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**tetMitshisk** · 03-04-2010, 06:03 PM

Last time I was there this seemed to become less true, most of the shops in the malls seemed to be taking VISA, and I saw quite a few promotional commercials about how visa was easier than cash, though this could be tokyo area only as I didnt get to go too far from my hotel in ikebukuro. That being said I would become uncomfortable with less than niman en in my pocket. And not every ATM will take a western bank card, but if you can find one that does, withdrawing yen directly will get you the best exchange rate.

This is the case up in the Tohoku area too and most places I have been to in my travels around the country in the last few years. Obviously it is still better to carry cash, but most companies that are nationwide chains, chain malls (Jusco/Aeon come to mind up here), major companies in a given product range, etc generally take credit cards now. Using credits cards is far easier now that it was when I was in uni here back in 1998 or so. With that said, most small mom and pop type, privately owned shops will probably not take them, especially out in the sticks, so having cash is still a good idea.

03-04-2010, 06:03 PM	#24
tetMitshisk Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 493 Senior Member	Last time I was there this seemed to become less true, most of the shops in the malls seemed to be taking VISA, and I saw quite a few promotional commercials about how visa was easier than cash, though this could be tokyo area only as I didnt get to go too far from my hotel in ikebukuro. That being said I would become uncomfortable with less than niman en in my pocket. And not every ATM will take a western bank card, but if you can find one that does, withdrawing yen directly will get you the best exchange rate. This is the case up in the Tohoku area too and most places I have been to in my travels around the country in the last few years. Obviously it is still better to carry cash, but most companies that are nationwide chains, chain malls (Jusco/Aeon come to mind up here), major companies in a given product range, etc generally take credit cards now. Using credits cards is far easier now that it was when I was in uni here back in 1998 or so. With that said, most small mom and pop type, privately owned shops will probably not take them, especially out in the sticks, so having cash is still a good idea.
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