Withdraw cash?! (ATMs)

 

  I was often asked by the guests about the ATMs. Many of them have Maestro, but it's not famous here in Japan, so they often get confused about withdraw cash by credit cards. Today, I'm talking about this issue.
 
   Many automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Japan do not accept credit, debit and ATM cards, which are issued outside of Japan.
The big exception are the ATMs found at the over 20,000 post offices and over 10,000 7-Eleven convenience stores across the country. These ATMs allowed you to withdraw cash by credit and debit cards issued outside of Japan, including Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express and JCB cards and provide an English user menu.

   However, from April 19, 2013, ATMs at 7-Eleven stores stopped accepting Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus cards issued outside of Japan. Similarly, international ATMs across Japan, including postal ATMs, stopped accepting Maestro cards with EMV chips (but continue to accept Marstercard and Cirrus cards and Maestro cards without EMV chips). 
 

   In addition to the ATMs at post offices and 7-Eleven convenience stores, international ATMs can be found at international airports, in major department stores and in Citibank and Shinsei Bank branches.
In order to use international ATMs, ensure the following at home before leaving for Japan:

***Make sure that your credit or debit card can be used abroad.***

*ATMs at 7-Eleven stores are available 24 hours per day around the year. 

Have a safe trip to Japan.

I'm crossing my fingers.

We are always welcome you to coming here:D