Buying Yen and How Cold

[Nana007]

Okay, so I am going to Japan in exactly one week. And I am trying to figure out what to do about yen. Last time I bought it at an airport in the U.S but they charged me a fee. Then I was told to avoid the fee, order it from your bank, but my bank has some crappy exchange rates. I checked compared their rate to what XE has as the rate and it was lower than theirs.

So I am trying to figure out where the best place to buy yen is. I was told to buy before going to Japan, but then someone told me I could get a better rate if I buy in Japan.

Also I am going to be In the South (Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka) and I am trying to figure out how to pack. I am currently living in the DC metro area. Should I expect it to be colder or a bit warmer?

[JimmySeal]

Any place you try to exchange money will have a lower rate than the one on xe.com. It's simply a matter of how much lower.

Apparently the rates at Japanese airports are good. They don't charge a fee, but I've never actually compared their rates to other places.

[Nana007]

Yea but the difference is like 900 yen.

[tigermilk]

I've always gone with dollars or travelers checks in my pockets and exchanged at the airport in Japan. You get around 97% on cash and 98-99% for travelers checks. Hotels will exchange as well but usually you take a little hit. Still better than what you get at US airports.

[JimmySeal]

Yea but the difference is like 900 yen.
What does that mean?

[MONKEYHEAD]

got back from Tokyo yesterday, the weather is a bit chilly but layers will be fine. i wore t-shirt, sweatshirt, jeans and a windcheater most of the time and was fine.

if you go anywhere like the mountains it's freezing though

the shops, subway stations, trains etc are all heated (too hot for me, to be honest) and a thick winter coat was too much, when shopping in the city centre etc.

not sure how far south the places are you want to go in Japan are, but its a lot warmer than the winter I experienced in the US once (Virginia)

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

In Kyoto,An exchange of here seems to be good.
Kyoto Handicraft Center
http://www.khc-kyoto.jp/khcinformation-j/khc-information-e.htm#service-offerd

[Nana007]

Ah thanks everybody.

[ArmandV]

I usually do my currency exchanges at Narita airport. Doing so at U.S. airports is a rip-off. I noticed that if the exchange rate is posted at 117 yen per dollar, the rate at the airport in Narita would be somewhere around 112-113 yen. It's not the full rate, but at least you won't be gouged.