kja

ATMs at post offices and 7-Elevens accept VISA and are ubiquitous; you should be able to use ATMs elsewhere, too. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2208.html

I can't imagine finding stopping at an ATM a time sink in Japan. I never, ever, assume that any CC will be accepted ANYwhere. If it is, great. And BTW, I never travel with just one CC or just one debit card -- if something goes wrong with one, as has happened to me (but not in Japan), I want a back up.

progol

Reuica -
We went to Japan last year and again this year and, before we left for our trip, we uploaded a digital Suica card to the Wallet app on our iPhones. It was wonderful to be able to use our phones for local transportation & shopping at the convenience stores.

Last year, we were unable to use our credit cards to add value so went to the convenience stores (7/11, Family Mart, etc), and would add cash as needed. Interestingly, this year, we had no problem adding value with our Chase Visa cards.

It’s easy to add the Suica through the Wallet Ap itself.

mcsles

Kja, progol thanks for your response. I have 3 CC but they are all Visa cards. I always bring a back up, however I am a first time traveler to Japan. We will be in Singapore prior to 3 weeks in Japan. I am not familiar with this country and travel within the 6 cities we are visiting. I am just trying to be the best prepared. I would prefer to pay with a CC for hotels and big meals and just cash for a coffee and lunch from a recommended food hall type meal.

progol

mcsles,
You should have no problem with hotels and meals at most restaurants, though some (mostly smaller) places might be cash only. And even many so-called “hole in the wall” type places do take CC.

If you have the Wallet App on your phone, why not download the suica card now to see if you can use your CC to add funds? You download (or is it upload) within the app and this can be done prior to your trip.

mcsles

Progol, I will try doing just that. I appreciate your help all. KJA I would never of thought a post office would have atm. Thanks for that. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

progol

Good luck with the suica card. We found it very useful particularly in Tokyo and Kyoto for transportation and shopping in the convenience stores everywhere.

We used ATMs regularly in 7/11, Family Mart and other convenience stores. They really are convenient! In fact, I don't know if the ATMs in banks are accessible to foreign bank cards though we only checked out one bank in Kyoto this time around.

mcsles

Yeah, Progol it worked. I was able to load both of our phones with Suica card. I watched a you tube video and the only issue is I apparently need to print a receipt at the kiosk to ride a shinkansen train but it should work fine for subway and bus travel. Thank you

mcsles

Progol, we are a bit cautious with the ATM fees etc. We had issues with a street side ATM in Italy and spent a few hours with our debit card Company trying to resolve so we were not without cash. It sounds like Japan is safer and the cash should not be a problem. We appreciate all your help.

mrwunrfl

Actually, I prefer to use an ATM once, as I described above, getting a chunk at the airport. I use a Fidelity card that rebates any ATM fees (I assume your Schwab card does), and the conversion gets the IBR minus 1% Visa fee. If I had to use my Chase debit card, which gives a per-withdrawal spanking, then it would be only once (I take it as a backup). My other cash backup is USD or leftover CAD or EUR.

You got some excellent, more appropriate, replies above. My point was that using an ATM in Japan is nbd. They are very easy to find. Ubiquitous enough that I usually don't have to go looking for one. They are just there, on the way, so I might top up the cash in my wallet. ATMs in olden days were harder to find, so I would take advantage of them when I saw them. No need to do that anymore.

The other thing is that I only see a prepaid IC card as being useful for paying for transit. That doesn't require much cash at all to buy or add to a card. Otherwise, I just use credit cards or cash. But that is just me.

i can use credit cards or cash anywhere in Japan while (IIUC) prepaid IC cards are regional Prepaid IC Cards in Japan: Suica, Pasmo, Icoca

Definitely read that page if you intend to use Suica or other IC card for shinkansen tix. There are several limitations. I have found it easy to just book online with JR East and JR Kyushu. It can be tricky to register a cc using smartex, but it looks like you would have to do that anyway if you used a Suica.

