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