Vacations and World Travel Visiting our beautiful city? Come stay at the Arbutus Vista - Vancouver's Bed & Breakfast.
How was your trip? Which tour packages would you recommend/avoid? Must do's and must eats? Share tips, photos and experiences with other senior RS members who just want to get away.. |
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12-12-2017, 11:25 AM
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#401 | | Say NO to blade grinders!
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Vancouver
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Never tried, but read here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2208.html
Your card should be listed on one of those networks in the above to be able to use the ATMs. I try not to add more things to do when I'm traveling so I would just exchange everything in advance.
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12-12-2017, 12:24 PM
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#402 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: May 2014 Location: Home*
Posts: 513
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used Amex quite a few times. rates were better even compared to VBCE, (vbce is better than exchanging in Jpn)
Amex > VBCE > exchange in Japan
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12-12-2017, 10:36 PM
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#403 | | Banned (BBM)
Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: None
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I exchanged money at the airport and got ripped off. Their rates suck! If you can, try to exchange more out into the city, or use your credit card. My credit card actually gave me the best rate than anything I saw in Japan.
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12-12-2017, 10:51 PM
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#404 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sunny Hong Kong
Posts: 52,335
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Originally Posted by CorneringArtist  Has anyone successfully used their debit card to withdraw money from a Japanese ATM, specifically Coast Capital's? Or does it make more sense to convert some cash here and then convert the remainder of CAD when I arrive at the airport? I'm concerned that if my debit card is a no go, I'll be way short on funds compared to getting all my money when I get there. | Find out what network it's on, and go from there. Exchanging cash like it's 1960 is a good way to waste time and get ripped off with shitty rates 
Actually come to think of it, using cash itself seems so outdated now. ESPECIALLY for traveling
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12-12-2017, 11:09 PM
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#405 | | VAC Head Rotang Mod
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Van
Posts: 10,668
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i converted a bunch of cash before i went. only card i used while i was there was my Suica lol
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12-13-2017, 07:17 AM
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#406 | | "Entertainment" mod.
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Surrey, BC
Posts: 5,110
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It's surprising that CC rates are actually not that ugly. My debit card is on Cirrus, but not being one of the Big Five banks had me concerned that it wouldn't work. But considering I carry both MC/Visa, I have a fallback.
Ideally getting 20,000 JPY in Canada to at least get around, and withdraw the rest in the country is a better idea?
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12-13-2017, 09:04 AM
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#407 | | I am Hook'd on RS
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 67
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Yup, that's the way to do it. I used the 7-11/Post office ATMs with both TD and RBC debit cards, but anything with a cirrus/plus logo works. Your bank may charge a fee, mine was $5 a transaction. I would take out a lump sum of cash once a week while there.
I used a credit card for larger purchases/hotels if possible. I used a Rogers MC, 4% cashback on foreign currency purchases (1.5% when you account for their 2.5% fee). This card.
Fido has a similar card with no annual fee
cheers
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12-13-2017, 03:32 PM
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#408 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowhere
Posts: 2,294
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I had no issues with Tangerine, via Network. The fee wasn't much and there's so many atms at the 7-11s or Lawsons or Post Office.
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12-13-2017, 04:38 PM
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#409 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sunny Hong Kong
Posts: 52,335
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Originally Posted by CorneringArtist It's surprising that CC rates are actually not that ugly. My debit card is on Cirrus, but not being one of the Big Five banks had me concerned that it wouldn't work. But considering I carry both MC/Visa, I have a fallback.
Ideally getting 20,000 JPY in Canada to at least get around, and withdraw the rest in the country is a better idea? | Cirrus will be easy since you have post offices and 7-11 EVERYWHERE. Also Citibank. Those are the places I'd go to all the time. Transfer fees were about $5 IIRC (HSBC was free when using an HSBC machine worldwide which was nice)
As long as your bank itself doesn't block international withdrawals, they'll be fine. It might be a good idea to tell them you're travelling. I know in HK it's policy to block international withdrawals until you enable it manually before a trip (you can do so through the ATM so it's not bad). That's govt law, but some banks may have similar policies.
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12-13-2017, 07:22 PM
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#410 | | "Entertainment" mod.
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Surrey, BC
Posts: 5,110
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Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp Cirrus will be easy since you have post offices and 7-11 EVERYWHERE. Also Citibank. Those are the places I'd go to all the time. Transfer fees were about $5 IIRC (HSBC was free when using an HSBC machine worldwide which was nice)
As long as your bank itself doesn't block international withdrawals, they'll be fine. It might be a good idea to tell them you're travelling. I know in HK it's policy to block international withdrawals until you enable it manually before a trip (you can do so through the ATM so it's not bad). That's govt law, but some banks may have similar policies. | Yeah, I've set a travel notification with my bank and it's pretty much an "OK, got it" kind of thing. Some companies require it, others like Capital One trust their system enough to not need it.
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Borokusowagen.
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12-14-2017, 12:09 AM
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#411 | | :inoutugh:
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ඞ
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Carried cash and used amazon Visa when I went to Japan. One thing to note when withdrawing money is your daily withdrawal limit. When I went backpacking through Europe, I used an atm in Germany(one of their big banks on the cirrus network). Tried withdrawing something like €400(approx. $600). But kept getting declined. I remember telling the bank I was traveling to these countries on these certain dates. Had to go through some hoops to call my bank while overseas, and found out that they did put a note that I would be traveling, but didn't mention to me that my daily withdrawal limit was set at like $200 or something low. Thus my €400 transaction kept getting declined.
