Page 167 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  165

Credit and Debit Cards
open 24 hours. The operating American Express, and VISA
hours of post office ATMs vary: International credit cards, such checks are the most widely
those at major post offices are as American Express, VISA, recognized.
typically open 7am–11pm MasterCard, and Diners Club, If your credit or debit card
Monday to Friday, with shorter are generally accepted by gets stolen or lost, contact
hours at week ends; those at leading banks, hotels, and your bank to cancel the card.
minor post offices are usually stores in larger cities in Japan.
open 9am–4pm during the They can be used to buy train Currency
week and closed at weekends. tickets at major JR stations, and
The ATMs at the main post they are also accepted by some The Japanese currency is the yen
offices – Tokyo Central Post taxis. Note that there may be a (¥). Coins come in denominations
Office, Shibuya Post Office, and charge to use a credit card. of ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, and
Shinjuku (see p167) – are open Obtaining cash with credit ¥500. Bank notes are printed in
around-the-clock (except 8pm– or debit cards is not always denominations of ¥1,000, ¥2,000
midnight on Sundays and possible – even if a machine (very rare), ¥5,000, and ¥10,000.
public holidays). Some Citibank displays the sticker for your Japanese bank notes (but not
ATMs are open 24 hours, card, it may have a problem coins) can be reconverted to
though Citibank branches are reading it (see also ATMs). foreign currency at the point of
not so numerous in the Tokyo Traveler’s checks are usually departure; the amount is limited
area. Visit the Citibank website accepted only in major city only by the funds carried by the
for a list of locations. banks and large hotels. Travelex, airport exchange center.

Bank Notes
Each of the bank note denominations
carries a portrait of a historical figure,
such as the novelist Ichiyo Higuchi on
the ¥5,000 note.

¥10,000 note

¥5,000 note

¥2,000 note

Coins ¥1,000 note
The denominations of Japan’s coins are all marked
in Arabic numerals, except for the ¥5. On the reverse
side of most of the coins is a design of a flower or
¥500 coin plant design; on the ¥10 it is a temple.

¥100 coin ¥50 coin ¥10 coin ¥5 coin ¥1 coin

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