teomingern 6th Gear August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 11:05 AM, Jman888 said: you can still draw out JPY in cash from the ATM there. There's a withdrawal limit for drawing cash right? I remember reading above that it's $350... so not much... and higher withdrawals will incur charges? Seems like changing Yen here and carrying wads of it is better? Any views on that? ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mkl22 Supersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/15/2023 at 1:30 PM, teomingern said: Oh definitely cos I will be going for 28 days... I budget $100 a day for meals - lunch & dinner for the family (my kids equivalent to one adult), and that makes $3000 already... but if I can't use the card and the tiny establishments which only accept cash using their vending machines, then not sure how this YouTrip card is useful? Actually my issue is how much cash to carry for this trip... was thinking of exchanging S$5000 for ¥ and carry some US$ along in case need more cash... use credit card whenever I can... There will also be train/bus/subway ticket expenses (not that much about $500 or so) plus all the entrance tickets - mainly cable cars, places of interests (thankfully these aren't so expensive in Japan)... I did a calculation but I can't remember off hand how much... So if the YouTrip card can help with the cash portion cos I can just charge to my credit card any time... then it would be fabulous... otherwise it would simply work like my credit card which then duplicates it function... and with $5000 already exchanged, I guess I would have locked it the best rates prior to my trip... Looking at the money changers, I think the going rate now is S$1 = ¥103... so unless if the exchange rate changes to give ¥105 per dollar from the time I exchange till end of my trip... I lose maybe $100+ lar... which I think I can swallow lar... I don't think the yen will plunge so much within 2-3 months? Why bother with USD. That’s so old school. Just change JPY. Extra just keep or change back later on. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mkl22 Supersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 12:00 PM, teomingern said: There's a withdrawal limit for drawing cash right? I remember reading above that it's $350... so not much... and higher withdrawals will incur charges? Seems like changing Yen here and carrying wads of it is better? Any views on that? Top up suica with Apple Pay and youtrip. suica accepted almost everywhere. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mkl22 Supersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/15/2023 at 1:30 PM, teomingern said: Oh definitely cos I will be going for 28 days... I budget $100 a day for meals - lunch & dinner for the family (my kids equivalent to one adult), and that makes $3000 already... but if I can't use the card and the tiny establishments which only accept cash using their vending machines, then not sure how this YouTrip card is useful? Actually my issue is how much cash to carry for this trip... was thinking of exchanging S$5000 for ¥ and carry some US$ along in case need more cash... use credit card whenever I can... There will also be train/bus/subway ticket expenses (not that much about $500 or so) plus all the entrance tickets - mainly cable cars, places of interests (thankfully these aren't so expensive in Japan)... I did a calculation but I can't remember off hand how much... So if the YouTrip card can help with the cash portion cos I can just charge to my credit card any time... then it would be fabulous... otherwise it would simply work like my credit card which then duplicates it function... and with $5000 already exchanged, I guess I would have locked it the best rates prior to my trip... Looking at the money changers, I think the going rate now is S$1 = ¥103... so unless if the exchange rate changes to give ¥105 per dollar from the time I exchange till end of my trip... I lose maybe $100+ lar... which I think I can swallow lar... I don't think the yen will plunge so much within 2-3 months? Youtrip rates are better than any credit card and without the extra surcharges. Its tracks xe.com rates exactly,rounded down. Unless damn ulu places. Many places in Japan now accept credit card. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 12:00 PM, teomingern said: There's a withdrawal limit for drawing cash right? I remember reading above that it's $350... so not much... and higher withdrawals will incur charges? Seems like changing Yen here and carrying wads of it is better? Any views on that? I made 3 atm withdrawals in Japan in Feb total S$1,000, all 3 withdrawal get S$5 per draw and no other admin fee if you withdraw at 7-11 atm. Hence to make the $5 worth, just draw more each time convert JPY in youtrip account and you will deplete jpy first then sgd. I will convert when the rate is good, but just top up sgd when in Japan since whatever you use will be based on the spot rate then. just came back from HK and good thing is they waive whatever withdrawal fee in HK, not even the $5. