Does anyone know where I can find a Japanese equivalent of a load and go? I'm going to travel to the country soon and would like to not have to use my credit card. Instead I would like to transfer funds to a Japanese based load and go and spend money from it. Does anyone have any ideas where I can get this?
Travelling to Japan, need a Japanese load and go
Ghosteye on 15/11/2015 - 18:40
Comments
In case I lose my wallet, security… Etc. I tend to lose my wallet a lot and I'm afraid if I misplace it in a foreign country, it will cause me a lot of hassle.
If it makes you feel any better, Japan is a safer and cleaner country than Australia (generally).
Agree. I left my bag with literally everything in the train station bathroom. They were announcing my name on the loudspeaker within 5 minutes. Japan would be my country of choice to lose my things in haha. You can just transfer money on to the card as needed?
@altomic: hmmm that didn't really happen to me last time I went there. Maybe it was because I lost it at a really remote place haha
@Ghosteye: I lost my wallet on the way to work, between my house and the subway. got to work and I was annoyed. luckily I kept my railpass in my suit pocket. any way got back to my local station -Baraki Nakayami (Tozei line) - and went to the local police station.
Went inside and saw the police officer at the desk (very small police station -only 2 police at a time). he spoke no english and I spoke barely any japanese. but luckily they have this thick folder of japanese-english translations of police stuff.
So looking in the book I found - "I have lost my wallet"
police office pointed to "what colour?"
I pointed to "brown"
police office pointed to "what material?"
I pointed to "leather"
police office pointed to "what were the contents?"
I pointed to "drivers license, foreigner registration card, bank card"
police office pointed to "how much money?"
I pointed to "1000yen"
this went on for a few minutes of back forth.
Police officer then reached below the counter and pulled a yellow envelope, opened it and there was my wallet.what was so baffling(to me at the time) was that there were maybe 4 foreigners living in a 2 kilometer radius. and hence the probability of a foreigners wallet being handed in, and on the same day a foreigner coming into report a lost wallet, is quite small. given the fact that the wallet had my Gaijin card (foreigner registration card) and drivers licenses (both with photos) and yet he still went through the rigmarole of 20 questions to ascertain that it was my wallet. Japanese bureaucracy is very regimented. it's like "Yes Minister" in reality.
but my wallet was handed in.
Unless you are planning to buy things at department stores I would bring cash as every place takes cash and not cards really. How we swipe with eftpos is not really a thing in Japan at least not with internationally issued cards. I am not sure but I think you can load your train pass when you buy one with cash and use it for some convenience stores but I would carry cash around with you at all times.
I don't plan to use an international card, maybe like how we can buy Japanese SIM cards for use, I was thinking maybe I could buy a Japanese card as well, using a system that all retailers use maybe
Why do you lose your cards/wallet so much?! LOL.
I use to live in Japan and at the time most places only accepted cash and I don't think this has changed much at all. It's almost impossible for you to get a Japanese bank card unless you have a gaijin card but it sounds like you are on holiday not moving there. It's not uncommon for people to walk around with thousands and thousands of dollars in their wallets. It's just the way things are, if you are dining at high end restaurants and shopping at department stores only cards may be accepted. use CASH! Have fun, I'll be there in a few weeks. Will see how much it has changed.
Hmmm alright, I'll just bring cash
Posted below, but was important enough for me to say again.
It is still quite a cash economy, but I don't suggest you bring cash. You will get a far poorer exchange rate for cash than you would withdrawing at the Citi atms or 7-11.I was in Japan in January. Under the recommendation of many online I took a huge wad of cash. I didn't exchange a cent of it. Exchange rate for cash was just too poor compared to just using the ATM with my Citi.
In case you are wondering I stayed in the big places like Tokyo and Osaka (these places I'd use the Citi atm, there was even one just outside arrivals at the airport) and the smaller places all had a 7-11. Only thing for you to keep in mind is that there is a daily limit of $1000 AUD equivalent.@Morien: I was just wondering why you use Citibank instead of any regular bank account with cirrus or plus for international ATMs. I am curious as if there are a lot of advantages I will open an account.
No international transaction fees.
No international transfer fees levied by Citibank.
No international atm fees levied by Citibank.
Visa Debit card.At the time it was the only one that fulfilled these requirements. I have used it to transfer money internationally, to buy stuff online and while overseas, and to withdraw money in many different countries without a hitch. I think the last time I exchanged cash was…. 4 years ago? 8 countries ago?
Edit: Oh, also, Citi, being an international bank, often have a local branch if I need it. While they don't charge atm fees, often non-Citi atms do (though not much at all). In Japan there were Citi atms at the airport when I arrived, and littered around Tokyo and Osaka. Maybe other places, never checked.
@Morien: Hi, brilliant. Thanks for your response, appreciate it. When I was last in Japan I lived there so had a local bank card. It's my first time back since so never had to worry about this stuff. I have travelled to other countries since and was charged $4 per transaction - I didn't realise until I checked the statement on my return. Thought it was just something I had to live with. Just applied for a CitiPlus card and hope it comes before I head off to Japan in 2 weeks.
No problem. Make sure you activate the app before you leave so that it can generate one-time-codes (instead of needing a code sms'd to you for transfers or the like). Also inform them you are travelling.
yeah I'd say use citibank and bring enough cash with you. A lot of places don't accept cards. About losing wallets, usually Japanese returns wallets to the police boxes, but I won't know which ones.
Agreed with others. Open a Citibank Plus (it is a debit card) and treat it as a load and go.
It is still quite a cash economy, but I don't suggest you bring cash. You will get a far poorer exchange rate for cash than you would withdrawing at the Citi atms or 7-11.Yea, I did the same. They have sooooo many convenience stores / 7 Elevens everywhere with ATMs.
Just use a Visa Card and make your withdrawals from 7-11's they are a dime a dozen!
I believe Citibank has sold on their business in Japan to a local bank. So I think their ATM network, while it will work in the same way, will be rebranded to SMBC Trust Bank.
Any reason for not choosing to use a Citibank card instead?