Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tombirner]

From a Gwangju bank ATM card, that is??

And anyone know a good place to stay in Kyoto?

[Donghae]

Getting cash from a Japanese ATM using a foreign bank's card is very difficult. Most Japanese ATM's will not take foreign cash cards, nor even foreign credit cards even though the machine might display the visa/master card symbol.

Your best bet would be the post office. All their ATM's across the whole of Japan take foreign cards as long as the card has the cirrus, maestro, visa or master card symbols. So if your card has one of those (probably cirrus I'd imagine) then you can get cash from a Japan Post ATM, IF Gwangju Bank let you use the card overseas. Which they might not.

[tombirner]

Thanks for responding. Though this sucks. I don't think my bank lets me withdraw overseas. So I have to bring like a million WON and exchange it at the airport, then walk around with all that cash on my person?? Can this be the only way??

[ciccone_youth]

when i went to japan last month, i exchanged my won at my local woori bank and took about 800$ worth of Yen into Japan. i did not have any problems... it was the best option i think. i had my credit card in case i'd run out, but i did not have to use it.

[visitorq]

Seriously your best bet is to try the ATMs at 7-Eleven; not any other convenience stores, just 7-Eleven. Not sure about your Korean card, but my American one only ever works there. None of the Japanese bank ATMs work, just the 7-Eleven ones (and also Citibank's works, but you have to actually go there, and the only one I know of is the one in Shinjuku in Tokyo).

Another poster mentioned the post office, that would be a good place to try as well (never tried it myself though).

Also, don't stress about carrying around lots of cash in Japan. I used to regularly carry around like $1000+ worth of yen at any given time (not that I spent it all in one place), and it was no problem. You'll sometimes see old ladies etc. shoving like thousands of dollars of yen into their purses, probably to last them the month, since Japan is pretty much an all cash society anyway. It's a practical way (since crime is very low).

[Donghae]

As was mentioned above, you should be able to get your money changed at your local bank. In fact, you'd get a much better rate there than you would at the airport. And, in my experience of Korean banks, they'll often give account holders at their bank a very slightly better exchange rate than the one they advertise.

It's true you don't have worry too much about getting mugged for your wallet full of cash in Japan. (Although, I expect most people are just as worried about losing the money as having it stolen.) If you have a credit card to turn to just in case, then that'd be good idea. BUT, just be aware that there are still many places in Japan where you'd assume you can use a credit card, but can't.

Also, if you have unspent yen left at the end of your trip and you want to change it back into won, wait till you get back to Korea. It's very hard to exchange either way with Won in Japan, and the very few places that do it will give you an extremely crap rate.

[tombirner]

Anyone know if I can plug American plugs into a Japanese power outlet? What about Korean plugs??

[reactionary]

2 prong american plugs, yes. 3 prongs (like most laptops), no, you'll need an adapter. the voltage in japan is the same though, i believe.

korean plugs also need an adapter, and a voltage converter ifit's a small appliance.

[Toon Army]

all post office ATM`s accept foreign cards......failing that I`ve had no problem withdrawing from the many City bank`s that are around