Leaving for Japan tomorrow -- some questions

[Panhandle Martinez]

Tomorrow (monday 8/23) I'm leaving for Nara, Japan. I wonder if anyone with experience can give me some quick information. My status will be as a visa-holder for multiple one-year stays over five years, so please consider the following questions in the context of a fairly long involvement in Japan.

1. Where is the best place to get money? I need to buy some yen, so to speak, and I wonder how to get the best exchange rate. After that, can I use my USA credit card/s to continue making purchases? I have two Visa cards.

2. My spoken Japanese is pretty good in terms of Japanese classes in the US and anime I watch. But I've never been to Japan before, is it possible in the first few days for me to successfully rely on English insofar as I find I must to understand and be understood? For instance when I am asking directions or for other help.

Edit: 2.5. Can I drink the water there? Like out of the tap?

3. Anyone near Nara want to meet me? I'll take you out to dinner on me, if you show me a good place to go.

[Azrael]

1. Might as well do it at the airport.

2. Why not use your Japanese? It's go farther than English I'm sure.

3. I actually live next to Nara. But I don't have much time this week. And I don't know any good places in Nara, as I always go to Kyoto.

[PopCulturePooka]

2. My spoken Japanese is pretty good in terms of Japanese classes in the US and anime I watch. But I've never been to Japan before, is it possible in the first few days for me to successfully rely on English insofar as I find I must to understand and be understood? For instance when I am asking directions or for other help.I lived two years there speaking quite minimal Japanese. I quit bothering to try when people insisted on speaking english to me no matter how bad their english was.

Many western foreigners there (the majority?) get by for years with Japanese at a survival level at best

Edit: 2.5. Can I drink the water there? Like out of the tap?
Yeah, but bottled water is EXCEPTIONALLY cheap for a few liters.

[Henjin]

1. Might as well do it at the airport.

Is that really the best place? I wasn't sure if I should do that or try to exchange it at a Japanese bank around here... I'm glad he asked because I was wondering the same thing.

And about the rest of his question, how far can you get w/ credit card/traveler's checks? I'm not sure how much cash I should carry around.

[PopCulturePooka]

And about the rest of his question, how far can you get w/ credit card/traveler's checks? I'm not sure how much cash I should carry around.
Barely outside the airport.

Credit Cards are severly underused in Japan. Its very hard to find a place that uses them and I suggest not relying on the,

Carrying cash is safe.

[Monkey]

1) When I was in Japan i found the best place to get money was an ATM.... :p

It is a very cash oriented society I found. Don't rely on cards or cheques anywhere.

You only tend to find ATM's in the Post Office though, they are fairly common fortunately just look for a sign with a big red T on it with an extra bar across the top.

2) Might as well speak Japanese

2.5) The tap water is probably as good as any first world country, it's only thrid world countries you really have to worry. Maybe be a bit more careful if you go to a very rural area but that's about it. The bottled water is very cheap though. I recommend Pocari Sweat, not because it's amazingly good, just because it is a horrible name for a water drink.

[Mushu]

1. Where is the best place to get money? I need to buy some yen, so to speak, and I wonder how to get the best exchange rate. After that, can I use my USA credit card/s to continue making purchases? I have two Visa cards.
I’ vent been in Japan, but ill in April, but I’ve travel some and found out its best to exchange you your cash in the currency you want in your country before leaving for destination imo anyways.


Edit: btw you dont leave in kyoto Az?

[Azrael]

Edit: btw you dont leave in kyoto Az?
Southern Kyoto Prefecture. And just barely at that. I could throw a rock into Nara.

[Henjin]

Barely outside the airport.

Credit Cards are severly underused in Japan. Its very hard to find a place that uses them and I suggest not relying on the,

Carrying cash is safe.

That's what I'd been hearing. Would it make sense to exchange all the money I planned on spending into yen, or should I exchange enough for a few days and keep the rest in some other form?

I gotta find a website on the money so I can recognize it. I don't need to end up like those 3 Japanese tourists in that episode of Seinfeld. :D

[Mushu]

Southern Kyoto Prefecture. And just barely at that. I could throw a rock into Nara.
kyoto seems larger then i thought hmmm
btw do you know or could check a map for me, if you can that, where kyoto institute of culture and languge is located, in the heart of kyto, centrum or outside, cant seem to mind map on it

[Henjin]

Try: http://maps.google.co.jp/

I've been able to find everything I've looked for so far.

[Mushu]

Try: http://maps.google.co.jp/

I've been able to find everything I've looked for so far.
cheer mate(bah ive been haning around british ppl way too long :( )

Edit: tiny problem, i cant read japanese yet :o
anyways to switch is into english?

