Sending funds for my bro in JP

[skyknight]

OK, my youngest bro is now study abroad in Japan for about a year; so far so good.

But my mom keeps wondering if he needs any additional money, she was thinking about money order, and asked me about Paypal. I am aware that we have members here that have lived in Japan. Any tips about sending money to Japan?

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Paypal or Western Union.

Use the big companies and you'll be taken care up all right. ESPECIALLY for international stuff.

[Upsidedown Fuji]

Sending money to Japan is a little tricky. Your best bet is to either send an ATM card linked to your bank account and let him withdrawl as needed. If he has his own bank account you can just do bank transfers into his account and he can withdrawl as needed. (My bank in the US charges me 5 dollars each time I make a withdrawl there so you might want to do large lump sums each time in order to not loose too much cash on the transaction. I had my replacement ATM card sent to me from my mother's home address when I studied abroad here my first time many years ago. Mail here is safe.

If you aren't too keen on sending the ATM card over registered mail *which is farily safe especially in Japan*, you could always have him open up a citibank account in Osaka/Tokyo regions. Then he can have a multi currency account. I never opened up one but my friend had one when she studied abroad here. Her parents just deposited into her account whenever she asked for money. The only downer to citi is that they charge like 20 bucks a month to service your account if you have under 1000 dollars or something in it.

I am sure some other people on here will have better ideas but those are the ones that worked for me. Good luck!

[Breetai]

I had my bank card from my account in my home country with me. If someone send me money, I had them sent it to my home account and I just withdrew from an ATM in Japan. The withdrawal fees were only a few dollars. This is similar to what Upsidedownfuji said. The other good option is to transfer directly to his Japanese bank account.

DO NOT send cheques or money orders!!!!! Japanese banks generally do not deal with these on a day-to-day basis unless they are major branches in large city centres. The fee to cash cheques/money orders is usually around US$30, which is an absolute rip-off.

[CRTGAMER]

A dual joint dedicated bank account is the easiest way, can be a known U.S. large bank company. Deposit money in the U.S., brother withdraws cash in Japan. I used First Interstate Bank (Now Wells Fargo) years ago when in the military, had ATM access to most countries visited. I think now even easier considering most ATMs have that Visa-Mastercard logo.

[RCBH928]

Ok
when I travel, my atm card has "VISA Electron" logo on it

I can withdraw almost anywhere ....

I Deposited money in the middle east, and withdrew in Los Angeles from an American bank

Another good choice would be to use supplementary credit card, basically its under your bro's name but one of your family members will pay the bills, in this case your mom

[Upsidedown Fuji]

I had my bank card from my account in my home country with me. If someone send me money, I had them sent it to my home account and I just withdrew from an ATM in Japan. The withdrawal fees were only a few dollars. This is similar to what Upsidedownfuji said. The other good option is to transfer directly to his Japanese bank account.

DO NOT send cheques or money orders!!!!! Japanese banks generally do not deal with these on a day-to-day basis unless they are major branches in large city centres. The fee to cash cheques/money orders is usually around US$30, which is an absolute rip-off.

Good to see my idea was confirmed. Sounds like just having him use an ATM card is your best bet.

Japanese banks are wonky and stuff like checks, money orders, and sometimes even interbank transfers can cause a lot of headaches and tons of wasted time. Just cut out the middle man and go the ATM route.

The only ATMs in Japan that are guaranteed to accept foreign ATM cards are the Postal Savings (Japan Post office network) ATMs. Some convenience stores and large banks also accept ATM cards but I'm not sure which. At least Postal Savings ATMs are everywhere as post offices are everywhere and easy to find.

Again good luck and I hope he has a good time studying abroad. I hope he wasn't crammed into some rat hole like I was. XD

[Breetai]

Some convenience stores and large banks also accept ATM cards but I'm not sure which. At least Postal Savings ATMs are everywhere as post offices are everywhere and easy to find.

Again good luck and I hope he has a good time studying abroad. I hope he wasn't crammed into some rat hole like I was. XD

Pretty much any 7-Eleven that I've been in accepts them. SOME banks do, some don't. Large branches PROBABLY do. I will double confirm that your best bets are JP Postal Offices (Postal Savings ATMs) and 7-Elevens. Of course, the ATMs in Narita and Kansai airports work.

[skyknight]

OK,

He does have a Wells Fargo debit card with Visa on it, and my mom was wondering if he should've also applied for a Citibank card.

[hashiriya1]

I just used my American ATM card when I got funds from home. You can use any American ATM card at any 7-11 in Japan and most post offices. Keep in mind that the exchange rate right now is really bad. If I still lived there, I wouldn't bother selling stuff right now. It would totally not be worth it.