How much money should I bring to Japan?

Hi everybody,

I will stay in Japan for 1 month. My hotel and meal expenses will be provided by an institute.

But using my own money, I want to go to some famous places and buy some interesting things in Japan. When I go to such places, I will also pay for my meal expenses.

So, how much money do you think I should bring to Japan for 1 month?

count on at least 10 000 yen per day of sightseeing to be safe ..but you don't actually have to bring all the money as cash. Use ATM in the Post Office or any of the very numerous 7-11 convenience stores.

Do Japanese ATM machines charge withdrawal fees, or will I be able to withdraw money free of charge?

As to withdrawal using cards issued outside Japan at ATMs of Seven Bank:
See this page.
http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/card2.html

As to withdrawal from a Japanese bank's account:
At ATMs in convenience stores, some Japanese banks offer withdrawal service without a fee under specified conditions (e.g. in the daytime, on weekdays).
Roughly speaking, fee is required when you withdraw money at an ATM not within the same bank group. (The bank operating the ATM will collect this fee.)
When you withdraw money in extended hours, for example late at night or on a Saturday, a fee may be required even for your withdrawal at the ATM of the same bank.

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Where will you be staying, and where do you want to visit? For sightseeing daytrips you will be paying for transportation, lunch, maybe dinner, and shopping. If everything is in the Tokyo area for example, then (disregarding shopping which can vary wildly per person) I'd say between 5,000 and 10,000 yen per day would be sufficient.

How many days will you have for personal sightseeing? If you are staying at an institute do you only have the weekends free? If so then I'd bring at least 100,000 yen to cover my sightseeing expenses for the month.

Do Japanese ATM machines charge withdrawal fees, or will I be able to withdraw money free of charge?

All atms charge a withdrawal fee if you are not a member of the bank operating the atm. The only exception is if your bank has a program to waive/reimburse withdrawal fees charged by other banks atms.

Thank you very much for your answers!

yllwsmrf, actually I may have only 10 days for sightseeing or walking around freely. (and I am not completely free those days either) I also think that at least 100.000 yen can be sufficient.