[Beebs]

That's what I'd been hearing. Would it make sense to exchange all the money I planned on spending into yen, or should I exchange enough for a few days and keep the rest in some other form?
I'm not sure about your situation Henjin, but I'd exchange 50-60,000 yen at a time and leave the rest in traveller's checks.

[Henjin]

That's what I was thinking. But where would you exchange the checks?

[Marblehead]

The best rates are usually through the ATM. Be aware that if you don't have a 4 digit pin, you'll only be able to use the ATM's at Citibank and in the post office.

[Henjin]

The best rates are usually through the ATM. Be aware that if you don't have a 4 digit pin, you'll only be able to use the ATM's at Citibank and in the post office.

What do you mean, if you don't have a pin? Doesn't everyone? Or is this something else?

[Beebs]

That's what I was thinking. But where would you exchange the checks?
I went to one of many "Lumine" buildings to the foreign currency exchange office. Just need your passport and Japanese address. I initally went to my bank, but they pointed me there when they saw me holding the traveller's cheques.

[Henjin]

This Lumine: http://www.lumine.ne.jp/ ?

So they'll cash traveler's checks w/ just my passport and hotel address?

[Marblehead]

What do you mean, if you don't have a pin? Doesn't everyone? Or is this something else?

No, sorry I wasn't clear. Most banks there only allow people to use 4 digit pins for their ATM cards. If you have a six digit (like I do) it's not going to work in any ATM except the Citibank and post office ones.

[ManiacLove]

I thought they had Citibanks in Japan...

Not to Hijack, but if I have a CitiBank accountin the US, can I leave my money there (like while I'm on the plane) and just take it out in Yen when I get to Japan?

[Henjin]

No, sorry I wasn't clear. Most banks there only allow people to use 4 digit pins for their ATM cards. If you have a six digit (like I do) it's not going to work in any ATM except the Citibank and post office ones.

Oh, okay. I'd never heard of a 6 digit pin. Sorry.

And if I need to ask directions, what's 'currency exchange?' I know 「為替」(kawase) is exchange, but what's 'currency exchange?'

[Beebs]

This Lumine: http://www.lumine.ne.jp/ ?

So they'll cash traveler's checks w/ just my passport and hotel address?

Yeah, thats the store I'm talking about. I'm not 100% sure that a hotel address will work. I was living in an apartment at the time. Just hold out your traveller's cheques while looking at the floor plan map and someone will eventually tell you where the office is. ;)

However, they didn't check my address against my alien registration card so I could have wrote Koizumi's address and they would have been none the wiser. :D

[Henjin]

Okay, let me be more specific then... How does a person on vacation cash travelers checks? And in Kobe. It looks like Lumine is only in Tokyo.

[Marblehead]

I thought they had Citibanks in Japan...

Not to Hijack, but if I have a CitiBank accountin the US, can I leave my money there (like while I'm on the plane) and just take it out in Yen when I get to Japan?

Yes, they have CitiBank. Lots of them. It's one of the 6-digit pin friendly places; and yeah you can just use the Citibank ATM's if you want. They have an English menu like the post office atms.

[Henjin]

What are the charges like, using an ATM over there?

(Thanks for all the answers, guys, this is really helping)

Another question: What's the best place to get a map over there? I'm assuming I can buy one in a train station or something, right?

[Marblehead]

What are the charges like, using an ATM over there?

(Thanks for all the answers, guys, this is really helping)

To be honest I can't really remember. I always took out around 50000 yen at a time. If there was one, I'm pretty sure it wasn't any worse than the rates in the states. I doubt if the post office atm even charged anything, but I'm not 100% on that.

[nice gaijin]

You waited until 2 days before your departure to ask this?

I would take some cash and exchange it as soon as you touch down in Narita. KIX should also have an exchange counter, but I'm not sure where. I flew into Narita and out from Kansai International. You can pull money out of your ATM card at the post office, I'd recommend doing some online banking, or having someone at home with access to your account to transfer money. When I got back, I realized that when I took money out of an ATM as a visitor withdrawl, my Golden One ATM card was siphoning the money out of my checking account (didn't give an option for savings), which cost me 3 bucks each time I had to use overdraft protection (as my money was all in my savings account, not my checking acct). If you are going to be there for an extended period, might as well get a bank account at the post office; especially if you will be working there.

