|
Discover Card in Japan?
Leaving for Japan in 13 hours and just received an email from our hotel saying they no longer accept Visa/MC. They say they only accept AMEX, Diners, JCB or cash. The total bill will be 120,000 yen / $1300. We can stop by the airport in the AM and get more cash, but I'm not sure how much we will be able to get. Anyone have experience with Discover card being taken as a JCB card. Searching online shows that it may work.
|
This would leave me seriously screwed.
Which hotel is this? It would be extremely useful to know. |
What hotel would this be, I'd like to know.
Backup plan might be cutting the days short and switching to another hotel that does accept Visa/Master. Though it's quite strange they would stop accepting visa but still accept those other cards, I've never heard of something like that happening before, but Again I'm no expert on those matters, but it does seem strange. |
JCB cards are widely accepted in Japan. You should be okay with your Discover card. The only problem is that most merchants in Japan do not know the fact that Discover cards can be accepted through JCB terminals. They would most likely reject Discover card without even trying to scan your card. Do ask them to try Discover card.
JCB terminals also accept American Express cards. I am still surprised at the hotel not accepting Visa and MC. It is probably a temporary problem that their processing machine may have been used for fraud or something. |
I never knew that JCB would accept Discover. Learn something every day!
|
Thanks for the input. I will post the property after I check in just in case :). They at least said I didn't have to pay in full up front. I would hope so!!!! There is a 7-11 next door, so I should be able to draw cash every day assuming my card works.
|
Originally Posted by cme2c
(Post 11973598)
Thanks for the input. I will post the property after I check in just in case :). They at least said I didn't have to pay in full up front. I would hope so!!!! There is a 7-11 next door, so I should be able to draw cash every day assuming my card works.
|
You should look into travelers checks, also keep in mind that Japan is a cash driven society. if the chance a business accept cards, there is a usually a additional fee.
|
Originally Posted by yosithezet
(Post 11973686)
Traveler checks?
Any ideas on the best place to exchange the dollars to Yen when we get there? The booth here at HNL charges a $6.95 fee and said the exchange rate was 88 yen/$. i.e. a $6.95 fee plus another 7% fee. |
Ugh, that's a horrible rate. Get as much cash as you can from the Citibank ATM in the airport.
But really, a hotel that doesn't take MC or Visa? There has to be a story behind that. Perhaps one of their employees was using customers' card numbers fraudulently and with typical Japanese over-reaction, they banned the hotel from using those cards. |
Originally Posted by cme2c
(Post 11975109)
Any ideas on the best place to exchange the dollars to Yen when we get there? The booth here at HNL charges a $6.95 fee and said the exchange rate was 88 yen/$. i.e. a $6.95 fee plus another 7% fee.
|
Originally Posted by yosithezet
(Post 11973245)
I never knew that JCB would accept Discover. Learn something every day!
|
Did you use a Visa or MC to guarantee your reservation or provide a deposit? If so, the hotel may normally accept Visa/MC, but your card might have been declined if the hotel tried to submit a pre-authorization request.
We learned in checking with the issuers of our Visa/MC and ATM cards that each had different rules regarding transactions in Japan. One VISA issuer required notification prior to travel to Japan, otherwise all charges originating in Japan would be declined. Another informed us that signature-based transactions were fine, but PIN-based transactions were not. Interestingly, we don't have these issues when traveling to other countries. We were told that there is a high incidence of fraudulent charges originating from Japan, hence the extra security. |
I just used my Discover Card at a few places in Japan:
Prince Park Tower hotel (I understand many hotels accept Discover Card now in Japan), restaurants and stores in Tokyo. I was even able to get Cash at the JCB ATM machine in the airport (by the departure gate). Just keep trying it! My understanding is that even if it is not accepted right now, it will be by later this year. (That's the buzz I heard in Japan)! |
Welcome to FlyerTalk, simon09!
|
:DThanks!
Originally Posted by yosithezet
(Post 12185715)
Welcome to FlyerTalk, simon09!
|
Today, I found that Grocery Court Cerfeuil at B1 in Gyre in Omotesando had a sign with the Discover Card logo. This particular sign had the JCB logo more prominently displayed than all the other logos, which made me believe that the merchant has their terminal from JCB.
However, I could not test its acceptance, since I did not bring my card on this trip because of the 2% foreign transaction fee. |
Discover accepted in Japan?
I just came across this from 2006. Did anything come out of this? Is Discover accepted in Japan? - http://www.jcbcorporate.com/english/...0060830_3.html
Riverwoods, Illinois and Tokyo,Japan- August 23, 2006-Discover Financial Services LLC, a business unit of Morgan Stanley(NYSE:MS), and JCB, the largest card issuer and acquirer in Japan, today announced they have entered into a strategic relationship that will lead to increased card acceptance for both companies. The two parties have agreed to an arrangement that will facilitate acceptance of JCB cards on the Discover Network in the U.S., and of Discover Network cards on the JCB network in Japan, and acceptance of PULSE cards at targeted ATMs in Japan at the option of the card issuer.In 2007, Discover Network will begin enabling its systems so JCB cardholders will be able to use their JCB cards at Discover Network merchant locations throughout the United States.Upon completion of a JCB system enhancement, Discover Network cardholders will be able to use their cards for purchases at JCB merchant locations and for cash advances at targeted ATMs throughout Japan beginning in 2008. |
I used my Discover Card in Japan
At Narita airport, hotel and shopping in Tokyo. Look here!
I also got cash at the 7-11 in Japan on my Discover Card - yeah! http://www.discovercard.com/customer-service/faq/asia.html#q14^ |
I used my Discover Card in Japan
It seemed as though I could use Discover everywhere in Japan on my last trip:
The airport limousine, The Hilton and Nikko Hotels, Jusco and Aeon department stores...even Toys r us! Very excited!^ |
Both Discover and American Express do work at JCB terminals, all of them. You may need to press to make the cashiers try them, but when they do so the cards work. BTW, that is true throughout the JCB network in Asia, not just Japan.
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 8:54 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.