Kathie

Any bank ATM at Narita is fine. Once you are away from the airport, you'll need to find an ATM at a Post Office or a convenience store (7-11 or Lawsons or others). Regular ATMs in shopping centers, at banks might not work for you.

Have a wonderful trip!

kja

I'd urge you to consult the link provided upthread. And if you google Narita, you can go to its website and see where each and every ATM is located.

Mara

Yes, you should definitely tell your bank card and credit card companies about your trip dates.

I always carry a couple of US 100 dollar bills just in case I have a problem and in decades of travel never had to use them.

Some US credit cards won't work in the Japan Post Office bank - the Mastercard with chips:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2208.html
But they definitely work at 7 Eleven. There were two of those ATMs on the Narita floor where the entrance to the trains is located.

btw, where are you taking a taxi? From NRT to a Tokyo hotel, awfully expensive, maybe you should re-think that....

CaliforniaLady

You have over two weeks before you leave, so there is sufficient time to open a secondary account. I agree with you that you should have a second bank account with an active ATM card. At this point, just go to any bank, maybe Wells Fargo, and open up a second account. At a later time, open a second account with no ATM fees.

A slight clarification to what Kathie said. Schwab does not charge a 1% fee for foreign ATM use, whereas some brokerage houses do. Schwab requires you to open a brokerage account when you open the no ATM fee checking account, but you don't have to leave any money in the brokerage account.

I only use my Schwab account for travel. When I'm getting ready to leave, I just transfer in some money via an online ACH transfer. It's all very simple once you get used to it.

Have a wonderful trip, and eats lots of sushi.

Kathie

Wells Fargo has the same ATM charges as BOA. If you are going to open another account, choose a bank that doesn't levy those charges - and there are plenty.

thursdaysd

What Kathie said. Wells Fargo has high fees and staff that are clueless about foreign travel. Try a local credit union or Capital One.

lcuy

Paying for a cab from the Airport to Tokyo will destroy your budget even faster that BOA's exchanges rates. It costs around $200 US dollars, depending upon traffic!

Take the airport Limo. There are booths just inside the exits at Narita. It costs about $30 per person. The limo (a bus, actually) stops at a couple of hotels, so ask the ticket seller which is closest to your destination. From there take a cab or walk, if you're lucky to your hotel from the limo drop off. Most cabbies in Japan are quite honest, and they DO NOT EXPECT a TIP. Really

CaliforniaLady

The OP leaves in about two weeks, so there may be insufficient time to set up a no ATM fee checking account. For example, Schwab required hard copies of the paperwork to be sent, and then ACH transfer testing takes three to five business days. And then, your ATM card has to be printed and sent to you. If the OP can find a local bank, then there probably is time, otherwise, I would advise just using Wells Fargo, or any local bank for now, since the OP's trip is relatively short, and should not require more than two ATM withdrawals.

I agree with Mara and Icuy about the airport limo service. A taxi adds no value to your experience, and is expensive.

travelsb

Thanks all

I will just use my BOA debit card...

As for transportation, there is also Narita express. Has anyone tried that one?

kja

I used the Narita express -- because it suited my hotel location. Check your hotel's website to see how best to reach it.

travelsb

The hotel said its closest to tokyo station. How was your trip with narita express? Was it convenient? Thanks

kja

Yes, the Narita Express was extremely convenient FOR ME -- it was literally steps from my hotel, which was quite some distance from the Tokyo Station.

If I might say so, with all due respect, I think you are asking the wrong questions. I think you should be determining what works for YOU and YOUR needs. I don't know what information you are using to plan your trip, but I think you would benefit tremendously from some serious time with japan-guide.com and a good guide book or two. JMO, and again, no offense intended.

Good luck!

travelsb

Thanks Kathie, Mara, CaliforniaLady and...I also have a citibank account which apparently has ATM affiliates in Japan. I have emailed them to get the details.

kja

How I love those who take the advice given on board, and who thank each and every person who took the time to provide answers to the questions asked!

BigRuss

You really need to look into your transit options. Your questions are exceedingly basic. The Narita Express is well-known. It's also about 30-40 minutes faster than a limo bus. Tokyo's taxi rates are high and a cab from Narita is ridiculously expensive. (Taxi rates in Kyoto are not bad at all).

<<Most cabbies in Japan are quite honest, and they DO NOT EXPECT a TIP.>>

That statement is partially incorrect. YOU DO NOT TIP IN JAPAN. And I know there are some new restos and chains that provide that option, but the basic rule is the same - no tipping, period.

LuisJp

The Narita Express to Tokyo station is a rather bad solution. The train arrives at the B5 level, taking a time to get out.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e1039.html

A transfer at Nippori station taking a Skyliner should be much easier to get to Tokyo station.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e1184.html
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetud...line/index.php

The best is the limousine Bus. Palace Hotel Tokyo has its own bus stop.
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/bus/#section-1
(Set the "Area" to be "Tokyo station...")

Kavey

We have used both Narita Express and the Kesei Skyliner to get into Tokyo from Narita airport, both are straightforward once you are confident of your route.

For some stations in Tokyo one is better, for other stations, the other is easier.

My understanding is that these (alongside the coach transfers) are what most people use since the taxi / limo option is expensive and you can also get stuck in traffic at certain times of the day.

lcuy

Russ, I phrased it that way because even though some people know that tipping isn't required, they will tip anyway, thinking the cab driver/maid waiter will think less of them if they don't (Yes, it is that ingrained in many people)

My point was that most cab drivers really don't expect tips, and most will start digging for change if you include a tip, it is so foreign to them.