Im from the USA, and am currently on a 10 day stay in Tokyo. I called my bank (Chase) before traveling and was told I wouldn’t have any issue using my credit card abroad. I figured credit was safest so I did not bring my debit card. While in Japan, the 7-11 atms ask me to put in my pin number, which I assume is the same one as the pin I use at the ATM’s in the states, but I keep getting a “invalid pin” message. I called my bank and the automated process allows me to make a new pin, but it would be sent to my home in the US in 3 weeks, so doesnt really help me. Has anyone else had this experience and what can I do to circumvent this? I’m on an android phone, will setting up paypal with Google Pay allow me to withdraw at these atms?
22 comments
Is your pin six digits? That can sometimes cause problems in Japanese ATMs.
Did you try other ATMs, like Japan Post, Lawson, FamilyMart, etc.? Have you actually used the card as a credit card in Japan yet? Are you sure it didn’t get locked by the bank, despite what they told you up front? You may want to call again to make sure.
Tourist ATMs don’t allow for contactless/cardless withdrawals, so you’ll need to have a working card in order to take money from an ATM.
The bright side? You can actually spend time in Tokyo pretty easily with just credit cards. Although you won’t be able to ride local trains/get an IC card/buy local train tickets, so you’d need at least a small amount of cash for that.
You may want to go to our stickied meet-up thread and see if anyone will meet up with you to exchange some Venmo/PayPal for cash or something like that.
Does your credit card issuer have a way to send emergency funds to a bank in Tokyo? I had my wallet stolen in Italy many years ago, I called my credit card issuer and was able to collect cash from a local bank within 24 hours.
Sounds like a 6 digit PIN issue. A lot of ATMs in Japan only take 4 digit pins and therefore since they only accept the first 4 you type they’re not checking the last 2 in the authorisation package. It’s slightly obscure, but you should ensure you have a 4 digit PIN for international travel.
another thing with some ATM, the numbers on the pin pad are in a different place to what you’re used to so it seems so obvious but checking the numbers you’re typing in instead of doing what you’d do naturally might fix it
Download the app from your bank and internet banking allow set up new pin.
My bank has security questions but just easy to change that from your own mobile, it happen to me that I totally forgot my pin.
This doesn’t seem like your problem but I’ll add that I had problems with any ATM that was kind of fancy, like in a bank. The crap ATMs in 7/11 or Lawson’s worked fine.
The problem here is the seperation of credit card PIN and debit card PIN. I know some credit cards will let you access ALL your accounts at that bank at an ATM, but that’s not something I would rely on in the future. Credit Card PINs are typically reserved for getting a cash advance from at Credit Card. The interest on most credit card cash advances compounds DAILY, so please use EXTREME caution when getting cash from a credit card.
Pro tip: If your credit card has no exchange rate fees. You can withdraw money from the 7-11 ATMs in Japan at the spot rate. But make sure you pay off your credit card balance immediately or pre-transfer the money into your credit card. The transaction counts as a cash advance and you will begin incurring interest immediately.
Try the post office (which are combined with Japan Office Bank). I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten money from those with a credit card years ago.
They don’t look like usual ATMs but they can work and even have English.
Same thing used to happen to me so I started just bringing all the cash I’d need with me to Japan. FYI US customs never blinked when I told them I had $2-3000 in my pocket so don’t worry about that if that’s a concern.
I just got back from Japan (mostly Tokyo) and used my credit card almost everywhere- except for upping my pasmo card for the trains (as already mentioned).
i had the same problem, and over a week i wasnt able to use 7/11 atms again. tried every day. bank couldnt see anything wrong from their end.
all other atms at the other major convenience stores should work just fine though.
now why would you use your CREDIT CARD to withdraw money?? do you use your CREDIT CARD to withdraw money out of banks in the US too? because that’s just called a cash advance and it means you are paying 20%+ in interest automatically unlike a credit card transaction where you get the 1 month before the payment is due
One workaround would also be to use your phone’s wallet to get an IC card. You can then at least use that in subways and for some stores (like 7-11) that take them. With that and credit cards generally, you should be able to get around.
This is why I still bring cash to exchange and encourage other people to do the same. Cards are much better for a variety of reasons, but things like this happen all the time and can leave tourists in big trouble.
the chase pin is a 4 digit number that should have been mailed to you when you applied for the card way back.
I think you are SOL unfortunately… but maybe your bank maybe able to expedite your debit card to your hotel.
edit: also, withdrawing cash with your credit card is a mistake. I think there is a 3% fee for withdrawing, plus 25+% interest for cash advance on top of the 7/11 ATM fees.
next time, look into the charles schwab checkings account.
1) fee-free account with no minimums,
2) fee-free ATMs WORLDWIDE with debit card! (all atm fees are rebated back to you at the end of month)
3) no international fees.
A PIN is card specific. You have to use your credit card’s pin for your credit card. You should have brought your debitATM card if you wanted to use your ATM pin.
Also, taking cash out with a credit card is a cash advance. The fees alone for doing that makes me shudder.
Whoever told you to not bring a debit card shouldn’t travel internationally, let alone to a country that’s still relies on cash. There are still small restaurants that do not take credit.
You need cash. Paypal and Goole Pay do nothing for you.
Who withdraws cash from a credit card?! A debit yes…but credit?! NAH.
Sorry but you’re so fucking stupid.. Who travels abroad and the only form of payment they take with them is something they’ve never tested or used before? Natural selection.
Even with a debit card, the 7-11 atm doesn’t work for Chase Visa. I have had that experience, it gets rejected. Use the atm at Lawson
The only place I could use my cards was at the post office. I tried 7-11 myself and it didn’t work. But never had a problem at the post office. They got to know me really well. 😂
If you have an iPhone get a Pasmo or Suica travel card on your wallet. You can load that up using your credit card. You can travel with it and I’ve noticed that most places would accept that even if they don’t accept credit cards.