Checks are worthless in Japan, and Credit Cards are rarely used except for hotels and large purchases. Everything is pretty much cash-based. Expect to carry at least 一万円 on you at all times. You'll want to pick up a coin purse, everything smaller than a 一千円 note is a coin. I recommend going to a 百均 to get a cheap one.

Almost all the water is potable, but bottled water is pretty cheap. 飲料水 means potable water.

If your Japanese isn't too bad, then try to use that; just be aware that in Kansai you might not hear the same dialect that you heard in school. Getting around isn't too bad, but it is likely that you will feel a little disappointed in your level at first, classes and anime just can't prepare you for what it's like to interact in Japan. I found the people I met in Kansai to be pretty helpful and friendly.

in Nara there's always 東大寺 with all the deer. it's one of the few temples I'd be willing to pay to see again, but visiting the deer and the surrounding temples in the park are free. I would, however, pay to see Az try to squeeze through　the 東大寺大仏殿の柱の穴. Sorry, I don't know the area beyond the major sights; I only spent a day there.

[Beebs]

Okay, let me be more specific then... How does a person on vacation cash travelers checks? And in Kobe. It looks like Lumine is only in Tokyo.

Ahh, ok. No idea about places in Kobe. My only suggestion would be to go to a bank or large department store and ask them (while holding your traveller's cheques):

これを　どこで　かえる　ことが　できますか？
koreo dokode kaeru kotoga dekimasuka?

"Where can I exchange this?"

I'm only a beginner, so please get someone else to check that Japanese (or yourself) if one of our better speakers doesn't beat you to it. :D

[Beebs]

Ah crap, just realized I'm a Tokyo Japanese-teet suckler. No idea of any dialect differences in Kobe. Sorry... :o

[nice gaijin]

you can cash traveller's checks at the bank and airport. most places won't accept them as a replacement for currency. If you need to find a place, ask "トラベラズチェックを現金に替えたんですけど、" (toraberazu chekku wo genkin ni kaetain desu kedo) or simply show them the check and say "kore wo kaetain desu kedo," and they should take things from there.

polite japanese is universal, don't worry about speaking the dialect. Understanding it, however....

[Henjin]

Thanks, guys.

As for KIX, here's a map that shows the currency exchange. http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/english/map/ter1f.htm

I'm landing there after a domestic flight from Haneda, but I think I'll try to exchange my money at Narita... if I don't just do it here first. Too bad it's not like Canada where they want you to pay in American money. :p

And thanks for the phrases. Dont' worry, I know enough to use 'em.

[deepbluevibes]

I have a question myself...

I have about 1,000 dollars saved up for Tokyo in october.

Now, if I go to an ATM in Tokyo that's outside the airport or at my hotel, and I want to extract yen, how will I go about doing that?

i.e. will the machine automatically convert my US dollars to yen, or do I have to take an extra step, or ?

also, how hard are the atm menus to read? I can read katakana and some hiragana and i'll have a sheet w/me, but if it's all kanji... >.>

[Monkey]

I have a question myself...

I have about 1,000 dollars saved up for Tokyo in october.

Now, if I go to an ATM in Tokyo that's outside the airport or at my hotel, and I want to extract yen, how will I go about doing that?

i.e. will the machine automatically convert my US dollars to yen, or do I have to take an extra step, or ?

also, how hard are the atm menus to read? I can read katakana and some hiragana and i'll have a sheet w/me, but if it's all kanji... >.>


I only used the post office ATM's and I found them very easy. They translate to a number of different languages and they convert all your money for you. The charge was nominal, about 500 yen, so I recommend taking out around 50000 each time as someone else said above. You'll be surprised how quickly
it goes n Tokyo :D


To the person wondering about traveller's cheques. I found that in my travels most major hotels will change travellers cheques for you. So if you are staying at a proper tourist hotel then this should work.

[Azrael]

You know, I haven't found credit cards to be THAT inconvienent. You can't use them in the small, private mom-and-pop stores you may come across, but you can use them in department stores, major chains, and decently-sized restaurants.

Just a note on ATM's. They're not that convienent. Despite being a souless machine, they actually CLOSE. Depending on the bank, it could be around 9 on weekdays and 7 on weekends. And on holidays they're closed all together. This is something to keep in mind - make sure you have enough money on you for the night before the ATM's close. And do factor in things like expensive dinners, unexpected trips to a karaoke bar, taxicab fare, etc.

[Pierrot le Fou]

All post office ATMs are bilingual from what I've seen.

All post office ATMs accept some of the major card groups out there.

All post office ATMs give a good exchange rate.

Use post office ATMs.

