Any of the major Japanese bansk is fine after you have a Gaijin card (i.e. Alien Registration Card). I use Mizuho which is close to where I live and work, but Sumitomo or Tokyo-Mitsubishi are also huge. Citi bites for lack of branches and I would avoid it.
As for bringing money over here the easiest and safest and that which allows you to exhange it when the rates are favorable in increments is travelers checks. A stack of $100 travelers checks and you are set. Amex checks are easy to get in the States and work like a charm here. If you have an account here they will cash them on the spot. If you do not yet have an account when you wish to exchange some of them, there are several exchange counters in the metropolitan area that charge very little commission and have the same rate as banks.
Mike
Originally Posted by
aaron1262
Hi all again,
SO i got the tips i needed to set up a cell phone while in japan..now i'm here to find out what i can about banking and setting up my finances in Tokyo as my 4 month adventure will begin in about a month.
What's a good bank to set up an account at for a "gaijin"? I did a little digging and found that CITI bank has Operations in Japan..is that the best bet? or what other options do i have that will make life easier?
Also, after talking to my dad an accountant...he told me the best way to take money over there is in a form of a foreign draft written out in Yen? I'm pretty sure i get what it is...but im wondering if all banks in japan will be able to cash it as there are banks i've read (not Japan in particular) that are stingy about drafts because of security/fraud issues. Anyone do this before?
Anything else i would need to know about banking in Japan?
Thanks