Accessing money and credit card use in Japan

rebecca1

Hi - I am going to Japan in Sept this year to study for a year. I
am trying to work out the cheapest way I can spend money and access Yen when I'm there.

I have looked at the threads on here and have worked out that the Halifax clarity credit card would be the cheapest way to pay for items on the credit card then pay the credit card off in full every month. However, I'm trying to find the best/cheapest way to access cash (Yen).

It looks like I will have to open a debit card account in the UK to get free withdrawals in Japan i.e Metro Bank.
Does anyone know of another way I can achieve this without having to get 2 accounts? Some banks I have called in the UK don't know whether Japanese banks will charge me to make a cash withdrawal !

Thanks

Rebecca :rotfl:

woodencupboard

You'd be best opening a local Japanese account if you're there for a year?
I know Japanese ATMs can be a bit funny with foreign cards, not operating 24/7 and only international ones being in certain places etc, 7/11 corner stores and subway stations were favourite reliable places for me when I visited.

devildog

If you are going there as a student it will be more than likely that they will get you to open an account with the Japan Post bank. I was asking similar questions to you for my eldest(who returns from their year abroad in June )
What we ended up doing(although prob not the cheapest way to do it and if we had planned better and all that.........) They took out their credit card and their UK Maestro card and a fair bit of cash for those initial payments for Dorms/bedding etc and opened a Japan Post bank account. Credit card was used for some purchases(not many though as they tend to deal in cash out there) They could easily withdraw cash with their Maestro card if need be(there was a charge though-although I think it was more the bank this end that charged) and when Student Loan came through I sent it through their UK bank account to their Japan Bank account. We worked it out that whether they withdrew cash with their card in bits when needed or a lump sum was transfered across the costs were about equal. The first time we did this it was stressful as it isn't that simple and with the Japan Post bank they will only accept transfers in Euros or dollars through one intermediary bank only!! Withdrawing in bits as and when you need it means that if the exchange rate isn't that good(and you are not desperate) you can wait until it is better.

Some banks like the Halifax may work out better but you would need to check locations of banks to where you are actually staying/studying.