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peanut posted:Card when possible, cash when not. Tap tap tap. Life is easy. And there’s also mobile suica if you don’t want to deal with coins
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Dec 11, 2023 22:03
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Sure it’s the law , but they might have correct change and the law won’t say anything about that. And in some random retail place that won’t accept cash, what will you do? Pull out your phone and start filming them or pull out big book of regulations?
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Dec 11, 2023 22:03
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AHH F/UGH posted:If I recall correctly, Japan has the same rules as the US and most modern countries, which is that legal cash tender is required to be accepted as a way to pay for things no matter if you have a card or not. https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm That's not a law in the United States
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Dec 11, 2023 23:13
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Isn’t the whole “legal tender” thing specifically that it’s valid to pay for debts, and buying poo poo isn’t a ‘debt’ because you don’t owe the store the money since the things aren’t yours yet.
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Dec 11, 2023 23:22
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I am currently in Japan and boy do I wish I had remembered how important cash was a few days ago. I did take out 20000 JPY when I got here, but after a few days, I had run out. I got all the way to Ginkakuji and of course it’s cash only. No ATMs anywhere nearby. Hell, no combinis within 15 minutes. So I huffed it down the street, trying to get to the post office the receptionist at Ginkakuji recommended and I stop at a wagashi and coffee place for a break. The guy speaks great English and we’re chatting for a while. Eventually I explained what happened and he basically did some finagling (I think he faked a refund?) so I could use my credit card to take 1000 yen from the register. What a hero. So, yes, don’t be me. Always carry cash.
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Dec 11, 2023 23:24
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AHH F/UGH posted:Thinking about it, I'm sort of surprised that Suica cards aren't used for money laundering That's why you can only put 20,000 yen at a time on them.
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Dec 11, 2023 23:41
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Mercari had to crack down on people selling pre-charged Suicas for more than face because of potential for money laundering, lol https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/spv/1704/25/news092.html Edit: also yeah lots of retail places are 100% cashless now
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Dec 11, 2023 23:58
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I was going to ask how you planned to "hard money pay down" without any cash but that is actually a Kinkakuji thing if I remember correctly.
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Dec 12, 2023 00:03
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Good Listener posted:I've been loading up that Wise card I got here and there for prep so I can atleast use it at an ATM and it's got the yens already there for me. Good to know though. 7-11 ATMs and Japan Post ATMs are still the two that should without fail take overseas cards. Seconding having ~20,000 JPY on you just to not be surprised or have any issues. more and more places are taking cards or other cashless options (I don't gently caress with PayPay or other barcode things but I do tap with either my physical debit card or the credit card on my iPhone wallet if need be) but 99.99% of places will take cash. There might be some weird kiosks or shops or, in some grocery stores, self-checkout lanes that don't take cash, but they'll be marked as such because it's still a novelty. and yes, the one fun thing about ordering money from an overseas bank to bring with you is that'll ensure you have at least a few 2000 yen bills, which can cause some fun reactions.
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Dec 12, 2023 00:58
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teddust posted:I was going to ask how you planned to "hard money pay down" without any cash but that is actually a Kinkakuji thing if I remember correctly. You are correct. 
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Dec 12, 2023 02:49
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Again, def appreciate all the help with this stuff~ Are there any recommendations on how much you should try to take with you for a 12ish day stay? I guess it all comes down to how much you wanna spend on souvenirs and such really.
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Dec 12, 2023 05:04
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Just bring your debit card. Trying to preplan exactly how much money you're going to use is a fool's errand unless you're trying to make do with a very strict budget, but in that case you already know what you can spend.
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Dec 12, 2023 05:07
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Have a travel card that refunds ATM/foreign fees. And hit up the ATM 200k at a time. Be merry.
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Dec 12, 2023 10:37
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deong posted:Have a travel card that refunds ATM/foreign fees. And hit up the ATM 200k at a time. Be merry. Not sure how long your merriment would last hitting your bank account for 200k at a time…
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Dec 12, 2023 10:42
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.Z. posted:Not sure how long your merriment would last hitting your bank account for 200k at a time… a lot longer than even a few years ago, I just saw a news article about circulating new bills and they said "10,000 yen bill ($69)" and I had to let out an extremely deep sigh.
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Dec 12, 2023 15:02
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.Z. posted:Not sure how long your merriment would last hitting your bank account for 200k at a time… Whoops. Don't post tired..
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Dec 12, 2023 17:02
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harperdc posted:a lot longer than even a few years ago, I just saw a news article about circulating new bills and they said "10,000 yen bill ($69)" and I had to let out an extremely deep sigh. Nice.
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Dec 12, 2023 19:35
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Probably a stupid question but is there a concierge/personal shopper like service that will find all the retro games I want at the super stores in akihabara and when my brother goes to tokyo he can just pick them up from the counter and pay and go? Yes I am aware yahoo auctions is a thing.
