Hello everyone,
Going to Japan next week. Any idea of where can I get the best Currency exchange for cad-yens? Also how much do you think I should be exchanging for a 2 weeks time in Japan (not really a big spender)?
Any other tips about Japan are welcome!… See more

Use an ATM at 7-11 or Familymart; they are all over

I always found my local bank to give best rate in advance but they need a week at least sometimes.
Otherwise the airport place in narita wasn’t bad. Definitely don’t do it at your hotel though
Try your bank today and see if they can do it fast.

Go to the amusement park in Kojima.... It's the one that has the bike with no guardrails 40 stories high. The rides are like 300 stairs up a mountain, but definitely was a highlight for our family lol

Lisa
The currency exchange in west ed mall wasnt too bad for rates, and the airports have a surprisingly competitive rate as well. If you're early enough, your bank can order (not usually on hand) and you would probably get the best exchange there.

I just used the airport one in Toronto and it was horrendous compared to the bank.

Alexis Really??? Interesting, I'll have to pay closer attention next time, maybe I'm remembering wrong

Lisa absolutely. I couldnt3 believe it when I figured it out.

Edmonton airport has terrible rates for US too.

Hi! I just got back from Japan two weeks ago! We took out about $1000 CAD from the bank, the exchange rate was pretty good. You'll have to order at least a week in advance. Or you can take out money from any convenience store (7/11, FamilyMart, Lawson's), super easy, the fee is about $3 and the exchange rate is really good. We are big spenders on food so we spent around $3000 CAD on souvenirs and food (our meals were around $50-100 for both of us). Most restaurants and retailers will also take credit card but some older places only take cash. I would take 1000 or 5000 yen bills to make it easier to break as well. We were there for about 2 weeks too.

Joanna i hear you.
Our budget per day was $100 also for food and souvenirs. There were days we spent less than $100 and there were times we were over the budget. But average is $100/couple. Not including transpo and accommodation

Japan is cash country, so make sure you bring lots!

calforex in WEM for initial amounts - they have them in stock unless you're needing crazy amounts. ATMs at 7-11 or Familymart for when you're there in the country. Most places will want cash, hotels will use credit cards.
www.hyperdia.com for train schedules and routes.
If you are going to a lot of towns I hope you have a JR Pass already - if not you can get it in person ASAP in Calgary via Nippon Travel. This train pass cannot be bought inside Japan.

Sherene I just received my Jr pass yesterday, planning to activate it in my last day in Tokyo. Have heard about hyperdia, the last time I checked I think it was in Japanese but didn't really play around with that website there should be an option for English I hope haha

Manny the Hyperdia app and website has English

If you like catchy Jpop, i see Silent Siren is playing on the 9th&10th; ive seen them live and their great
http://silent-siren.com/schedule/

Derrick not my thing anymore, used to listen to it before but my tastes have changed but thanks for the recommendation though

I used the airport one in Toronto and it was such a rip off! I had no choice though as I was only back in the country for a day and the banks need a few days to order the money in. I use World Remit to send money and then pick up at a bank while away. Just show ID and pick it up!

Brad Wilson

Japan is really a cash society so better have cash on you. Your Bank will give you the best rate but certainly the ATMs in Japan worked so well! Airport exchange places have the worst exchange rate. For conversion when you are shopping just think of 100yen being close to $1 and 1000yen is close to $10.00. It's not quite accurate but close enough when you are shopping. Don't worry about carrying cash around. Japan is one of the safest places to travel. Very clean too! No littering at all and there aren't public trash cans. Everyone takes their littler back to their hotel. Enjoy your trip! I've been 8 or 9 times and loved it.

