Page 374 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

372  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Local Currency may speak English, and forms
are often supplied in English – if
Visitors used to easy and instant access to cash 24 hours a day not, staff will indicate where to
in their home country, may find Japan’s banking system a write. Transactions are relatively
little antiquated. Japan is largely a cash economy and so it is simple, but usually time-
important to always carry some cash. However, credit cards consuming. Always carry your
passport for identification.
are accepted at a growing number of shops, convenience At international airports,
stores, restaurants, hotels, and JR stations. Payments can be currency-exchange counters
made using debit cards at select places, but cash withdrawals may be open for longer than
using foreign debit cards are only possible at a limited regular banking hours; at Narita
number of ATMs. International Airport, the
counter is open from 6:30am
to 11pm. However, the rates at
Banks and Bureaux airports are not very competi-
de Change
tive, and travelers would be
The nation’s central bank, the better advised to change their
Bank of Japan (Nippon Ginko), money elsewhere. It is illegal for
issues the yen currency. public transport, stores, and
However, this and the prefec- restaurants to accept payment
tural, and local city banks are not in foreign currencies, so some
geared to tourists. Buying yen, Japanese yen will be required
exchanging travelers’ checks, and People lining up at an ATM to on arrival to cover immediate
any other regular banking trans- withdraw money needs. It is always wise to obtain
actions may be more easily cash before traveling anywhere
conducted via major Japanese currencies. Some city banks offer outside the major cities.
banks that are authorized money exchange facilities from 9am.
exchangers. Sumitomo Mitsui It is also possible to change ATMs
and Mizuho Bank are two banks cash and travelers’ checks at
that offer these services. Some major hotels (which generally Although automatic teller
foreign banks, notably Citibank, offer the same exchange rates machines are commonly
also offer useful services and as banks), some ryokan (inns), available in large urban areas
have English-speaking staff. all central post offices, and a throughout Japan, many do not
Note that local banks in rural number of city department accept foreign credit or debit
areas may charge large fees. stores, although staff may not cards. However, most Japanese
Even leading city banks may be familiar with the procedure post offices and 7-Eleven
be unfamiliar with foreign at these locations. convenience stores (around
currency apart from dollars, so Bureaux de 13,000 in Japan)
be prepared for bank tellers to change can often have ATMs that
check with their superiors. be found in the will accept VISA,
Banks are typically open vicinity of major Plus, MasterCard,
9am–3pm on weekdays and stations. Banks and Maestro, Cirrus,
remain closed on weekends and post offices may American Express,
national holidays. They post the also offer money- and JCB cards,
exchange rate for US dollars at transfer facilities. In Sign for an automatic teller through an English
about 10am, and later for other city centers, staff machine (ATM) menu. ATMs in
DIRECTORY
Banks Mizuho Bank Credit and Debit MasterCard
1-1-5 Uchisaiwaicho, Cards Tel (00531) 11-3886
Citibank Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. (free international
1F Ote Center Building, Tel (03) 3596-1111. American Express assistance number)
1-1-3 Otemachi, Tokyo. Tel (0120) 020-120 (toll- for lost cards.
Tel (03) 3215-0051. Sumitomo Mitsui free; English explanation
1-4F Citibank Shinjuku Bank follows the Japanese) for ∑ mastercard.com
Building, 3-19-4 Shinjuku, 1F Yurakucho Marion, lost cards. JCB
Tokyo. Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, ∑ americanexpress. ∑ jcbusa.com
Tel (03) 3226-4395. Tokyo. com
1F & 2F Midosuji Tel (03) 3211-0711. VISA
Diamond Building, 2-1-2 4-6-5 Kitahama, Diners Club Tel 00531-44-0022
Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka. Chuo-ku, Osaka. Tel (0120) 074-024 (toll- (24-hour).
Tel (06) 6213-2731. Tel (06) 6227-2111. free nationwide) for lost ∑ visa.com
∑ citibank.co.jp/en/ ∑ smbc.co.jp/global cards. ∑ dinersclub.com ∑ visaatm.infonow.net

372-373_EW_Japan.indd 372 08/08/16 3:10 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical (currency spread) template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.4)
Date 31st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm