Cash
In your own country you are probably used to using plastic money instead of cash. Japan is the opposite so be prepared! I even witnessed a friend paying for his brand new car with cash.
Finding an EFTPOS machine is virtually impossible, and credit cards are not widely used. As a side line thatfs why you see Japanese tourists using unsigned credit cards, because it may be their first time they have actually used them. When you open your bank account the staff will probably ask you if you want a card to use at the cash dispensing machines, if they donft make sure you ask.
The operating hours of the cashing machines depend on the bank. It would pay to check well in advance. As an example my banks machines are open from 8:00am-20:00pm and from 8:00am-17:00pm on a Sunday or a public holiday, however some banks cashing facilities are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Banks do not charge a fee for deposits or withdrawals at the counter or for using the cash machines within business hours. A fee of around 105 yen is charged for the same transaction outside business hours.
