Living in Tokyo

[Superdutch]

Hi all,

I am moving to Tokyo from Australia next month and have heard that Japan is a very cash based society and it is hard to find stores that accept credit cards, which i find hard to believe.

Here at home i use my credit card constantly for everything from CDs, clothing and even everyday groceries.

I just wanted to know if it is hard to survive on credit card in Japan while I wait for my first paycheck?

I know it is a boring topic, but any advice would be appreciated.

Thanx!

[Jean Snow]

Yes, it will be, but just take a cash advance from your card. You'll be OK in big stores, but when it comes to daily life (train, convenient store, etc.) don't expect to do anything with a credit card.

Jean Snow

http://jeansnow.net

[bam93270]

very useful: memorize all the Citibank locations for ATM with international credit cards....Omotesando crossing, Shibuya on the way to Bunkamura and of course Roppongi crossing.

[Jean Snow]

There's a Citibank ATM at Ikebukuro station also, in the basement of the Metropolitan Plaza.

Jean Snow

http://jeansnow.net

[sufu1]

also shinjuku - in front of electronics area plus hiroo and marunouchi.

all other banks in japan are hell... except for a branch of sanwa bank in takanawadai ---yeh, this was a REALLY looong time ago---- where the very important though not so glamorous "hello welcome to sanwa bank lady" noticed a loose thread hanging from the rear of my brand new yohji yamamoto jacket --- yes yohji was once cool--- as i was filing out my deposit slip. she then went out the back door - presumably to the bank vault - and came back with the bank sewing kit and sewed my trashed jacket back together again...

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superslave1

http://superfuture.com

Edited by wayne on Mar 8, 2004 at 02:03 AM

[Jean Snow]

That is unreal!

Jean Snow

http://jeansnow.net