My husband and I have a 6 hour layover coming up May 16th in Narita. Everyone on this forum has been so helpful and we've decided to visit Narita since Tokyo is too far.

I read somewhere here on the forum that the train to Narita is 250 Yen. How much money will we need for the day? 250x4 for the train; a big sushi lunch for two and maybe buy some souviners. I know things can be expensive but I only want to exchange what's really required.

If we end up with too much left over, can we sell it back to the money exchangers in the airport where we bought it?

Betty

as i remember i used my credit card and atm card and did not get any cash at all

I would guess that 5000 yen ought to do it. At that amount, if you lost 5% on the exchange to/from yen that would only be about $6 Canadian.

You could sell the leftover yen at the airport. Do that if you are on your way home. If you are going someplace else, then just keep it and exchange the yen for the currency at your destination.

Having just returned this past week from a wonderful 3 day layover in Tokyo, I highly recommend that you plan to get more cash, rather than less. I had a great deal of difficulty in Tokyo finding near-by ATMs that took my VISA card-contrary to what the guidebooks and other people in Tokyo told me, I went to 3 separate post offices, and no foreign ATM cards were taken there.-had to take a subway and taxi with my remaining money to find a Citibank ATM down in the financial district. You use a LOT more money in Japan than you think-and when you buy souvenirs, they almost never take credit cards-keep that in mind. There is a Citibank ATM on the lower level arrivals area in Narita where you can use your ATM-also remember that on some private rail lines, like the Keisei Skyliner into Tokyo they DO NOT take credit cards- that's why I say take out more cash than less. Close by the Citibank ATMs (which are located under the second set of escalators in the arrivals area, I believe) there is a currency exchange window where you can change your yen back to whatever currency you want (assuming there is much of any yen left, which I very much doubt there will be!). Happy travels-I had beautiful weather in Tokyo when I was there last week-hope you have the same!

Thanks mrwunrfl. I think 5000 yen should be good too. 1000 for the train (250x4) to Narita and that leaves 4000 for lunch and a couple of souvenirs.

Thanks Airlawgirl for your update of Narita. We don't have time to go to Tokyo but it's good to know the Citibank ATM is an alernative to the money exchangers at the airport.

Betty in Toronto
Leaving May 6 for 10 days in Hong Kong
Then 2 weeks in Hawaii

yes. I agree with AIR.. do your banking at the airport. since using an ATM in Japan is a pain in the butt big time. OHH and if you do find a machine that takes your card odd are non of the text will be in english as opposed too machines everywhere else on the planet. If you see a Atm with a fist mark on the panel it was probably from me.

yes do mortgage your house for extra cash on yor layover. if you have to use a taxi and find that the meter reads $100 for what seems like a few block don't worry they can process credit cards in the cab..