Currency Exchange

Hello,

This question may not matter much but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I'm flying to Japan next week. Is it better get Japanese Yen from the home country
or do you think I might get a better rate at Haneda Airport? I'm converting USD to YEN.
I know the exchange rate fluctuates through out the day.

Thanks

I always get mine at the airport in Japan. It is much better than the rates in the US.

Better rate at the airport, really?? I would have thought it's the opposite. There are many online posts where they say try not to exchange currency at the airport but rather go into town and look for some of
the local banks. They have better rate. I'm not sure. Just wanted to get some feedbacks here.

I get my cash from an ATM at the AIRPORT. Perhaps that�fs what the previous respondent meant.

Hi

The exchange rate at a Japanese airport is usually decent, the rates in the US airports stink, perhaps that is what people complain about.

Rates in the US for foreign currency are always awful. I would definitely wait until you get to Japan to get some yen

Buy Yen at Haneda is definitely convenient. What about buying Yen at some big local banks
in downtown Tokyo? Would you recommend or no?

The big banks are at the airport. Don�ft get it from Travelex. I get mine from SMBC or MUFG. I never use an ATM. The rate is about 2.8yen less than the official rate.

OK, thanks. I'll take your recommendations and get Yen at Haneda. John, I will try to look for those
two banks you listed at Haneda.

Just out of curiosity and for the fun of it, I just drove to a local TD Bank (in US) and asked them
about USD->YEN. It turns out this local bank has Japanese Yen. The current rate is 1USD to
Yen101. According to my app, it's being traded as 1->108. The banker tried to convince to
me to get Yen before I leave as he's pretty sure their rate is higher than at the destination.
Not sure ... I haven't decided yet.

Other than fresh fruit. Most things are cheaper in Japan that other 1st world countries. Currency exchange is on of those cheaper things.

You are never gonna get the full exchange rate. 1usd = 108jpy. These businesses need to make money, so your bank offered 7 yen less per exchange rate.

It is up to you do find one which offers better.

I always pull mine out of an 7eleven atm cost my bank changes me a 2.5% conversion rate on the current exchange rates. So I'm only loosing 2-3 yen.

If the rate is 108, you'll get about 105.4-5 to a USD.

Upon reading other posts in this forum and from other sites, I think I'm leaning towards using my
ATM card to withdraw JPY at Haneda. The ATM banks I'm going to use are Seven Bank or Japan
Post Bank (located on 3F). The general consensus is ATM would yield higher rates and the ATM banks
I listed here accept ATM cards issued outside of Japan. In addition, these are widely available throughout
Tokyo (from what I understand). I've also confirmed with my bank there will be NO ATM fees. I can use it as a VISA as well and NO international transaction/conversion fees. Can't beat that. So I'm going to stick
with this. Thanks to everyone's feedbacks. Would welcome any last comments ...

Thanks!