I am planning a trip to Japan in November. I was concerned about whether my credit and debit cards will work there. Would it be useful to open a CitiBank account before I leave and get their credit and debit cards? Is it useful to bring travelers' checks? Thank you!

If you scroll down to near the bottom of this page, you will see the card types that Japan Post ATM machines accept. The page is only in Japanese at the moment...the Post has been in the process of privatization and the website is not all translated to English. http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/koji...atm_index.html

If you have an ATM or credit card like the ones pictured, you can use it in the many, many post office ATM machines...found in post offices, shopping centers, offices...many, many. 7-Eleven has also started to have an ATM service, but they are not the most common convenience store. Not to worry, though , post offices are everywhere, 4 within a 10 minute walk of where I sit right now at home.

Travelers checks can be exchanged only in authorized exchange banks, and it takes time, sometimes as much as an hour if there is a crowd in the bank. I'd bring some as a back up, but not as a primary source.

Hotels, large shops and restaurants will accept credit cards, and unlike say 10 years ago, foreign credit cards can be processed in most places.

Opening a Citibank account for this trip...not necessary. Not much Citibank presense in terms of branches and ATMs outside of Tokyo, and your regular ATM card will work fine provided you do not try to use bank machines...go to the Post office.

Thank you very much! I wasn't able to see the card types you were referring to, but I assume if I take a couple of debit cards, at least one of them should work?

you should check the back of your debit card to see if you see PLUS or Maestro/Cirrus logo. I had no problem using 7-11 ATMs with my Maestro/Cirrus card.

Had no problem using credit cards (visa/master more widely accepted than Amex, even though I used my Amex fairly extensively), except for a few restaurants and some small shops. My recollection is that JR tickets are cash only. I do recall punching in 4-digit PIN on several occasions though signature seems to be the mainstream verification still.

Scroll down, and you'll see pictures of Cirrus, Plus, Visa electron, etc. If your card is Cirrus or Plus or any of the others, it's fine.

You can use a credit card to buy JR tickets, too, if you buy them at the station.

You can use a credit card to buy JR tickets, too, if you buy them at the station...big main stations, not local stations though.

jat,

I am assuming you are from the US. If you are and you have a US issued visa or mc you may have problems with them in a JR station trying to buy tickets. I have never had success buying them with my visa or mc card in the Tokyo station and Shinjuku station. Others from the US have reported similar problems.

I have used my visa , mc and amex cards extensively throughout Japan with out many other problems other than buying train tickets

Aloha!

Our cards would not work in any ATM's other than the post office. They did not work in Tokyo or Kyoto train station station.
With the post office, you need to be aware of the hours they are open. However we had no trouble getting cash out of post office ATM's
The big positive is I never felf unsafe carying cash in Japan.

Mastercard and Visa work pretty much everywhere, and I had no problem getting money out of ATMs (with Cirrus/Plus, etc). I certainly wouldn't get a Citibank account. I also would definitely not get traveler's checks.... One other note, if you have a cell phone that works on an international plan, it probably won't work in Japan. My phone has worked absolutely everywhere in the world (even Liberia!!!) - but they use completely different technology in Japan, and it's the one country it didn't work in..... Who knew !!!!!