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Dec 14, 2023 14:34
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drhankmccoyphd posted:Probably a stupid question but is there a concierge/personal shopper like service that will find all the retro games I want at the super stores in akihabara and when my brother goes to tokyo he can just pick them up from the counter and pay and go? Yes I am aware yahoo auctions is a thing. I couldn't imagine it being cheaper than just using Buyee to hoover all that stuff up on Yahoo Auctions. They can send directly to you overseas (not sure if regular airmail is back, or if it's still EMS only) or to your brother's hotel in Japan.
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Dec 14, 2023 14:54
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Ethics_Gradient posted:I couldn't imagine it being cheaper than just using Buyee to hoover all that stuff up on Yahoo Auctions. They can send directly to you overseas (not sure if regular airmail is back, or if it's still EMS only) or to your brother's hotel in Japan. Hm, this seems like a viable option thanks. Is buyee relatively easy to use for an American? Just punch in my CC # and add the delivery address (mine or hotel)?
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Dec 14, 2023 15:15
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drhankmccoyphd posted:Hm, this seems like a viable option thanks. Is buyee relatively easy to use for an American? Just punch in my CC # and add the delivery address (mine or hotel)? Yeah it should be pretty straightforward, I set it up with my Australian account no dramas, IIRC they have Paypal support too. Honestly I'd probably still be using it if I was living in Japan, not sure if it's still the case but it used to be a huge PITA to get a Yahoo Auctions account as a foreigner because it required a Japanese credit card. With the delivery you'll just want to make sure your timing works if it's going to your brother. Buyee has to get the item shipped to their warehouse (they will also consolidate everything into a single box), then ship it to your address in Japan. I think they'll hold it for up to 30 days with no storage fees, so I'd recommend starting a month out and getting everything you want, then have it shipped to him. One really annoying thing to be aware of with Yahoo Auctions is that sellers have the ability to make it so the auction extends by a few minutes everytime a higher bid is received. This puts a damper on sniping and encourages buyers to get irrational, which can really drive up the price. Sometimes the "Prompt Decision" (Buy It Now) is the best way to go.
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Dec 14, 2023 15:39
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Ethics_Gradient posted:Yeah it should be pretty straightforward, I set it up with my Australian account no dramas, IIRC they have Paypal support too. Honestly I'd probably still be using it if I was living in Japan, not sure if it's still the case but it used to be a huge PITA to get a Yahoo Auctions account as a foreigner because it required a Japanese credit card. Awesome, so if my bro is going in january sounds like I need to start shopping now.
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Dec 14, 2023 16:00
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Ethics_Gradient posted:Honestly I'd probably still be using it if I was living in Japan, not sure if it's still the case but it used to be a huge PITA to get a Yahoo Auctions account as a foreigner because it required a Japanese credit card.  Nah if you were still here I think you would’ve joined the rest of us getting a Rakuten card 
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Dec 15, 2023 03:01
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I was kicking around Tokyo for a few days and went on a bit of a coffee crawl and wanted to share some places of note. Glitch Coffee & Roasters: I would seriously suggest adding this as a stop for coffee drinkers. It's expensive, like ¥2000 for a latte expensive, but a unique experience I think it's absolutely worth it. They are incredibly good at drawing out the fruitiness of coffee and you'll go wtf as you drink a latte so fruity you'd think there were flavor additives. But no, it's just the result of bean quality and brewing technique. Woodberry Coffee Roasters: Not at the same level as Glitch, but nice selection of beans and quality espresso and pourover. Worth swinging by if you find yourself near one of their locations. Had this Columbia bean I would have bought a bag of if they had any stock. Onibus Coffee: I'd rank them a notch below Woodberry, but still quite good. Not as much bean selection, but still good pourover and espresso. The Roastery by Nozy Coffee: Solid coffee, but another notch below the previous three. But it's located in the Harajuku/Omotesando area so you are likely going to stumble across it if you are visiting those spots vs. having to go out of your way for the others. So nice place to take a break and grab a quality cup. Koffee Mameya Omotesando: This is an odd man out from the others, they're a coffee showcase vs a roaster like the previous places. They carry a variety of beans from different roasters and do a solid job with brewing them. So if you want to tryout a bunch of different roasters this is the place to go. But if you are seeking out top tier drinks, you should go to the other places. But if you do want to visit this place, do not mix it up with their other location in Tokyo, Koffee Mameya Kakeru. Kakeru is a reservation only place that does coffee tasting menus.
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Dec 15, 2023 18:54
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A few coffee youtubers have posted their experiences with Glitch and it consistently ranks as their best experience. It's one of those sterile coffee experiences so you're not visiting for the ambiance or the comfort but the quality.
