There are many things to consider in preparation for a stay in a new country, and those matters concerning the monetary side are likely of rather high importance. Making sure you can easily access your accounts and do your banking in an easy and efficient manner is truly priceless when visiting a new place. Let’s go over some of the more important aspects that you will likely have a great appreciation for upon arriving for your stay in Japan.
What Is The Currency Of Japan?
In any country knowing the local currency is obviously a rather invaluable aspect of navigating the society easily. Thankfully, if you do give an overpayment by accident in Japan there is a 99.99% chance they will correct you and help you find the appropriate amount
Obviously, still, be wise and considerate of the situation, but being able to trust the Japanese people is one of the wonderful aspects of being in Japan.
The currency in Japan is known as the Yen, which is actually pronounced “En” when spoken in a normal context. A single Yen is roughly equivalent to a US penny. This, however, obviously varies according to exchange rates. There are many coins ranging from a single Yen to a 500 Yen coin, with a 5, 10, 50, and 100 between.
The bills you will likely encounter will be the thousand or “Sen” (pronounced as in “send”) Yen note and the 10,000 or “Mahn” (pronounced as in “lemon”). The 100 Yen coin is the one you will likely use most often and it is called “Hyaku En” simply meaning 100 Yen.
Using ATMs In Japan
One thing you should be aware of is that Japanese stores and restaurants are usually offering only cash payment options unless they are a large chain stores with high ticket items or a large hotel, so be prepared to have cash with you always.
One of the many things you may find yourself wondering in Japan is how it may be easiest to access an ATM that is compatible with a card from a non-Japanese bank.
The wonderful news is that there are ATMs at the many post offices in Japan that are foreign card friendly and have no additional fees. Any charges you see on your account are most likely going to be from your bank and not from any ATM at a Japanese post office.
This is a truly wonderful way to access your accounts and makes it very convenient to do as a post office is almost always nearby. The post office ATM is not open 24 hours at every location, so an alternative that may have some additional fees is a Seven-Eleven convenience store.
These are located throughout Japan and are also foreign bank card friendly. There are additionally a number of Citibank branches and ATMs in Japan, so that is a convenient option for Citibank card holders.
Can You Bargain In Japan
As a final note, unlike in many other Asian countries, the prices of items are usually clearly displayed and there is no intention of swindling the customer by offering different prices to different people. As such, bargaining or “haggling” is not something that is generally done in Japan.
There may be smaller stores where you can still manage it if buying multiple items. Just know that it will quite possibly be difficult for anyone to understand what you are attempting to do, and may possibly be frowned upon if understood.
Hopefully these important tips will have you on your way to happily understanding how to best access your accounts, understand the currency, and understand the culture so you can easily shop and enjoy the many delicious restaurants and attractions in Japan.
