***** Question #1: Getting Money?

I'm going to be travelling to Japan for the first time this summer, and since I've travelled a small bit before (Germany, Canada) outside of the US, I'm trying to be as pragmatic as possible in terms of making my month-long stay as pleasant as possible. Besides, my Japanese sucks, so I'd just as happily find out about stuff before-I-go.

This question relates to money. I know that Japan is a largely cash-based society, and it's a fairly safe country; I felt pretty safe walking around Vancouver with a decent wad of bills in my pocket, and I don't think that an 81kg bodybuilder (yeah, I'm a midget by American standards) is going to be a big target for muggings. *grin* The question is, how to get the cash?

I know Japanese ATMs keep hours, and from what I can tell, won't allow access to American bank accounts -- is this true? I've been told that traveller's cheques are a bit of a rip-off as well; is this also true? What would be the best, recommended way of having access to my bank account while in Japan? I'd just as happily not waltz off the terminal at Narita with my entire planned vacation budget in my poker, and would rather just draw on funds as I need them, with about one or two man yen in my wallet as a good 'emergency backup' (e.g., capsule hotel, bowl of ramen, etc).

Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks-in-advance!

Hmm... I am not sure if you can access your accounts bank home while abroad (although that doesn't seem like it should be impossible...). You might be better off just taking what you need (or plan on needing) in advance for the sake of convenience. I think if you're planning on staying at (or visiting) mostly urban/metro areas you shouldn't have too much trouble accessing your funds (if it can be done).

Using a Japanese ATM for the first time can be a bit daunting though, especially since not all of them seem to be English-user friendly. You are right though about ATMs keeping hours but I think some of the UFJ terminals were 24/7 when I was still in Nagoya. Again, I am not sure if you can access from you account stateside though. Maybe someone else more in the know can shed some light on the matter. Take care and have a great time while abroad.

Oh yeah, traveller's cheques can be cashed in at most major department stores in addition to the usual outlets so again, if you're in mostly urban/metro areas that might not be a bad way to go either.

Post offices usually have a special ATM that will let you take money from international credit accounts.

FirstHousePooka said:

Post offices usually have a special ATM that will let you take money from international credit accounts.

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Postoffices or Cash Stores(?) any way they have places where you can buy stamps and also take money out of like International ATM's friend of mines had to do it while were in Japan. I walked around with several 10k yen bills and really never got a dirty look. Really depend son where you go in Japan I think. Also whether your drawning attention to yourself.

There are a few 'international' ATMs dotted about Tokyo. There's one in Isetan in Shinjuku, from memory.

Before I went to Japan, I checked these money issues straight from my own bank - They should know, so ask from them too.
I always used the post office ATMs, and found it to be quite easy!
The only annoying thing with using them was, that the ATM was speaking in a _really loud_ voice and drew too much attention..(u can choose japanese or english, for me it was english)...