Japanese Yen - Cash

[elanshin]

"As noted above, do not get cash in Australia"

The only caveat I would make to this is: watch the Forex.

I too have opened a Mac account just for the fee free ATM access, but I also grabbed a decent chunk of Yen, delivered to my local Post Office here in WA about six months ago, when the dollar was hovering around ¥108 for a short while, for a trip that isn't happening till March next year.

It's slipped about 15% since then, but if it does head above ¥105 again, it would be prudent to lock that rate in IMHO

YMMV, of course

Loads of friends loaded and converted their wise at 109 and just held yen in their wise account. Technically if they converted back now they'd have made a tidy profit too.

 

[Pcoder]

I've found Aeon bank is the best ATM in Japan for no fees. I've never had any issues with their ATMs

They can be found at Ministop kombini, Aeon Malls, Aeon affiliated Supermakets and a few other places like the baggage claim area of Terminal 2 at Narita

 

[Rowan]

Hi all - frequent traveller - 1st post in this forum....Heading off to Japan in a few weeks so this thread is really useful, thanks. From what I've read, using a Qantas Pay card or Macquarie Debit Card is a relatively easy way to withdraw Yen in country? Will be on a tour (first time in Japan) so will probably grab an IC card for drinks etc at the Konbinis....
Cheers.

 

[DC3]

Hi all - frequent traveller - 1st post in this forum....

Welcome to AFF. Are you flying into NRT or HND with QF? Only asking because of the debacle with QF doing a go-slow on publishing NRT/HND flight changes.

 

[Rowan]

Welcome to AFF. Are you flying into NRT or HND with QF? Only asking because of the debacle with QF doing a go-slow on publishing NRT/HND flight changes.

HND via HK on Cathay Pacific...

 

[DC3]

HND via HK on Cathay Pacific...

At least with CX you know which airport that you will be arriving. Some of us still have no idea with QF.

Edited

 

[elanshin]

Hi all - frequent traveller - 1st post in this forum....Heading off to Japan in a few weeks so this thread is really useful, thanks. From what I've read, using a Qantas Pay card or Macquarie Debit Card is a relatively easy way to withdraw Yen in country? Will be on a tour (first time in Japan) so will probably grab an IC card for drinks etc at the Konbinis....
Cheers.

Any fee free or low fee debit card can work for withdrawing from ATMs. Be careful not to withdraw using AUD balance (there are some ATMs that do that).

If there's any other questions, we have a lot of resident frequent JP travellers around.

Also note that you won't need as much cash as you did precovid. There are a lot more places now taking card payments.

 

[Rowan]

Any fee free or low fee debit card can work for withdrawing from ATMs. Be careful not to withdraw using AUD balance (there are some ATMs that do that).

If there's any other questions, we have a lot of resident frequent JP travellers around.

Also note that you won't need as much cash as you did precovid. There are a lot more places now taking card payments.

Thanks for that - I'm going to make sizeable purchases via Credit Card but hopefully not have to carry too much cash if I can use my debit cards, Qantas pay etc... We use Macquarie cards all over the world (USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Alaska etc) fee free, reasonable exchange rates - the main thing is to watch out for is what the ATM your using is likely to charge before you do the withdrawal.... I've heard Konbini's are good for cash top-ups...?
The other challenge is buying a short stay e-Sim but I'll search for that later...

 

[elanshin]

Thanks for that - I'm going to make sizeable purchases via Credit Card but hopefully not have to carry too much cash if I can use my debit cards, Qantas pay etc... We use Macquarie cards all over the world (USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Alaska etc) fee free, reasonable exchange rates - the main thing is to watch out for is what the ATM your using is likely to charge before you do the withdrawal.... I've heard Konbini's are good for cash top-ups...?

Combini or JP Post ahould be fine. Using your Macquarie card if you're happy with it for withdrawal should be fine. What i meant by being careful with the ATM is that some will ask if you want to withdraw using AUD balance - aka it will do the conversion. It is almost never worth doing that even with a bad fee card.

The other challenge is buying a short stay e-Sim but I'll search for that later...

You can either use the global e-sim stuff, rent a pocket wifi that you pick up at airport, some other e-sim you get at airport or go to Yodobashi/ Bic Camera once you're in town and get an e-sim there.

All comes down to how much data you want and how long you're there for.

 

[Rowan]

Combini or JP Post ahould be fine. Using your Macquarie card if you're happy with it for withdrawal should be fine. What i meant by being careful with the ATM is that some will ask if you want to withdraw using AUD balance - aka it will do the conversion. It is almost never worth doing that even with a bad fee card.


You can either use the global e-sim stuff, rent a pocket wifi that you pick up at airport, some other e-sim you get at airport or go to Yodobashi/ Bic Camera once you're in town and get an e-sim there.

All comes down to how much data you want and how long you're there for.

Thanks for that - yes, we always make sure that we withdraw in local currency, never AUD.... Same if we buy something on the Debit card - always select their currency, otherwise you can lose on the rate and it makes it pretty bloody challenging when you're asking for TAX refunds when you leave to return home...

 

[drron]

I always got my cash in Australia and usually through Travelex online. Their rates sometimes are ver competitive especially if getting a large amount. I normally bought ~ 100000 yen at a minimum. The rate last time was actually very slightly better than Wise. The cash would be sent to our local post office.
On the last occasion I got 300000 yen cash.. And that was mighty useful as it was needed to pay my fine which could only be paid in cash.

Sometimes though the rate was awful probably the same as the travelex shop fronts. Would never use them. But it is wise ( pun intended 0 to check a few places and the local Japanese rates. They can be less than the rate in Australia.

 

[Rowan]

Thanks for that - yeah, we are off to Morocco later this year so will probably hit the Travelex before we go - or at least load some loot on the debit card - not sure how many ATMs in Casablanca and Fez compared to downtown Tokyo!!

 

[Mumanddad]

A word about Travelex. A couple of weeks ago we ordered several currencies with Travelex to be picked up at our Post Office today. Late Wednesday we received an email to say one of the currencies was out of stock and the best they could do was to hope they get delivery on Monday and "possibly" get it to us on Tuesday.

As we're travelling to Sydney on Wednesday I asked if the order could be amended to replace the missing currency with extra USD or JPY - no deal - the whole order had to be cancelled and the refund due into our bank account in 5-10 business days. The order also could not be transferred to a Sydney store to pick up on Thursday. I've asked for an expedited refund, but I'm not hopeful.

I like to have a little cash on arrival at cruise ports for things like cabs, small items, tours etc. We'll pick up what we can in Sydney on Thursday.

 

[DC3]

… we received an email to say one of the currencies was out of stock …

Out of stock?

 

[Mumanddad]

Yes, Philippine Pesos. Only wanted $A100 worth.

 

[stm1sydney]

using a Qantas Pay card

Just note that, while this card sounds good with "no fees", the exchange rate they give you when loading foreign money is horrendous. Just looked today: AUD to USD is 0.595, whereas Mastercard standard rate is 0.625.

So that's a 4.8% margin for Qantas. Highway robbery.

 

[RooFlyer]

Out of stock?

Currency vendors don’t keep an unlimited supply of foreign currencies. They carry a certain amount of ‘stock’ of it. Even banks, if they still sell foreign currencies, only keep limited amounts on hand.