Dollar Firm In ¥104 Range

Above, the Chiba Bank currency exchange window in Terminal One at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's better travel news for people who are looking to a trip to Japan as the summer vacation season is nearing the end.

First, as mentioned in previous blog posts, airfare prices are beginning to drop. Now, it is reported that the dollar is doing better against the Japanese yen.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The U.S. dollar traded narrowly in the lower 104 yen range in Tokyo on Monday morning, staying firm after topping the 104 yen line in New York on Friday for the first time since early April on expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve is gearing up for an interest rate hike. 

At noon, the dollar fetched 104.18-19 yen compared with 103.88-98 yen in New York and 103.76-77 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

Keep in mind that the 104.18-19 yen rates generally apply to "high rollers" in Japan. The average traveler will get a slightly lesser rate. Still, the higher the exchange rates for the "high rollers" also means better rates for the average Joe Doaks.

To read the full article, go here.