brynski 0 Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Ah yes the good old barter system...if only it was effective in Australia, I've tried a couple of times! And JA, same thing happened to my mum when she came to visit me whilst I was living in Canada, though not to that extreme. When she arrived the aussie dollar dropped to like 70 Cents Canadian, then just after she left it jumped up to like 95cents! Would of saved her a lot of money. Link to post Share on other sites
agillgren 13 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Thanks for the heasd up everyone as I would have been a bit stuffed (my cards are Maestro). My normal travel plan involves just turning up and withdrawing enough cash for say a week from the nearest ATM. This has worked in South America, Tanzania, Europe and SE asia. That way when your mugged you don't loose too much cash at one time.... Wouldn't have expected it to be harder to get cash in Japan than in a small village in africa! Anyway. as a rought guide so I know how much Yen to get how much is say dinner pp. at an average restaurant in Niseko? And the price of beer? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Well annika little to no chance of getting mugged in Japan but the banking system here is less advanced than most 3rd world countries I've travelled to! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 have 5000 for a decent dinner 3000 for the beers. Per night. Daytime not included. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Originally Posted By: thursday have 5000 for a decent dinner 3000 for the beers. Per night. Daytime not included. But you can do it on a budget if you want ... Breakfast stuff for our lot at SeicoMart last night cost 1750. That was for 10 eggs, 3 packs of bacon, 3 bags of bread (5 or 6 very fat slices in each bag), a pack of mini croissants, 2x 1 litre milks and some juice - I think that was it). Fed 6 people for a hearty breakfast and lots left over at under 300Yen per person. I've paid between 850 - 2000 for lunch out depending on where and what. How many beers are you HAVING Thursday! If you are on a budget alcohol is CHEAP at the supermarket, and reasonable at the bars. Compared to Perth prices at least. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 at 350 from the vending machine, not many. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Aw shucks go om Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Originally Posted By: thursday have 5000 for a decent dinner 3000 for the beers. Per night. Daytime not included. Originally Posted By: thursday at 350 from the vending machine, not many. Me thinks Thursday is going to have a couple of beers it my maths are right around 9.5 Go you good thing after 1 I am under the table. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 thursday doesn't drink beer. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 no, not since they invented guzzling! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 that's not really fair is it. 10 cans at 355ml is only 3.55 litres. It's beer, not whiskey. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Reality has hit my nephew with only 3 weeks to go. He has decided that he will only need a to take a little cash with him as he will get some more from the ATM's when he needs it. YES we have told him 100 times that cash is the king in Japan. He was quite shocked and stunned to learn that he wouldn't be able to get of the flight and wonder up to one of several ATM's at Chitose Airport and get some cash out. After telling him that he HAS TO HAVE CASH AGAIN - he simply replied "but Japan is electronic's capital of the world are you telling me they don't have ATM's. Oh yeah this trip is going to be GOLD!!!! Haven't told him yet that there is no Gloria Jean's in Niseko!! 1 shock at a time. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 My last trip, there was a 7-Bank ATM in the hotel. I saw NOBODY using it. I took 30man in cash and came home with 5man Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Originally Posted By: snowhuntress Haven't told him yet that there is no Gloria Jean's in Niseko!! He'll be OK, there are a heap of Starbucks. Same crappy coffee, different name. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 No there aint. What you on? Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Originally Posted By: JA He'll be OK, there are a heap of Starbucks. Same crappy coffee, different name. Yeah haven't seen any starbucks in Niseko or Kutchan unless one has snuck in this year!! Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Yeah, my bad. I was talking in general in Japan - too much lightly chilled Verdelho before posting. The alternative might have to be a bottle of instant craffee (crap coffee). Although the King Bell did a great coffee when we were there a couple of years ago. (and a dash of Godiva made it sooo much nicer!) Link to post Share on other sites
TheOriginalMyoko 0 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Quote: too much lightly chilled Verdelho That, sounds like a good idea. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 You betcha! 'Twas superb - the reason I HAD to have another (and another ...) If you can find it, the winery is "de Bortoli", and I know they send casks to Japan because I saw some in Kyoto in October. Their "chateau cardboard" range is quite good, and reasonably priced. Not sure if it is available in Niseko, though. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I switched to Latte's while in Niseko - and they were not half bad - under the Gondola, A Bu Cha Bakery and A Bu Cha2, The Vale, and another half a dozen locations besides all did reasonable Latte's. I saved the Long Blacks til I was home though - nothing worse than a dodgy coffee taken black ...there is just no room for error! Link to post Share on other sites
banjobiwan 0 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 i am still amazed at just how many people are totally clueless when it comes to money in japan. some girls in our lodge turned up with about $200aud worth of yen between them, they paid for hire gear in cash then realised they had 800 yen left for a week! they promptly returned the hire gear to be able to afford to eat and paid via c/c Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Originally Posted By: Foxpuppet i am still amazed at just how many people are totally clueless when it comes to money in japan. some girls in our lodge turned up with about $200aud worth of yen between them, they paid for hire gear in cash then realised they had 800 yen left for a week! they promptly returned the hire gear to be able to afford to eat and paid via c/c I talked the young'un through it all getting there, while there and coming home so he was aware of all the traps. The 3000 per adult for the Limousine Bus from Haneda to Narita might catch some unawares too - although they can card that. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Welcome home, Mama! Hope you are finding the temps to your liking! Link to post Share on other sites
Kraut_in_HongKong 0 Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Originally Posted By: brynski Will I be able to use my Aussie Visa card most places? No idea about YOUR card, but MY card (Visa, HSBC Hong Kong) has 'issues'. I paid my place in that agents place (no problems). Later that evening I went to an Izakaya in that new building right side up the hill (wow, great food!!!), no problems there either. Next morning I wanted to rent my ski stuff and buy the lift pass near the slope - both did NOT work. However my wife's card (also a HK card) was ok. Naturally I thought my card got maybe blocked due to out of country use, so that evening went back to the same Izakaya place. No problem again. And I always had problems with buying JR tickets. My advice is: do not rely on it if you just have one card and prepare cash for emergencies. And just one side note: 7Eleven and the Post Office's ATM can take Maestro/EC cards. In my case my EC card got me ¥50,000 in 7Eleven. 50,000 is the maximum for one withdraw, but you can do a few withdrawals in a row. That is good, however later I discovered my Postbank has a €5.00 fee per withdrawal, still better then no cash. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Dunno Kraut, all my cards worked fine when I used them. But I like using cash in Niseko. So much quicker. Link to post Share on other sites
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