Foreign Credit Card-Friendly ATMs Coming To Japan?

Above, an ATM booth at Niigata Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is relatively a cash-only country as far as foreign tourists are concerned. Very few businesses or banks accept ATM cards or credit cards. 

The Japanese government would like to change all that ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Japan Times reported:

Under the campaign to help tourists ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the government plans to step up pressure on banks and convenience stores to update their ATMs so it’s easier to withdraw cash with a foreign credit card. 

In response to complaints from foreign travelers about the lack of ATMs that will accept foreign-issued cards, the Japan Tourism Agency has called on major banks to take action as part of the government’s effort to increase the number foreign travelers here to 20 million over the next six years.

 Generally, one has to go to a Japanese post office to use an ATM that will accept foreign credit cards.

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