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

i brought travellers checks with me, took em to the bank and they changed $1000 US into yen all at once, so as long as you find one place that does it, I dont think it will be that bad.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I brought traveller's cheques with me when I first came to Japan. It took 2 hours and 5 banks to find one that woulf change them. The easiest things is to use an ATM at a post office, as long as you have a Cirrus or Plus symbol on your card, you'll be OK.

wintersweet · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:52 pm Post subject:

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

To expound on what Gordon said:

Japanese Postal Savings ATMS will work with most of the following symbols: *Notice I said MOST -- not all... Need to cover my butt here... Smile

According to Yu-cho's own website, Postal savings ATMS should work with these symbols...

(VISA Group)
Plus

Visa Electron

VISA

(Mastercard Group)
Cirrus (owned by Mastercard)

Maestro

Mastercard

(Others)
American Expres

Diners' Club

JCB

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Thanks Jim, you're very helpful.

Celeste · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

When I came to Japan, I bought YEN in Canada, and came with about 130,000 YEN......I put most of it into a money belt and wore it.

Now, I walk around with 50,000 or 60,000 Yen in my wallet quite a bit. Ive never been robbed. I don't flash it either though.

I suggest that you come with Yen and forget trying to exchange Dollars/travellers cheques here.

I had a friend who came to Japan and was going into his bank to withdraw some money........this woman teller sees him and runs at him screemiing 'nooooooo'.......pushing him out the door. Finally, she said "no EXCHANGE!". My friend pulled out his bank card and said to her in Japanese, 'Isnt this a bank card for this bank? Or should I take my business across the street to the Mizuho!?" Some banks here don't like to exchange foreign currency it seems.

Speaking of bringing a large amount of money. I have a British friend who is a long term resident of Japan, and is married to a Japanese woman and has kids. He told me that many criminals know that foreigners have banking problems and sometimes keep large sums of money in their apartment, and target them for break ins. If you do bring it in cash.....dont leave it in your apartment!

Albright · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 39

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Bump!

(x-ref to thread http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=295255#295255 )