About Nara, I'd love to go, but I've been there recently, and it's like 2000 yen round trip. Plus I don't know really that well what's good down there other than a falafel stand. Also the last time I went with a furriner to Nara, he fell onto the train tracks and required sutures. Long story.

[deepbluevibes]

You know, I haven't found credit cards to be THAT inconvienent. You can't use them in the small, private mom-and-pop stores you may come across, but you can use them in department stores, major chains, and decently-sized restaurants.

Just a note on ATM's. They're not that convienent. Despite being a souless machine, they actually CLOSE. Depending on the bank, it could be around 9 on weekdays and 7 on weekends. And on holidays they're closed all together. This is something to keep in mind - make sure you have enough money on you for the night before the ATM's close. And do factor in things like expensive dinners, unexpected trips to a karaoke bar, taxicab fare, etc.

Are you serious? >< around here I go to ATM's like at 3 AM at night... haha

[Pierrot le Fou]

The ATM in the post office at Kyoto station is open 24 hours a day, as are UFJ ATMs.

[mediocre]

I've read people suggesting Lloyds, but as having no experience using them I cannot give a first-hand account. Maybe someone else here can say 'yes, they are good' or 'no', but at least its out there in case you run into it.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Lloyd's is for sending money from Japan to the states in order to remit it to a US account. Not for exchanging money (to the best of my knowledge).

Also, Post Office ATMs have no fees in Japan, unlike the other banks, which charge 105 yen for cards from other banks, and an additional 105 yen if beyond ATM hours (generally this is 8-6 or so, while you can use the ATMs from 7-9).

[hapacheese]

ATMs: Remember, even if you encounter 4-digit ATM machines, they may not always support any of the networks your card/bank is on (have run into this problem numerous times). Your own bank in the US will most likely charge an exchange fee on the transaction if you do find one, though.

Cash-on-hand: Try to end each day with at least 10,000 yen in your wallet. You never know where you'll end up, and how much a taxi ride back to your hotel/residence is going to cost you.

Exchanging at the Airport: It's pretty safe to do about $200 at the airport just to kick-start your trip, but they gouge you on the rates, so it's best to take cash out of the ATM, or to go into a bank to exchange.

Tap Water: It's generally safe. Been drinking Japanese tap water all my life, and have never encountered any problems (other than the constant migraines, and the green-ish urine, but I swear, it's fine!!!! ;) )

[Henjin]

I always thought the issue w/ tap water wasn't so much that anything was wrong w/ it in the other countries (aside from 3rd world), but that you weren't used to the additives in it... *shrug*

I'm thinking of changing a chunk of my money to yen over here, before the trip... Just gotta find a place around here to do it. I think there's a Japanese bank downtown.

[mediocre]

chances are people with soft stomachs (or small intestines?) will be affected

[hapacheese]

I have a horribly sensitive stomach (have a condition called IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome... look it up), but I'm usually fine in Japan. More than anything, a bowl of extra-greasy ramen will likely do in anyone with a sensitive stomach than the tap water...

[Henjin]

I have a horribly sensitive stomach (have a condition called IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome... look it up), but I'm usually fine in Japan. More than anything, a bowl of extra-greasy ramen will likely do in anyone with a sensitive stomach than the tap water...

I have a really sensitive stomach too. I was worried about the availability of toilets. Heh.

便所はどこ！速く、速く！

[hapacheese]

That's where those little tissue packets they give out randomly come in handy. While train station bathrooms are *nasty*, when you gotta go, you gotta go. And oftentimes, there ain't no toilet paper.

[Henjin]

楽しみにしてる。　

(Does sarcasm translate into Japanese?)

[hapacheese]

Very poorly, unfortunately =\

It usually requires a specific set of circumstances, a specific tone of voice, and usually most be followed by some form of slapstick to pull it off.


On a more personal note, I'm heading out to Tokyo (again) tomorrow. Will be there for about 5 days, likely filled with meetings, presentations, alcohol, meetings, sweating, more alcohol, dinner with a bunch of Japanese stewardesses (oh yeah! bring on the スッチ!!!), hanabi, and more sweating.

And looks like I'm going back to Tokyo in about 2-3 weeks o_O

[Henjin]

Very poorly, unfortunately =\

It usually requires a specific set of circumstances, a specific tone of voice, and usually most be followed by some form of slapstick to pull it off.


That's what I was afraid of. I was telling someone how I don't ever remember seeing any sarcastic humor in Japanese TV. This is going to severely cripple my efforts to make the ladies laugh. :p

[hapacheese]

Japanese "sarcasm" is usually a two man effort (called "boke to tsukkomi"). One man usually does something stupid (intentionally) or takes a turn of phrase too literally, and the other guy (the straight man) plays along for a few seconds (a bit too obviously) and then usually smacks the first guy upside the head, accompanied with a, "Nandeyanen!" or a "Chau yarou?!"

