JapanForum.com - Currency Exchange

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Sangetsu (Post 616422)

Bring the cash. You'll be able to use your ATM card here (in some places), but you will be dinged for an international transaction each time. In the long run, it will cost you more to use the ATMs than it will to exchange your money. You can exchange your money in your home country before you arrive here, do a search for currency exchanges until you find the one with the lowest service fee.

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Hmm.. I don't know, but when I used my ATM card there, the rate was the immediate daily rate, and i wasn't charged any service fee at all. Maybe because I work for the bank myself

As MMM and Sangetsu said, no reason not to bring the cash, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world.

As for ATM fees, they vary quite a bit from bank to bank so be sure to ask, and don't be shy about moving banks. Don't have specific information as I don't have an account at home but I'll ask around.

Exchange the cash for yen at home instead of in Japan, you'll save tons of money.