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teomingern 6th Gear August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 2:09 PM, Jman888 said: I made 3 atm withdrawals in Japan in Feb total S$1,000, all 3 withdrawal get S$5 per draw and no other admin fee if you withdraw at 7-11 atm. Hence to make the $5 worth, just draw more each time convert JPY in youtrip account and you will deplete jpy first then sgd. I will convert when the rate is good, but just top up sgd when in Japan since whatever you use will be based on the spot rate then. just came back from HK and good thing is they waive whatever withdrawal fee in HK, not even the $5. Ah.... that's quite interesting... so it's good for emergency withdrawals lar... but not so much like for frequent withdrawals... cos $5 adds up really fast... so maybe it's a good back up card to have... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesc Hypersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 (edited) Everything is good. Use Utrip UP enjoy the slightly better exchange rates. Use credit card enjoy the convenience. Use Suica card accepted almost everywhere. Use cash accepted everywhere. As for the 1 or 2% better exchange rates Yen was 78 to to 1SGD and now 107 to 1SGD Its not the 1 or 2% better exchange rates that is important its the extra 29 yen for every dollar spent that is important! Edited August 16, 2023 by Jamesc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesc Hypersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 Unless you are spending millions the extra 1 or 2% is a very nice bonus but not a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teomingern 6th Gear August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 12:09 PM, Mkl22 said: Why bother with USD. That’s so old school. Just change JPY. Extra just keep or change back later on. Cos I using US$ in Sep on my trip to Cambodia... so sure got excess... so rather than change just use lor... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teomingern 6th Gear August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 12:15 PM, Mkl22 said: Youtrip rates are better than any credit card and without the extra surcharges. Its tracks xe.com rates exactly,rounded down. Unless damn ulu places. Many places in Japan now accept credit card. Oh... that's sounds different from the many websites I read... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teomingern 6th Gear August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 12:10 PM, Mkl22 said: Top up suica with Apple Pay and youtrip. suica accepted almost everywhere. Cannot buy Suica now... I guess any of these IC cards (will be getting Sugoca in Fukuoka) can also be topped up by YouTrip? Meaning it's topped up at the machines like using a credit card? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kxbc Turbocharged August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 Most of their IC cards are accepted almost everywhere. It is damn convenient to use and easy to top up at any train stations. Can use at convenience stores, transport, shopping centres, restaurants etc. These places accept credit cards also. Japan accepts a lot more digital money than say 5 years ago. We used a combination of debit card (our debit cards have a FX account), Youtrip (best rates), IC card and cash in my last trip this year. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mkl22 Supersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 3:41 PM, teomingern said: Cannot buy Suica now... I guess any of these IC cards (will be getting Sugoca in Fukuoka) can also be topped up by YouTrip? Meaning it's topped up at the machines like using a credit card? Put your suica into Apple Pay as a transport card. This way you can top up via credit card. Then use youtrip as the debit card to top up. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mkl22 Supersonic August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 (edited) On 8/16/2023 at 3:29 PM, teomingern said: Oh... that's sounds different from the many websites I read... was in Osaka in dec. unless you visit very small souvenir shops or pay entrance fee for small gardens, temples in Kyoto. All the eating places accepted credit cards. I used youtrip all the way. Now suica can easily be top up. Suica also works. the other time I paid cash was using the Shinkansen at the machines. The machines refused all my cards. Edited August 16, 2023 by Mkl22 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teomingern 6th Gear August 16, 2023 Share August 16, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 5:28 PM, Mkl22 said: Put your suica into Apple Pay as a transport card. This way you can top up via credit card. Then use youtrip as the debit card to top up. I don't use Apple phone leh... and I need it for all family... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
therock Supersonic August 16, 2023 Author Share August 16, 2023 What’s the consensus Suica vs IOCCA? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teomingern 6th Gear August 18, 2023 Share August 18, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 6:53 PM, therock said: What’s the consensus Suica vs IOCCA? Do you have a choice? Can't buy Suica anymore... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mkl22 Supersonic August 18, 2023 Share August 18, 2023 On 8/16/2023 at 6:53 PM, therock said: What’s the consensus Suica vs IOCCA? IOCCA if you travel on some private lines in west if Japan. Osaka Kyoto and south west areas. this was a couple of years back, that I was aware of maybe now suica is also accepted everywhere. In the end, it is just where is the card is issued. West IOCCA and east Japan SUICA. ↡ Advertisement 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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