:)

[Henjin]

So they really haven't advanced beyond the 3 Stooges over there, huh? We're lightyears ahead of them in the sarcasm industry. I guess it makes up for the technology gap...

[EIJI]

Another question: What's the best place to get a map over there? I'm assuming I can buy one in a train station or something, right?[/QUOTE]

Book store is the best place, i think.
Any japanese book store provides maps. big one is better, though.

and one more suggestions,
you can use internet train-exchange suggestion service.

You just input departure and destination; ROMA-JI,
then You'll get all the infomations of how much, long,and where you should exchange the line. It would be so useful.

「乗り換え案内」
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

Please try!

[Pierrot le Fou]

Yeah, and whatever you do, don't translate sarcasm as いやみ as it's got negative connotations. Translate sarcasm as ひんにく. Some sarcasm can translate, for instance when I walk into my local bar and it's entirely empty, I always say, 忙しいなぁ！ to the bartender, though I don't think it translates right because he never laughs (probably because it's his living he's trying to make and no customers means no money). It's got to be REALLY BLATANT sarcasm to work though.

[Henjin]

いいに知る.
Good to know.

なぜ文字通りに訳す気がしてるのかわからない。
(Don't know why I'm on a literal translation kick.)

[Pierrot le Fou]

Don't translate literally. It eliminates any possibility that you will ever be understood. I told my bartender yesterday, "It's only Tuesday" (火曜日だけ．．．) and he just looked at me with a 'huh'? Only Tuesday what? Apparently the proper statement is "It's still Tuesday" (まだ火曜日) and then he understood and chuckled at the communication gaffe. So much of English is non-literal that any attempt to translate the non-literals into Japanese will make absolutely no sense.

And clearly I think you realize that translating 'Good to know' into Japanese doesn't make any sense. I hope. Better to say
教えてくれたからありがとう (thanks for teaching me!) or なるほど (I see!)

[Kustom]

Money money money...

Me says, take everything in cash

International credit cards:
Don't rely on it unless you plan on living off online puchases. Won't work except in very, very few places in big cities. 99,9% of ATMs will spit your card back at you with disgust. My international visa really doesn't work anywhere and I live in Tokyo... But I think there is one international ATM in Nara.

[Edit:wasn't aware of post office ATMs being difference, but I could swear the post ATM near my old appartment would have int'l cards, though. Besides, it still closes early and on sundays. Cash rules]

Travellers check: I once spent 3 days in Tokyo looking for a way to change my American express travellers... It's impossible in a bank on weekends, including city bank. They trade it in international high class hotels ONLY if you are staying. You can either change it at the airport or in Shinjuku, Lumine 2, or a large bank on a weekday. In a bank, people will carefully copy every information on your passport and make you wait forever in the hope that you go away before they change it.

Cash rules in Japan, just take yens! It's common for Japanese people to carry very large amounts of cash with them, and without cash you can really get screwed big time (emphasized for emphasis). Nobody will rob you or pick your pockets, all you have to worry about is loosing it.

[Henjin]

Nobody will rob you or pick your pockets, all you have to worry about is loosing it.

How true is that? I mean, no one would ever recommend carrying a lot of cash as a tourist... but it seems like you kind of have to in Japan. Is it really that safe?

@Pierrot: I was completely joking w/ the first part. I don't know if you were in one of those Learn Japanese threads, but there was a guy who was constantly using a literal translation and it amused me. Unless the second sentence I made was also off... On that one I was trying. :D

[Pierrot le Fou]

I would have no idea how to describe 'literal translation' in Japanese, so I don't know if the second statement is off or not. It doesn't sit right with me though, which means absolutely nothing in the scheme of things.

[Henjin]

I've seen it used in a magazine that was discussing a literal translation of a greek word... I'm pretty sure it's correct. 「文字通りに」should mean 'literally.' (lit. 'word for word' or 'exactly as the characters are.')

[deepbluevibes]

I have a Visa card from Washington Mutual. you guys are *sure* that the ATM machines there will take it, at least the post office ones in Tokyo? (i'm staying in Shinjuku)

[Henjin]

Yeah, I have a Visa from... Capital One or something. My hotel's website says they take Visa, so I shouldn't have any problems, right?

And right now I'm having a lot of trouble finding a place that will convert currency in Chicago.