Originally Posted by KPT (Post 20998430)

The only type of place I have yet to be able to use my CC and this is a big one, is the train station, when you need to recharge Suica cards. You still have to use cash for that one (unless they changed it in the last 6 months :D).

Originally Posted by gnaget (Post 21016313)

Maybe it doesn't allow it for this specific transaction (re charging Suica/Pasmo).

Originally Posted by KPT (Post 21002867)

....Note: Citigold waives the foreign transaction fee, but still charges a non-Citibank ATM fee for withdrawing at...you guessed it, Citibank ATMs in Japan. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by jib71 (Post 21016533)

Yes. I think mobile SUICA with an annual fee - as Jamar describes - is the only way to load your SUICA with a CC.

Originally Posted by Steve M (Post 20996323)

If true, that that would be a deal. I find it hard to believe, however. Please provide the name of your bank and a link to the information that supports what you say - I'm sure many would be interested.

In most cases, you'll find that the exchange rate used by banks or other institutions in the US is very different from the actual rate that day. For example, the Travelex booths in many US airports use an exchange rate that's about 14% different from the actual exchange rate, even though they say "No Commission". Whatever they want to call it, they're making 14% on each exchange. Banks do this too. Be careful to know what you're really getting. Get an actual quote for an actual date, and compare with the actual rate - don't believe anything they tell you about "no commissions!"

Originally Posted by joejones (Post 21030670)

I think you will do better getting a US bank account with a Visa/Mastercard debit card, and simply using Japanese ATMs with that.

Traveler's checks get a better rate in Japan but you will probably have to pay a substantial fee to have them issued in the US. Gift cards also have extra fees IIRC.

Originally Posted by ksandness (Post 21099629)

Except for exchanging a little cash at the airport, I simply use the ATMs and withdraw as much as I can each time to minimize transaction fees.

I have a daily limit of $500, so it was tough when the yen was at 79 to the dollar on my last trip in October 2012. It meant that withdrawing even ¥40,000 would put me over the limit, so I survived on ¥30,000 withdrawals, which meant having to withdraw more frequently. (I paid for hotels with a Capital One credit card--no foreign transaction fee--so the ¥30,000 was for meals, transportation, and other incidentals. I didn't get a JR Pass, because I never left the Tokyo area on that trip.)

Originally Posted by Lamronba (Post 21102873)

Just out of curiosity, How far did Y30,000 get you?

Originally Posted by ksandness (Post 21103334)

Three to four days of meals (including going out drinking and eating with others in my line of work), incidental purchases (newspapers, umbrellas, local crafts), and debits from the Suica for transportation. I eat cheaply when I'm by myself, which is how I can afford those group outings.

Originally Posted by aster (Post 21092390)

So basically exchanging cash is a bad idea in general, or are there places where the spreads are decent and comparable to doing an ATM withdrawal to pick up some Yen?