Your ATM Guide
Got your cash card? Got your bank book? Then it’s time to hit the ATM.
Japan is still a mostly cash-based society, so you’ll have to visit the ATM quite often. Try to go to your bank’s specific ATM, because other ones (such as the combini ATMs) will charge you a small fee.
The machines often have an English option, but if they don’t, we’ve got you covered!
Main Menu
Withdrawal 引き出し Hikidashi
Perhaps the most important option, especially if you’re about to go on a shopping spree.
Deposit 預け入れ Azukeire
For putting in, instead of taking out. Some machines let you submit coins.
Bank Transfer 振込み Furikomi
A pain in the neck, but necessary for sending money home or paying FuJET for some of our bigger events. There are lots of steps and kanji, so you can either ask a bank worker for help or try out this guide here.
Check Balance 残高照会 Zandaka shoukai
Did your payday come through? Can you afford that trip to Okinawa you’ve been dreaming of? Check your balance here, then select 明細票 (Meisai-hyou) for a printed slip, or 終了 (shuuryou) to end.
Bank Book Update 通帳記入 Tsuuchou ki nyuu
Does what it says on the tin.
A successful withdrawal should look something like this
Buttons
Correct 訂正 Teisei
Made a typo? Press this to delete.
Cancel 取消 Torikeshi
Cancels the process and ejects your card.
Confirm 確認 Kakunin
Press this to confirm what you’ve just typed in.
Return 戻る Modoru
The back button. It’ll take you to the previous screen.
Issue (a receipt) 発行する/しない Hakkou suru/shinai
Press …する if you want a receipt, and …しない if not.
Tips
If you insert your bank book 通帳 (tsuuchou) before your card, it’ll automatically print all your recent transactions and current balance. Neat!
ATMs in Japan close at night (they need a holiday, too.) Check their opening hours, because they vary from town to town. Average is around 8pm.
Local ATMs won’t accept foreign credit or debit cards, but some JP Post ATMs and all 7/11 ones will. 7/11 ATMs are open 24/7, have an English option, but charge a small fee of around 200 yen.
Tell your home bank you’ve moved abroad, or they may freeze your account when you use your card overseas.
By MIKI Yoshihito from Sapporo City,Hokkaido., JAPAN - ATM., CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68719683