Job Discussion Forums

Ben · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31

I was wondering if anybody knows about getting credit cards in japan? Ive been here for six months, and Im sick of using cash all the time, most of the time I dont have it, and the ATM is closed.... I still cant get used to ATMS having a HOLIDAY! and there is no eftpos...wow japan is really advanced....anyways, do you need a certain kind of visa, or citizen ship, or can someone on a workholiday get a credit card???

Sherri · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2003 7:05 am Post subject:

I got both Visa and Mastercard through my bank, Mitsubishi, without any problems. I had a regular specialist in humanities visa at the time.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Citibank Visa has English service.

I think the fee, on the silver card, is about 9,000 a year.

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

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

It takes a long time to get a credit card here, at least it did for me. My employer helped me and it still took 5 months. The problem is that after getting a card, many places don't want to take it, without a high surcharge. One example is a travel agency, they wanted to charge us 5% commission on our tickets this year (20,000 yen). I haven't found a credit card very useful here, to be honest, but it is handy if you want to travel overseas.

Ben · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31

thanks for the help everyone...you all gave me some insight on what to expect....and geez glenski, you sound pretty cut...you dont have to get so defensive... its just how I feel, frustrated. In Australia I dont pay my bills at 7-11, but the post office, and I can do it all with out visiting an atm first, it is really annoying haveing to find an atm, i can even pay them online without even seeing a bank... and having to carry around thousands of dollars... and dangerous. cashless is easier, I just guess australia and NZ were testing grounds for the tech....so im sorry I cant get used to the atm system here, it IS outdated. its just my opinion, and Im sure that many people agree and have the same kind of frustrations with banking and paying bills here... i didnt mean to offended you, meh.

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

I don't know about you, but I get my bills taken out of my bank account automatically. Very simple and I don't have to worry about late charges.

One thing I can't understand is why many ATMs close at night. Are they worried about theft with their low crime rate or do the machines get paid OT? Wink

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

It's better than it used to be. Only two years ago ATMs were a rarity in convenience stores. You had to go to the ATM at your bank during banking hours. I was in for a real shock during my first New Years here. I couldn't get any money for about 5 or 6 days.

Glenski's comments are correct with exceptions. I live in a rural area and some of my utility bills can only be paid at the post office, while others can only be paid at the bank. Since I work during these hours it is a pain in the ***.

Sherri · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2003 10:37 am Post subject:

The Mitsubishi ATM I use in Tokyo (Ikebukero) is open 24/7.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

"Can you have utility bills, credit card payments, and just about any other debit automatically removed from your bank account back home, or do you still pay by check?"

Yes you can! I was doing it for 5 years before I came to Japan. This was in the international financial capital of the planet, Canada, well known as "Switzerland North!

"Checks are not used in Japan. Sounds pretty advanced to me."

True enough but furukomi payments are often the only option to pay things like rent, and cost about 400 yen a pop. An advanced system that creates cost for me!

I'll take the less "advanced" cheques at 75 cents a pop anyday. At least you can drop them in the mail.

You can also use the bank machines in "Switzeland North" to pay your bills. Another 10 year old innovation.

I hadn't set foot in my bank for over two years when I left. Everything can be done online these days.

You've got to love that your employer, for most FT jobs, chooses what bank you have to use to reciever your sallary too. Not much incentive for banks to change or lose customers is there?

The last thing I'd be calling Japan's banking system, in the customer service department, is "advanced."

april · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 83 Location: Australia

I go with the argument that the banking system in Japan is less advanced or rather, more inconvenient than my home country.

I too hate carrying around cash. I used to work in a bank and know how disgusting my hands were at the end of the day - black! Cash is, literally, dirty. I wash my hands as soon as I can after touching it. Luckily for me, I rarely need to touch it anymore now that I am back home.

My bank in Australia only allows me to withdraw $1000 a day (both combined cash and EFTPOS purchases), and thank god. I would hate to think that someone could swip my card and empty my savings account in 2 minutes. Only twice in my life have I needed more than that amount at once, where I rang my bank and they authorised it over the phone, took less than 5 minutes. I now use my credit card for all large purchases.

I never go anywhere to pay any of my bills, I use B-Pay and now, internet banking. You can also have everything automaticcaly deducted from your account, but I prefer to do these things myself.

Cheques are very much outdated here in Australia too. Most shops don't accept them anymore. However, I feel safe in saying that 99.9% of shops have EFTPOS machines. My local (large) supermarket in Japan didn't have this convenience, but funnily enough, their cash register automatically dispensed out change to save the operator the hassle of counting.

The only time ATM's are regularly closed down here is when they are being refilled or for maintenance. It only takes ten minutes. As for the actual ATM, I say that Japan's are more advanced, however the ATM here basically does the same thing (gives me money) and also I can purchase pre-paid phone vouchers here. Japanese ones perform the same functions but in a flashier way. Except for printing out passbooks. My ATM can't do that. But aside from my grandfather, no-one has passbooks anymore.

It took 2 days to get my visa card approval in Australia. My parents got their approval (and given a number) immediately upon application. The card arrived 2 days later in the mail.

After saying all that, I do give kudos to Japanese banks for their lack of fees. In Australia you have got to know your stuff to be able to avoid paying fees. On the flip side, I feel secure that my bank won't need the government to bail it out of financial debt.

(Wow! Can't believe I am defending my bank! Everyone bashes banks here!)

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

BEn, you didn't mention which city you are in.

However, I s living in Osaka and I went to the Visa card center in Namba Walk. With the help of the English book and someone who spoke ok English, I filled out an application form, gave her a copy of my gaijin card and bank book front page, gave her the number of my office and other needed information.

The next day, at 6pm, I walked back into the Visa office and picked up my cards.

This was after having been in Japan for almost a year tho. Other people were able to do this after 6 months.

Yes, some businessses want to charge you up to 5% if you use a credit card. Others offer you better deals if you pay cash. I never had trouble at my travel agent, but I know some smaller shops would prefer cash.

Good luck.

ScottishMike · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 45

Small town ATMs are a pain. I get charged if I use a machine from a different bank Evil or Very Mad

OR, if I use one after, like, 3pm Evil or Very Mad

There`s only one branch of my bank in town, and conveniently, its nowhere near anything??? Question

I can actually pay bills in Scotland from Japan easier, more quickly and more cheaply than I can pay Japanese ones. Rolling Eyes

And I had to PAY to get a card I could use internationally. Sorry Glenski, advanced it`s not.

However, I have a Shocked

theory about the short hours and holidays... Laughing

See Japanese ATMs talk to you, and from what people tell me, they`ve done this for some time. And, Japanese ATMs are quite bulky stand-alone machines, not hole-in the wall types.

I`ve decided that Japan`s machines don`t actually talk, and in fact there`s a wee bank worker INSIDE the machine. And that`s why they close at night, so she (has to be a woman in Japan), can go home... Wink

nomadder · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:23 pm Post subject:

Do you mean you paid to get a bank card that could access bank machines in other countries? How much? I know mine couldn't and what a real hassle when travelling. Also do you find quite a few bank machines in Japan don't speak English?

ScottishMike · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 45

Yeah it was 1000 yen and a months wait to change my card to an international one.

Now it says international at the top.

I have a UFJ account.

On the plus side, if you can`t read their machines (and yeah, they never actually speak English) they have a factsheet that runs you through things in English..