Living in JapanWorking in Japan

Using the ATM in Japan

In this article

Once you’ve got your cash card and bank book, you’ll be ready to hit the ATM. While many ATMs have English options available, not all will. Don’t worry. With a little bit of vocabulary and practice, you’ll have no trouble.

ATM Vocabulary

Withdrawal 引き出し Hikidashi

Get your hard earned cash out!

Deposit 預け入 れAzukeire

Put in your money. How responsible of you! Most machines allow you to add coins (look for a big X sign that says otherwise).

Bank Transfer 振込み Furikomi

If you set up an account to send money home, or if you’re paying your local AJET chapter for an event, you’ll be furikomi-ing. There’s a lot of steps, and every bank’s ATM is different. Ask someone to help or check out one of the general guides online.

Check Balance 残高照会 Zandaka shoukai

How much money is left until payday? Check it here, then select 明細票 (meisai-hyou) for a slip, or 終了 (shuuryou) to end.

Bank Book Update 通帳記入 Tsuuchou ki nyuu

Bank Book Update 通帳記入 Tsuuchou ki nyuu

Correct 訂正 Teisei

If you want to update the book without making a withdrawal.

Cancel 取消 Torikeshi

Use this to cancel your transaction and get your card back.

Confirm 確認 Kakunin

Use this after entering something.

Return 戻る Modoru

Use this to go back a screen.

Issue (a receipt) 発行する/しない Hakkou suru/shinai

Select this at the end if you want a receipt. Choose 発行しない if not.

What’s a Bank Book?

Your bank book, or 通帳 (tsuuchou), keeps track of all your transactions. If you put it in at the start, it’ll print all the recent transactions and your current balance – this was a common thing (and still is in Japan) before we had online banking. Very handy!

bank book and hanko

Tips

Many local banks’ ATMs close at night and during the New Year’s holiday, so become familiar with the hours for the ATMs in your town. The average is about 8 PM. (In the worst case scenario, you can withdraw money from the ATMs in convenience stores, but keep in mind that they do charge a fee.)

Some banks also charge ATM fees outside of certain hours and during the weekend, so try to avoid withdrawing outside of those hours and days if you do not want to pay for withdrawal fees. 

While some ATMs offer English menus, it is the case that some banks may have missing features dependent on the system language. For example, Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank (OKB) doesn’t have a Bank Transfer function in the English menu

Local ATMs will not accept foreign credit or debit cards, but some JP Post ATMs and all 7/11 ATMs will. Open 24 hours, 7/11 ATMs offer English service and work with nearly any card from around the world. They charge a small transaction fee (around 200 yen). Remember to notify your bank that you’re moving, or they may shut down your card for suspicious overseas activity!

Lauren Suna
Lauren Suna is a 3rd year ALT from New York located in the Jurassic Park of Japan, Fukui Prefecture. In her free time, Lauren can be found hiking in the mountains or playing the guitar.

You Might Also Enjoy

Working in Japan

Read more
car on highway

Getting a Car and the Related Costs

All JETs have the right to own a car, even JETs who do not live in driving placements. Please keep in mind that car ...
Read more

5 thoughts on “Using the ATM in Japan”

  1. My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. I am not sure where youre getting your info but good topic I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission.

    Reply

Leave a Comment