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Pilot82
Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 150
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 Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 9:21 am Post subject: Currency exchange |
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| I was wondering if it's cheaper to use the Currency Exchange booths at the airport, or an International atm machine for money? I know the Currency exchange have price rates, and usually banks charge to withdraw from atm's...so I wonder which one is cheaper? |
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Pilot82
Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 150
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow....30 views and NO ONE knows which is better....thats crazy lol |
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rtm
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
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| Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Pilot82 wrote: |
| Wow....30 views and NO ONE knows which is better....thats crazy lol |
Most ATMs in Japan won't accept foreign cards. In fact, most ATMs won't even accept cards from other Japanese banks. If you are talking about getting some cash for use during your layover that you posted about recently, you're better off exchanging money at the airport. You could try to exchange money (cash) at a bank, and might get a better exchange rate there, but it's probably not worth the hassle. Your other choice would be to get a cash advance using a credit card, which you can do from some machines on the street (not ATM machines), but you'd start accruing interest immediately. |
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OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 12:10 am Post subject: |
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A 7-11 cash machine should give you money, and it's probably cheaper than exchanging, but don't take my word for it.
As for changing money at an airport place, in my experience it's cheaper to do it in the baggage collection area (only accessible to those that have just taken a flight) than it is in the public area of the airport. Again, I could be wrong... |
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Pilot82
Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 150
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the advice rtm and joel. Always great to have. Yeah this is for my layyover I mentioned about earlier...Only 4 days away from now. So I'll be sure to try the baggage area off my flight and hopefully it turns out that way...but if not...I'll check the 7 11 atms. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 3:56 am Post subject: |
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The banks at the airport give decent rates.
Whether you can get a better rate at a bank in Tokyo, like in Shinjuku, I don't know. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 6:48 am Post subject: |
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During business hours, you may be able to use the Post Office ATMs.
But be prepared. Unless it's improved recently, the user interface is extremely confusing. I forget the details, but the problem was something like: pressing the button you need won't work until you've pressed some other non-obvious button first. You get no indication of the problem: it just prints a "transaction declined - please contact your bank" slip.
So make sure you check up on how to use the ATMs before you go. |
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kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
Posts: 270
Location: Ibaraki
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| rtm wrote: |
| Most ATMs in Japan won't accept foreign cards. |
I disagree. Almost all of the combinis and post office ATMs in my area take them, and I'm in natto central. He's bound to run into a 7-11 on his trip, heck there's one right at the Narita Toyoko Inn. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| kah5217 wrote: |
| I disagree. Almost all of the combinis and post office ATMs in my area take them, and I'm in natto central. He's bound to run into a 7-11 on his trip, heck there's one right at the Narita Toyoko Inn. |
No. You are wrong. Even the largest bank in Japan, UFJ Tokyo Mitsubishi, does not accept foreign cash or credit cards. Neither do Sumitomo or Mizuho. I've tried and have used several different cards from American banks with negative results.
Convenience stores do not accept foreign cash cards, either, with the exception of 7-11. |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Solar Strength wrote: |
| kah5217 wrote: |
| I disagree. Almost all of the combinis and post office ATMs in my area take them, and I'm in natto central. He's bound to run into a 7-11 on his trip, heck there's one right at the Narita Toyoko Inn. |
No. You are wrong. Even the largest bank in Japan, UFJ Tokyo Mitsubishi, does not accept foreign cash or credit cards. Neither do Sumitomo or Mizuho. I've tried and have used several different cards from American banks with negative results.
Convenience stores do not accept foreign cash cards, either, with the exception of 7-11. |
I've never had a problem with my UK cash card, it's been accepted everywhere I've used it, banks and convenience stores. |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 8:00 am Post subject: |
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Your both right, and you're both wrong. It depends on a variety of factors.
But if you're in an area with lots of 7-11s (which is most, but by no means all of Japan) then they're your best bet. |
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kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
Posts: 270
Location: Ibaraki
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| Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| Solar Strength wrote: |
No. You are wrong. Even the largest bank in Japan, UFJ Tokyo Mitsubishi, does not accept foreign cash or credit cards. Neither do Sumitomo or Mizuho. I've tried and have used several different cards from American banks with negative results.
Convenience stores do not accept foreign cash cards, either, with the exception of 7-11. |
Okay, sure. But all the postal ATMs I've encountered take my American Visa debit issued from a local bank, and there's a usually a post office within commuting distance. I've even used my card in physical shops that take credit cards. Maybe your problem isn't on the Japanese side, but rather the American side. |
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