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Dec 15, 2023 20:45
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.Z. posted:I was kicking around Tokyo for a few days and went on a bit of a coffee crawl and wanted to share some places of note. This is part of a brewery/restaurant group, and the American BBQ restaurant right above is part of that as well. It’s definitely something of a B+ experience, but has a pretty high floor.
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Dec 16, 2023 12:50
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Different country, but Solos coffee in Bangkok is pretty amazing.
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Dec 16, 2023 13:51
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Yeah, Onibus is great. Went last trip and had to come back this time. Later found out my second favorite place in Tokyo (About Life) uses Onibus’ beans. Go figure. I also enjoyed Sidewalk Coffee in Nakameguro, Dogberry in Shimokitazawa, Tensuke in Yanaka Ginza, Bread, Espresso & Machiawase in Shibuya. Even the super gimmicky Cafe Zingaro in Nakano Broadway had good espresso. Basically, I never had a bad cup of coffee in Tokyo. Vaguely related to coffee, since drinking so much of it makes me pee like fifteen times a day… I found that most bathrooms in Japan that aren’t in a park or something do indeed have soap. So, why do none of the Japanese men use it??? I’d say 95% of the guys I saw just splash one single hand for less than three seconds and off they go. loving gross. Nanigans fucked around with this message at 14:05 on Dec 16, 2023 |
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Dec 16, 2023 14:01
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Do they sell chai lattes in Japan? If you're a person who doesn't drink coffee, what are the hot milky alternatives?
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Dec 17, 2023 09:16
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Japan isn't really a hot milky drink kind of country.
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Dec 17, 2023 09:25
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Most places that do coffee will have milk tea or something.
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Dec 17, 2023 09:25
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At least one of the chains does since I've had it. I think Tully's? It wasn't memorable. Assorted tea is your alternative, matcha lattes are common enough if you want milky. Also just about every hot drink vending machine sells royal milk tea which is pretty good.
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Dec 17, 2023 09:25
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The good news is that half of the Starbucks menu is basically whipped cream parfaits.
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Dec 17, 2023 09:35
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Grand Fromage posted:Assorted tea is your alternative, matcha lattes are common enough if you want milky. Also just about every hot drink vending machine sells royal milk tea which is pretty good. This sounds exactly like what I'll need! Royal milk tea sounds very similar to the milk tea I had in Thailand and I really enjoyed. Thank you  I'm headed for Tokyo in less than a fortnight now and I'm starting to get super excited.
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Dec 17, 2023 10:04
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The thing to keep in mind about coffee is that Suntory Boss is the boss of them all since 1992
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Dec 17, 2023 12:46
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Dec 17, 2023 13:23
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So I'm heading over to Tokyo from 12/28 to 1/11 to watch a bunch of wrestling and generally wander around. Here's my plan so far: 12.29 Land and try to stay awake until bedtime 12.30 Get bearings and wander around Roppongi (hotel is here) 12.31 AJPW in Shibuya, DDT at Korakuen, try to hit GODZ for midnight 1.1 Recovery I'm guessing, not sure what will be open 1.2 teamlab, NOAH at Ariake, check out Odaiba 1.3 DDT at Korakuen 1.4 Wrestle Kingdom at Tokyo Dome 1.5 NJPW @ Sumida, Skytree, Aquarium? 1.6 Shinjuku bar hopping and mischief 1.7 Shibuya exploration 1.8 Akibahara Nerd poo poo 1.9 Possible Mt. Fuji daytrip 1.10 Shopping and final cleanup of poi 1.11 leave Does this seem reasonable? I have a bunch of POI marked down but I plan to just wander around between them and look for cool poo poo. I thought about heading to Osaka/Kyoto for a day or two but that seems like a bunch of loving around. Mostly looking for breweries/craft beer/sake, heavy metal, video games, all the food, museums, maybe a cooking class. Not really into loud clubs so any dive bar suggestions for 40+ are welcome.
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Dec 17, 2023 16:23
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Maybe you already know about it but there is https://en.puwota.com/index.cgi if you want more wrestling shows. Also would recommend going to Nakano Broadway instead of Akihabara for nerd stuff. Unless there is something specific in Akihabara you are going for.
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Dec 17, 2023 16:40
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duckdealer posted:Maybe you already know about it but there is https://en.puwota.com/index.cgi if you want more wrestling shows. yep that's what we used to find those shows, that's more than enough for me for one trip I'm not really into anime, mostly looking for retro video games, arcades, electronics stores, cool tech, that sort of thing. Which one is better for that?
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Dec 17, 2023 16:51
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| # ? Jun 4, 2024 19:33 |
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I’m curious why the rec for mama I broadway over aki these days. I haven’t been to Tokyo in close to a decade so the retro scene surely changed in that time.
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Dec 17, 2023 23:04
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