Job Discussion Forums

Rob1209 · Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Posts: 36

I'll be heading to Japan in 2 weeks to begin a 1 year contract teaching English. I'm very excited.
What would be really useful to me and presumably other newbies would be a list of places you can use western credit cards (specifically Mastercard and Visa) throughout Japan. I guess I'm talking about nationwide chain stores and services mostly. I'll also be in quite a rural area, albeit with easy access to 2 very large cities. So store names and distribution would be great.

eg. 7-11, nationwide (This may not be one, though).

Please understand that I'm fully aware Japan is largely a cash-carrying society, and western credit cards are not widely accepted. I don't intend to rely on credit cards, I have more than enough cold, hard cash to see me through the first few months until the paychecks start rolling in. However, there are financial advantages to using certain credit cards instead of cash that I'd like to take advantage of wherever possible.

And yes, I do realise that the previous sentence made me sound like the dullest human being that ever existed. I can assure you I'm not, although I may be in the top 3.

Anyway, current residents of Japan, what info have you got?

Thanks in advance.

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

Some Pasmo/Suica machines let you top up by card, and then you can use the Pasmo/Suica card in a lot of stores. But in general I've found that the foreign currency fees and vastly reduced exchange rates of credit card companies more than offsets any financial benefit of using a card.

Also, American Express seems quite big here. E.g. Costco in Tokyo only accepts American Express credit cards.

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

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I think you'll find that you use your credit card(s) for internet shopping and that's about it.

mc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Aichi, Japan

timothypfox · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492

I believe you can use visa and mastercard through a post-office atm (which is only open at certain times - in my town generally 9-5:30 on weekdays and 9-12:30 on weekends and holidays). Credits cards are usually kind of emergency things in Japan. When you desperately need that extra cash use the post-office ATM to get your cash withdrawn from your country. I never use credit or debit to pay anything - get it in cash and your life will be much easier.

***Before you leave meet or call a bank rep to let them know you will be overseas, and that you will be using your debit, and credit cards from ATMs in Japan. That way you can avoid irritating security blocks on your account and avoid long-call center calls to your bank (they don't care if you are overseas and will make you wait 20 minutes on the phone just like at home)...

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

refikagurz · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Earth

Yes, it's advisable to call your credit card bank/company and tell them you'll be overseas and using your card. I've had my credit card companies call my permanent home phone number in the US (my sister's house) trying to verify possible unauthorized usage. Each time I had to call to sort it out. Now they seem to get it, however. Other than those incidences, I've not had problems with my American credit cards being accepted anywhere here.. Also, as was mentioned, remember the exchange rate now as you'll be buying whatever in yen, which is changed to dollars stateside.. Not good going that way! And often credit card companies charge an "international transaction" fee! Might want to check that out...