Withdrawing cash and opening a bank account in Japan

When you want to withdraw cash at the ATM with your international cash card in Japan, you need to look for an ATM machine which accepts "PLUS" or "Cirrus" (which is written beside the ATMs). You can use ATMs at post offices, Seven Bank at the convenience store "Seven Eleven" or Citi banks. Some other Japanese banks' ATMs also accept international cash card but not all.


Post office
http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html

Seven bank
http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html


Citi bank
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/banking/branch_atm/


How to open a bank account:

If you want to open a bank account in Japan, you need to go to a special counter at the bank.
Banks open from 9 am to 3 pm, Mon to Fri., but they will be very crowded on the 10th, 15th, 25th and the end of the month because those days are paydays for many companies.

To open a bank account in Japan you will require the following things:

・Resident card, driver's license or a public health insurance card to confirm your address in Japan
・Passport
・Inkan, Hanko (persona name seal/stamp)
・Fill out the application forms.
・Initial deposit (Usually people put 1000 yen to start the account, but there is no minimum amount so you can deposit 1 yen.)

In Japan, there are 2 types of accounts. One called Futsu (ordinaly/savings account) and Toza (checking account usually for company use).

Some banks accept your signature instead of your seal.


When the bank completes the process, you'll receive your bank book which will keep your bank records and a cach card will usually be sent to your address within a week.



You may want to ask some help your Japanese friend or work mates to go to the bank because unfortunately the workers at the banks or post offices are not good English speaker.


Citi bank (will require the monthly maintenance fee) and Shinsei bank have service in English.

Shinsei bank
http://www.shinseibank.com/english/
Citi bank
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/banking/branch_atm/


Public information site for how to open a bank account:
Osaka
http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu020/enjoy/en/services/11.html
http://www2.ofix.or.jp/english/pdf/8-4.pdf

Kobe
http://www.kicc.jp/kicc/guide/bank/index_eng.html

Private information site for how to open a bank account:
http://www.thejapanguy.com/how-to-open-a-japan-post-bank-account/
http://www.digi-joho.com/en/living-japan/165-opening-bank-accounts.html