Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Foreign money exchange bureau
Center
Tokyo Big Sight Building
Right
Line outside an ATM
Banking and Communications
!
Money
linked up to international
cash networks. ATMs
usually give a slightly
better exchange rate than
exchanging cash or trav-
elers' checks in depart-
ment stores and hotels.
%
Credit Cards
Express mail services,
such as EMS, are reliable.
Send priority mail from
the Tokyo International
Post Office and Tokyo
Central Post, each with
all-night counters.
*
Internet Cafés
Yen banknotes have
four denominations:
¥10,000, ¥5,000, ¥2,000,
and ¥1,000. The ¥2,000
note is not seen much.
Coins can be found in
units of ¥500, ¥100, ¥50,
¥10, ¥5, and ¥1. Check
exchange rates against
your own currency before
you travel.
Although the
Japanese still prefer
using cash, large hotels
and department stores
accept credit cards.
American Express,
Diners Club, MasterCard,
and Visa are the most
widely accepted.
Internet cafés open
and close frequently.
Yahoo! Japan has cafés
at Narita and Haneda
airports, and many
kissa
manga (manga coffee
shops) offer cheap
access. More reliable is
the business service
chain, Kinko's, with loca-
tions all over Tokyo. There
are some clever hackers
in Tokyo, so avoid credit
card and online banking
transactions in net cafés.
@
Banks
The Bank of Japan
(Nippon Ginko) is the
country's central banking
institution. Along with
more local banks, it is
not set up to deal with
visitors. Main street
banks are more geared
to visitors' needs.
Choose an international
bank such as Sumitomo
Mitsui, Citibank, or
Mizuho Bank. Most banks
are open from 9am to
3pm on weekdays.
£
Changing Money
^
Telephones, Cards,
and Cell Phones
With the exception of
train stations and con-
venience stores, public
phones are a rarity. Some
phones accept inter-
national credit cards. Buy
telephone cards from the
big telecom companies,
such as NTT and KDDI,
at kiosks. All major hotels
have international dialing.
Some foreign cell phones
work through operators
such as DoCoMo and
Softbank Telecom. It is
possible to rent or buy
a cell phone at provider
service desks at Narita
and Haneda airports.
(
Television
and Radio
The state broadcaster
NHK has two local and
two satellite TV channels.
Tokyo has five other local
channels. Satellite broad-
caster SkyPerfect! TV has
a huge range of chan-
nels. InterFM and FEN
have music and news.
Foreign currencies
can be changed and
travelers' checks cashed
at authorized foreign
exchange banks. Some
department stores and
big hotels change money
and travelers' checks. A
few foreign exchange
bureaus have sprung up in
areas visited by tourists.
)
Business Facilities
Large hotels provide
space for business-related
events. Facilities, such as
faxes and Internet access,
are usually available. The
staff at the Kinkos busi-
ness service chain speak
English. Trade-related
exhibitions and business
conventions are often
held at venues such as
Tokyo Big Sight and Tokyo
International Forum.
&
Post Offices
Yubin-kyoku
(post
offices) bear the red
signs resembling a “T.”
Mail boxes, too, are red.
Post office hours are
usually from 9am to 5pm
on weekdays. Some main
offices open on Saturdays
from 9am to 12:30pm.
$
AT M s
Very few standard
ATMs accept foreign-
issued cards. Citibank
has 24-hour international
ATMs in Shinjuku and
Roppongi. The larger post
offices have postal ATMs
121
Narita Airport has several foreign exchange bureaus with
English-speaking staff. These are open from 7am to 10pm daily.