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12-14-2017, 06:19 AM
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#412 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 531
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Thats so sneaky of bank to maximize their profit in the name of "security" Quote:
Originally Posted by TOS'd Carried cash and used amazon Visa when I went to Japan. One thing to note when withdrawing money is your daily withdrawal limit. When I went backpacking through Europe, I used an atm in Germany(one of their big banks on the cirrus network). Tried withdrawing something like €400(approx. $600). But kept getting declined. I remember telling the bank I was traveling to these countries on these certain dates. Had to go through some hoops to call my bank while overseas, and found out that they did put a note that I would be traveling, but didn't mention to me that my daily withdrawal limit was set at like $200 or something low. Thus my €400 transaction kept getting declined. | | |
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12-14-2017, 06:23 AM
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#413 | | I am Hook'd on RS
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 67
Thanked 29 Times in 16 Posts
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Originally Posted by TOS'd Carried cash and used amazon Visa when I went to Japan. One thing to note when withdrawing money is your daily withdrawal limit. When I went backpacking through Europe, I used an atm in Germany(one of their big banks on the cirrus network). Tried withdrawing something like €400(approx. $600). But kept getting declined. I remember telling the bank I was traveling to these countries on these certain dates. Had to go through some hoops to call my bank while overseas, and found out that they did put a note that I would be traveling, but didn't mention to me that my daily withdrawal limit was set at like $200 or something low. Thus my €400 transaction kept getting declined. | Good point! For past trips I've been able to get the daily limit raised quite high ($1500-$2000), though they can be somewhat reluctant. They can do it for a temporary period as well.
cheers
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03-05-2018, 06:50 PM
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#414 | | Everyone wants a piece of R S...
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: burnaby
Posts: 390
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can anyone recommend a prepaid data sim card?
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03-05-2018, 07:23 PM
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#415 | | :inoutugh:
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ඞ
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Originally Posted by areyez can anyone recommend a prepaid data sim card? | I used a Sakura Mobile data sim, operates under the Docomo(one of or is the largest 4G network) network so I never had issues with connectivity across Japan. I believe you have to order this one online and can be picked up at a post offices such as the one near Tokyo Station which opens later than the airport ones. And then you mail the sim back at any mailbox with the included envelope, such as the airport mailbox right before you go through security. https://www.sakuramobile.jp/pricing/
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03-06-2018, 09:13 AM
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#416 | | I subscribe to the Revscene NWS thread(s)
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver
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I'm heading out there next week and found bMobile to be fairly cheap as well. Also on Docomo network Purchase page | b-mobile VISITOR SIM | |
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03-06-2018, 10:41 AM
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#417 | | I am Hook'd on RS
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 67
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I used this one: https://t.iijmio.jp/en/
2GB/3months and was ~$45. Bought it en route on the ANA flight to Tokyo, easy to set up and worked perfect. I used a North American market iPhone 6 (A1549), and even though it's not on their compatible list, I had no issues.
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03-06-2018, 02:50 PM
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#418 | | WOAH! i think Vtec just kicked in!
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: richmond
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Does anyone know the process to work in Japan as a Professional?
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by Graeme S More than half of the problem is stupidity, not malice. | | |
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03-06-2018, 06:04 PM
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#419 | | "Entertainment" mod.
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Surrey, BC
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Going to be using Telus Easy Roam. Full plan access with calls back to Canada and in the country, and 10 dollars a day offsets the cost of renting pocket wi-fi.
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Borokusowagen.
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03-07-2018, 05:59 PM
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#420 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver
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Anyone been to the Honda Collection museum at Motegi? I'm in Tokyo in late April and it's a 3 hour trek each way to see it. I'm a big Honda fan boy but this will surely test the patience and good will of my wife.
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03-07-2018, 06:12 PM
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#421 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sunny Hong Kong
Posts: 52,335
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Be careful with the word "museum" in Japan, its general meaning is just a room with some things in it. This can be literally a room with some things in it, or an actual museum that you may be expecting.
I can't say anything about the Honda Museum, so it is good that you're looking for information on it first before planning a trip out there.
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03-08-2018, 10:10 PM
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#422 | | Driving around in circles
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Richmond
Posts: 1,729
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Originally Posted by supafamous Anyone been to the Honda Collection museum at Motegi? I'm in Tokyo in late April and it's a 3 hour trek each way to see it. I'm a big Honda fan boy but this will surely test the patience and good will of my wife. |
I just went in January. If you are a big Honda fan boy, you should plan forsure. I choose to rent an Evo 9 Wagon and drove to Motegi from Shinjuku instead of taking trains and bus. Cheapest way to rent a car would be from Toyota-Rent-a-car in Tokyo. They also have a cruise the track with your own car for 3000yen. It is a lead and follow format.  | |
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03-09-2018, 05:23 AM
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#423 | | HELP ME PLS!!!
Join Date: May 2002 Location: vancity
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Originally Posted by JHatta Does anyone know the process to work in Japan as a Professional? | I believe if you're under 30 you'll have a way better chance getting a work visa. You'll also need to find a sponsor for your visa. This is from what I remember when I looked into it.
The Japanese embassy in Vancouver will be your best resource.
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05-03-2018, 10:03 AM
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#424 | | RS.net Licensed Sponsor
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 336
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Anyone wonna give me some tips?
Do i need JR pass for 7 days or 14?
Will be staying on the West side for one week
Osaka
Otsu
nara
Kyoto
etc
one week in Tokyo
than back to Osaka to fly back
thank you
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Last edited by DHP 1; 05-03-2018 at 10:40 AM.
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05-03-2018, 11:01 AM
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#425 | | Say NO to blade grinders!
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Vancouver
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You only need it when you are travelling outside of Tokyo. When you land in Japan you can specify when you want your one week to start. So you should start it the first day you train out to Kansai.
If you happen to be out there past 7 days then, you'll need 14...
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