Originally Posted by
acregal
Part of the problem in Japan is that Japanese banks are hesitant to do anything (ATMs in the US were capable of handling multiple networks 20 years ago) and they would have to consistently pay money if using someone else's network and not their own proprietary network. A few years ago Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank refused to let their account holders use their cards at Tokyo Star Bank because of fees.
Unless things have changed, those fees are passed on directly to the account holder, and there are even fees from your own bank if you dare use their ATMs outside approved office hours.