Originally Posted by
lowkeyflyer
1. My local currency exchange quoted me 142 JPY/1 USD today, is this a ripoff? I though it was a decently fare rate.
2. What do you mean by "pay for anything in Japan always in yen"? Do you mean with an American credit card?
3. You mentioned you exchange a ton of dollars for yen when it is weak, I'm assuming you do this in Japan right?
1. Todays rate is 147 -- so it's close.
2. Many retail / restaurants will present you with a machine to pay and ask if you want to pay in yen or USD -- ALWAYS choose yen.
3. Yes -- in Japan. I will withdraw the max amount per day for weeks if I can -- please understand that we live in Japan and the US -- but I earn most of our money in the US -- so when the yen is weak like it is now we "stock it up" lol.... When we bought our home in Japan we took a much smaller mortgage (which is virtually free in Japan) than we normally would because the exchange rate was so favorable -- the bank wire fees were not too bad but the exchange rate was incredible - we saved 25% on our home -- which is a big deal in Tokyo as properties rarely, if ever, appreciate -- they only depreciate....