paying for stuff in japan

[carlo]

Guys,

What do you think the best way to cope in japan would be when it comes to buying odds and ends from places like up garage..

I take it visa is as popular in japan as anywhere else?

Are eftpos cards or cirrus cards as common as australia??

[Sentric dancer]

Nope... not really.. cash mate... more like.. yen.

alot of shops dont have the machine

[Rezz]

Hey Carlo,

Best go to an International ATM (they should be near where you are), or suss out where a Citibank is near your hotel, and use your Cirrus cash or credit card there and withdraw in bulk...

Places like Up Garage *should* accept credit card, but they aren't prepared for it, so you might be in for a 15min transaction... just pay cash.

[carlo]

Interesting that credit cards are not as well used as in Australia. I would have thought japan would be more of a cashless society..

I shall take your advice rezz, take some cash to up garage and the like.

[Demon Dave]

Strange isn't it...I thought the same before coming here. Most of the big stores will accept credit cards, but basically cash is the way to go...

[Hakujin1977]

i found i could use the visa most places. take yen with you though. work out where the nearest international bank is, if you're staying in a hotel ask where you can change money (they should be asked this often enough to know). it took me an hour to find a bank one day and had to withdraw on the visa. the transaction took 20 min too. i know at some banks you can use your normal aussie atm but the one i found would only let me take out $400 a day.