Use of Credit Cards in Japan

[teddyursa]

Hi, All,

Do most places e.g. restaurants, train stations, bus stations, etc in Japan accept credit cards? I am hoping to minimize the amount of cash that I need to carry. Also are ATM machines common? I'll be visiting the Kansai and Shikoku area.

Thanks in advance.

[JimmySeal]

Hi, All,

Do most places e.g. restaurants, train stations, bus stations, etc in Japan accept credit cards? I am hoping to minimize the amount of cash that I need to carry. Also are ATM machines common? I'll be visiting the Kansai and Shikoku area.

Thanks in advance.

You should be alright in the major cities, but you will probably find that a large number of places in Shikoku (other than large department stores) will accept only cash. The risk of theft in Japan is fairly low and you would be quite safe carrying around a large amount of cash, as I imagine most people do.

I've heard that you can get money using a credit card at any Post Office ATM (Open Monday-Friday, 9-4), but I've never done it myself and hopefully someone else can shed some light on that.

[Mike Cash]

Some places will accept only cards issued in Japan. Some places will accept only cards issued by certain institutions in Japan. (In other words, not every place in Japan with a "VISA" logo displayed accepts all cards with "VISA" on them). Some places accept no cards at all. Some places you'll have no trouble.

ATM machines are very common now, with a large number of convenience stores having them (7-11 actually has its own chartered honest-to-goodness bank). Whether you'll be able to use all, some, or any of them them to withdraw money with your card is anybody's guess.

[undrentide]

As Jimmy Seal said, ATM at post offices is the best, it will accept credit cards issued outside of Japan. There are many ATM besides in the post offices but some of them do not accept foreign issued credit cards.

Also before departure, you should check with the company who issued your credit cards about the restriction of the amount you can draw a day. Some credit cards allow you to draw cash of only a certain amount within 24 hours, or within a day.

[hideway]

I did try several ATM machines before managing to get my VISA card accepted in one.

Try those 24h convenience stores like 7 elevens. I also managed to withdraw money from a ATM named "JP", not sure what that stands for but I seen several on Tokyo.

[ArmandV]

I've only used my credit card (VISA) once in Tokyo with no problem. The rest of the time I used cash.

[teddyursa]

Hi, All,

Thanks... looks like I need to enough cash around. I am backpacking for several months and would be carrying some USD. Are money changers readily available in Japan, particularly Kansai and Shikoku?

Thanks again!

[Glenski]

"money changers"? You mean, banks?

[JimmySeal]

I think she means Currency Exchanges. It appears you can do currency exchange at major post offices (again, M-F, 9-4). Here's a list
http://www.jp-network.japanpost.jp/storesearch/services/index02.php?para=1&service=10

Looks like there are 6 post offices in Tokushima prefecture that do it, including the central post office, which is in easy walking distance from Tokushima Station.

Converting USD-JPY shouldn't be a problem, but you might have trouble trying to switch back JPY-USD anywhere other than the airport.

[Mike Cash]

Try those 24h convenience stores like 7 elevens. I also managed to withdraw money from a ATM named "JP", not sure what that stands for but I seen several on Tokyo.
That's an abbreviation the Post Office has been using since it was privatized.