Money and Purchasing in Japan

[Pararousia]

What's the best way for a tourist (moi) to buy things while visiting?
I've heard that Japan is much more a cash country than here in the U.S. Should I bring travelers' checks? Use a ATM? Credit card?

Gimme a clue!

 

[PopCulturePooka]

Cash for the win

 

[Pachipro]

...But credit cards are accepted just about anywhere in a pinch or for larger items. They are especially useful at the airport when leaving if you want to buy souviniers for the friends and family back home. You can feel safe carrying around a wad of cash in Japan as crime is relatively low and muggings are rare. Cash, credit card, travellers cheques, it's up to you. Personally, I've never had a problem with the latter two on the rare occasion I used them.

 

[hintgiver]

The only problem with credit is not every store is able to take it. That means you will be kinda' out of luck with little shops, gift stores, and other smaller things you find in Japan. Travelers checks work... but you need to usually go to a bank to cash them into yen. Also, remember not all ATM cards we can use in the US can be used in Japan. Very few are able to work like that.

I would say before you go get cash-yen in America so that you have it before you go and won't even need to worry about exchanging before you go over. Your bank can usually order you yen in a day or two. I get mine through HSBC.

When your in Japan use your credit card where you can and then use cash for everything else. If you notice your using your card more often move to the cash. However, I always found having cash is a larger help then credit.

 

[monkey0]

it's all about atm cards.

we used our ATM cards as our sole source of cash. brought a couple hundred dollars just in case we ended up in a place with no ATM access, but we never had any trouble finding an ATM to pull out cash. yeah, credit card access is spotty, but especially in more commercial hotels and restaurants it's fairly likely they'll take credit (I think three out of four places we stayed did, even in some of the dodgier ryokans).
the monkey is always watching

 

[Pararousia]

I solved my problem and ordered Yen through my own bank here, so I'll have it before I go. And I'll use my credit card when I can. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[hintgiver]

I solved my problem and ordered Yen through my own bank here, so I'll have it before I go. And I'll use my credit card when I can. Thanks everyone for your help.

Good luck! I hope you have a great time! When you get change (when you spend the cash) try to stock up on your 100yen coins. They come in handy when you want to use vending machines or take Purikura (which I recomend you try at least once with your friends, even if you don't like it, the experience will give you a good laugh).

All my best,
Ted

 

[ArmandV]

For me, it was cash 100%. Several in our tour group last summer would constantly run out of cash and seemed to be endlessly searching for a usable ATM machine.

Speaking of cash, when I exchanged my U.S. dollars for yen, one brand-new $100 bill kept getting rejected by the machine the exchange official used at Narita Airport. All the worn $100 bills worked just fine. I ended up exchanging that rejected bill at my hotel.

 

[mad pierrot]

I'm going to have to chime in on the cash. Cash, cash, cash! Japan is a cash-based society. Some great examples? Not a single store in my whole town takes credit, not even the grocery stores! Or take Arashiyama's gift shops for example. Of all the omiyage places, I found only 1 store that took credit, out of at least 20 others. Not to mention Japanese bank/atm schedules are horrible.

 

[ArmandV]

Yes, I saw very few businesses accepting credit cards. Cash all the way!

 

[Pararousia]

I GOT MY YEN DELIVERED TODAY!!!!!!! It's sooooooo beautiful!!!
*happy dance*
Two more days! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!
(Can you tell?) ;oP