Southgate Mall Exchange services

Japan is primarily cash based (for smaller purchases) but most stores do accept credit card. Using your credit card as much as possible will provide you with the best exchange rate. I spoke with my bank prior to leaving and had them send me an internationally equipped debit card(RBC). It allowed me to use my debit at many different atms without surprise fees. I dont reccomend taking out 2 weeks worth of money at once. Try using the atm every 3 or 4 days and you'll know what you need. A good reference for understanding the currency conversions is 1 yen is close in value to 1 american penny which is cnd $ x 1.35. So if a sandwich at family mart cost 300 yen it will be close to 3.00$ american, which is approx $4.00 cnd.

calforex exchange has pretty good rates and has a buy back program at times. Have an amazing trip!!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the recommendations/advices. I think I'll get around $500-1000 cad worth of yens and get more in Japan as I need. I do believe it when everyone say Japan is amazing, I have not heard anything but good things about that country.

I was there for 2 weeks in April and brought $1000 Canadian which was fine. The food prices are very reasonable. Major stores take credit cards.

Olympia Trust is the best. Lowest fees and fastest service, but you have to plan a few days in advance.

It’s all cash based there, but any 7-11’s or family marts have ATMs you can take cash out of. It depends what you’re doing, just be aware you’ll be paying for food, travel, and any tourist attractions you visit.
I’d recommend looking into a rail pass if you’re travelling around and plan to take the Shinkansen. It’s worth it! Also look into a wifi device, as you might get free wifi in some spots, but it’s not a good connection.
I was just there in March and visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. So if you have any questions let me know!

Make sure to go to todaiji in Nara. Still my favorite temple of all of them.
Golden pavilion in Kyoto is also REALLY crowded so go early early if you can (same with kiyomizudera), silver pavilion is much less crowded but the grounds are beautiful. Try and get out to arashiyama if you can, its also really busy but for about $15/pp you can take a pole boat tour up and down the river and its relaxing as fuck. The monkey park out there was only okay, not worth the hike up the mountain for me.
Ahhh theres tons of really cool stuff to do wherever you end up.

We were there over 14 yrs ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday. Take travel kleenex or toilet paper. American flush toilets are in the handicapped stalls most others are the urinal in the floor. Have to check out the 100 yen store. Great souvenir place. Enjoy the Shinkansen Train to Tokyo. Try Tokyo Disney if you have time. Tokyo sky tree (fastest elevator). Pay attention to the parkades. They are neat! Try the hot milk tea in the vending machines. Check out the 711 just to see what they have for food. Interesting!!!! Visit Nara Park, it’s beautiful and see the little deer and the largest Buddha! In Kyoto visit the Kinkaku-ji temple (golden temple). ENJOY!!!!!

Axiana Yuan
I suggest just using your Debit card at an ATM machine there. I have been in Asia for the past three weeks and found that has given me a better exchange than the banks anywhere else

Maleeha Sami

calforex in Edmonton will give you 5000 yen notes, you need cash there, I was just there for 2 weeks this spring
Get your train pass before you leave Canada, you exchange it at airport for the train pass for the 2 weeks

Also once in japan the 7-11 stores have the only bank machines for foreign debit card withdrawals; but you can take over 50,000¥ or more at a time so you won’t be stuck without money in japsn ever!! I’m here now.

Go to Hiroshima and Miyajima island and Nikko was great also
We had 5000 yen a day budgeted because Unesco sites charge 500 yen admission

Lots of major stores have tax refund counters for tourists if you buy over a certain amount. Carry your passport with you for that purpose. All the combinis (Lawson's, Family Marts and 7/11) will be your best friend for cheap meals or quick snacks. Get yourself a Suica or Pasmo for ease of taking the trains or buying snacks at combinis. Get lost in a Don Quijote.

Get a translation app and a SIM card for the country. English when we were there was limited

Stick to the East side of Kyoto for an easy day of temples, shops, walking, and geisha. When I lived in Tokyo, I almost never used the subway - use the surface JR trains more. You can use you rail pass, see the sites. Jump on the Yamanote line (green) - its a circle. Get off where you want, see some sights, then get back in and keep going. Go to grocery stores around 8pm and hit the bakery and "deli" - all the fresh food will be reduced around 50-80%. Credit cards can be used in major stores but eating and shopping with the little shops is more fun. Sit in the right side of the train going to Kyoto and you will get a good view of Mt Fuji......