Debit card practical

[chinablueyes18]

I am travelling as a foriegn exchange student for a month homestay. I will be staying in Uchinada, Ishikawa prefecture. Uchinada is a suburb of Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa. Is it good idea to bring debit card instead of Travellers' Cheques? What does everyone reccomend? :haihai: Thanks!

[Maciamo]

The only debit cards you may have a chance to use are Cirrus and Maestro. But even these can only be used at Citibank and some big Mitsui-Sumitomo. You have slightly higher chances with a credit card (Visa, Master...) as you can also pay in some shops, restaurants or hotels with them. But normally Japanese banks do not take foreign cards (even if they take Japanese Visa and Master cards !)

[antantrevolution]

Yes. When I was over there, I only used my Debit card because of the daily exchange rates. I would take out about 10,000 Yen which would last a while for me, then if I needed something at a store, bust out the Visa Check Card! Oh, if you do this, make sure all the money is in your checking account and not savings because you can't draw from savings there, at least I couldn't. Another thing, they will ask you if you want to split the payments up at most major stores. Just tell them no and that one payment will suffice.

Ant

[Zero-sen]

Is there anywhere i can get a list of ATM's that will accept my Maestro/Cirrus card In Osaka and Fukuoka? It was issued by a UK bank. I'm not keen on carrying large amounts of cash or travellers cheques on my next trip. Safe country or not i don't wanna tempt fate! :emblaugh:

[digicross]

Is there anywhere i can get a list of ATM's that will accept my Maestro/Cirrus card In Osaka and Fukuoka? It was issued by a UK bank. I'm not keen on carrying large amounts of cash or travellers cheques on my next trip. Safe country or not i don't wanna tempt fate! :emblaugh:

As I recall, the Post Office A.T.M.s accepted foreign Maestro and Cirrus cards.

http://homepage1.nifty.com/yuiis/card/atm/intl-en.html

http://www.fuk-ab.co.jp/english/service/bank.html


As for carrying large a mount of cash.

Make sure that you carry only the amount you need, and pay attention to any local A.T.M. that can accept your card.

[Ewok85]

I carried all my cash when I went for a month and 3months worth the second time. Get a bum bag or underbag for when you arrive with your passport, money, return tickets etc safe away. Then when you go out think how much you need and add a little more for emergencies (missing the last train, losing your ticket, seeing something you MUST GET NOW! :D).

Basically if your going overseas you should be level and responsible enough to carry some money about safely. I had no problem (and laughed at all my friends who couldnt use their credit cards, debit cards, and cards except at the Shinjuku Citibank).