My credit cards are all IC cards. I suppose they would not be useful to some cash-based businesses that do accept prepaid IC cards.

Physical cards have an advantage over digital cards because they don't require electricity or connectivity and they will survive being dropped on the floor or into a bowl of ramen soup,

Is it easy (or possible) to get a refund from a digital IC card? That would be a big advantage over a physical card or even cash.

Are there any conversion fees when buying/refunding a card with foreign currency credit card? Exchange rate?

mrwunrfl

>> apparently need to print a receipt at the kiosk to ride a shinkansen train

Not a receipt, I think, but the actual tickets. I bought tickets online from JR East and got a QR code. The ticket machine had a QR code scanner. I think I had to push a button to activate the scanner. It did the scan and printed the tickets. IIRC, it also printed a receipt.

kja

japan-guide.com provides a wealth of information. ALWAYS worth checking, IME.

mrwunrfl

>> It can be tricky to register a cc using smartex

I wanted to use a Visa card (Chase, I think, but maybe a Citi MC, or maybe both) but got errors. Already had an Amex registered with the site and just used that, np.

Actually, I was using ekinet, the JR East ticketing site not smart-ex, but have read about similar frustration with that site.

mcsles

Thanks kja, mrwunrfl, progol. You all have been so helpful . Mrwunrfl, so I will be able to use my suica phone card for subway in cities, Tokyo, Bus between Matsumoto to Takayama and Kanazawa etc. and local inexpensive lunches. Book day trip and long train trips on train sights and or when in a station a day or so before travel? We found a few 5 day Tokyo itineraries online and they have also helped steer us in areas that sound interesting. Thank you .Mike

mrwunrfl

Huh? Did you read this?
Prepaid IC Cards in Japan: Suica, Pasmo, Icoca

mrwunrfl

Yeah, IDK what I am talking about as am not a suica user. Just saw this:

The Welcome Suica card can be used all throughout Japan.

Thanks to integrated national service agreements, the Welcome Suica can be used not only within the Suica/PASMO area, but also on railway lines, buses, and other locations anywhere in Japan where the B logo is displayed.
Welcome Suica | JR-EAST

mcsles

Mr wundrfl, yes I am confused as well. Lots to learn about Japan for fist time visits. At the very least I have a card that I should be able to top off with cash. I currently put 5000 yen on each card to start. I know I will be asking a lot of questions when we arrive to plan our journeys. So I may or may not be able to use these cards for bus trips and longer train travel. I am reading every day to gain more information and I lean to this forum for verification and or clarification. Thank you.

progol

I believe the Suica can be used on JR transportation but not sure about all intercity bus lines so you’d have to check for a particular line. I don’t think the Suica is good on the Matsumoto to Takayama bus. Still, it’s good for transportation within many cities and between some, too.

When it came to getting intercity (Shinkansen) train tickets, we just figured we’d get them at the ticket counter. Depending upon the route we took, we needed help especially since we would reserve seats for each leg of a trip. We never did master the ticket machines.

Traveling within Japan is so much easier once you’re actually there! It will start making sense! And you’re traveling routes that are very standard so nothing to worry about.

mrwunrfl

Your three train trips are all* on JR West, and I would book online here:
West Japan Railway Company - JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION
*except the Narita Express.

For the two buses: Nohi Bus

mcsles

Thanks, everyone. Enjoy your Holiday. MCS

mrwunrfl

Thx, same to you MCS

I realized this morning that a significant selling point (to me) for suica is that it could eliminate the handful of coins that I accumulate from small purchases. I pay for something using a 1000-yen note for convenience and get coin change. Do that a couple more times and have a bunch of coins. Then I decide I probably have enough to pay for something with coins and I count out what I have. No fun with that especially when I sometimes find out that I am a few yen short.

Thought that the japan-guide link about IC cards is out of date, but it is not. It is just focused on IC use for travel where the limitation can be summarized as:
With some exceptions,[size=8333px] [/size]IC cards part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service typically cannot be used for continuous travel between two areas served by different IC cards, but rather within each area or city