CASHLESS IN TOKYO!

Surviving a trip to Tokyo with ZERO Yen (¥) in your pocket

We live in the digital age of cryptocurrency - but real, physical money i.e. CASH still rules the world! 

Cash is a preferred and sometimes only form of payment in many countries, including Japan, one of the world’s most advanced countries.  During my pre-travel research for my recent Tokyo trip, I came across various blogs and vlogs with influencers emphasizing the need to carry a decent chunk of ¥ (Yen i.e. Japanese currency) as sometimes only cash was accepted for meals, local transport, shopping etc.  I had already planned to withdraw ¥ from a local ATM at Narita airport. Most international airports have ATMs located in the arrival lounge for easy access (see my blog: Financial Savviness when Traveling).

But as the saying goes – man plans, God laughs 😊.  Instead of a wallet full of ¥, I ended up with only plastic in my wallet on a beautiful spring day in Tokyo.  Yet, somehow, I managed to have a great time during my one day trip to Tokyo and here’s what I accomplished.    

 

 
Narita-Haneda Limousine Bus Service

Airport Transfer from Narita to Haneda: At Narita airport, I had to collect my checked bags and take them to Haneda airport, to re-check (something I found out at Mumbai airport while checking in for Narita).  This morning ride to Haneda was a last-minute addition to my itinerary and a drag on my schedule that couldn’t be avoided.  

A direct bus from Narita to Haneda, without any transfers, was my best option. It’s a comfortable bus and the drive is beautiful.  As you clear the customs and the gates open to let you into the lounge, you’ll see the Narita-Haneda Airport Limousine Bus counter right in front of you. There was a bus leaving within 10 minutes and the bus service accepted the ticket payment via credit card. 

I looked around but couldn’t find an ATM nearby in the Narita arrival lounge.  Since the bus was arriving shortly, I decided to access the ATM at Haneda.  

 

 
Baggage Storage pricing & storage area at Haneda Airport (departure level)

Baggage/luggage Storage at Haneda: At Haneda airport, my immediate priority was to re-check the bags for my onward flight, then go out to the city.  Unfortunately, the airline counter wasn’t scheduled to open for several hours, but thankfully, the information desk directed me to the luggage storage area where I could store my bags. This was welcome news, except from my pre-travel research I’d heard that the storage lockers needed to be pre-booked and paid online or they’d be available onsite on a first come first serve basis, payable with exact change coins – which mean I’d need cash! ☹.  I went over to the luggage storage area and was ecstatic. The baggage/luggage storage at Haneda airport located on the departure level is a concierge type facility, operated by a team of baggage handlers.  

1. The storage price based on the bag size and the number of bags
2. They tag your bags and give you a stub from the tag  
3. The pricing is on 24 hours storage basis (one minute over is charged as two days)  
4. What’s more, the Haneda airport baggage/luggage storage facility accepted credit card payment. No coins, no pre-booking!  

Now that my luggage was stored, I was free to explore Tokyo during my remaining time.  Next, I made a quick stop at another very important counter – you guessed it – the IC card.

 

Welcome Suica IC Card & train schedule posted at Haneda (Yamanote line)

IC card for Travel +: The blogs and vlogs from my pre-travel research had helped me tremendously in selecting the card I needed for my day trip to Tokyo.  The airport info rep confirmed my decision.  I chose the WelcomeSuica Card and loaded it for ¥2,000.  I purchased the Welcome Suica IC card with a credit card.  Again, no cash needed!  Here are some key features of the Welcome Suica card:

1. The Welcome Suica card is issued to foreigners visiting Japan
2. It is valid for 28 days from the time of issue
3. You can use it across different modes of transport (rail, bus, local, regional transport etc.)
4. This card can be reloaded (check for limitations on reload amount)
5. Any remaining balance amount will not be refunded when you’re done using the card
6. You can use the Welcome Suica card to pay not just for transportation but also for other purchases for e.g. at convenience stores, restaurants, gift items etc. Check with the business if you can use the card to make payments instead of using cash    

Before boarding the city-bound train with my Welcome Suica card, I went searching for an ATM. The friendly airport information desk guided me to the 7-Eleven convenience store where the ATM was located.

 

7Bank ATM                             image courtesy: sevenbank

ATM at the Airport (not so convenient?): I generally prefer to withdraw some local currency from an airport ATM so that I have some cash on hand to pay for local transport or any incidentals as needed (see my blog: Financial Savviness when Traveling).  

At Haneda, the ATM is located inside a 7-Eleven convenience store on the departure level.  It is a 7 Bank ATM (7 Bank is a retail bank subsidiary of the same business group that runs the 7-Eleven convenience store group, and it primarily focuses on providing accessible banking services through its vast network of ATMs, particularly in 7-Eleven convenience stores across Japan).  

To my disappointment, I found out that this ATM only dispensed ¥10,000 notes.  Plus, a fee for the withdrawal. What would I do with a single ¥10,000 note in the limited time I had? Would the local store owners give me break this ¥10,000 bill for me?  I was just traveling from another place where the locals abhorred breaking large bills for small change. I hadn’t yet interacted with the local vendors in Japan to know this.  None of my pre-travel research bloggers or vloggers had addressed this either. I might need some cash for food and perhaps shopping if I had time? I was stuck in a Hamlet moment – to withdraw or not?  

I decided not to withdraw from this ATM. I thought if I need cash, I’ll try my luck at a city ATM.  Hopefully they’ll have a smaller denomination-friendly ATM. I left to board my train.

 

A Souvenir, please: Many of us love to return with a little souvenir, something locally crafted perhaps, from our vacation.  Sometimes though, you have to forsake these little tokens if you don’t have cash in your pocket! But with some Japanese luck on my side, I managed to find a gift shop (the only one I visited on the path to Senso-ji temple) and instantly located a pair of locally crafted wooden prayer sandals.  They were small enough to fit into my backpack and most importantly, the souvenir shop accepted credit card payment, which I believe is not very common.

 

Dining at Airport Restaurant: After my whirlwind visit to Tokyo city (read more about my visit in my Tokyo visit blog), I just about made it back on time at Haneda airport, to collect my bags from the friendly luggage storage folks and re-check my bags with the airline for my onward trip. I still had about ¥526 remaining on my Welcome Suica card. As mentioned above: 

1. They don’t refund the remaining balance on the Welcome Suica card ☹ 
2. The Welcome Suica card is accepted by restaurants, cafes etc.😊 

Keeping these facts in mind, after re-checking my bags, I stopped by at an airport restaurant, purchased a local pastry and hot beverage and paid off the bill with the remaining balance on my Welcome Suica card. A very small additional amount was topped with a credit card payment.

 

What did I accomplish WITH ZERO CASH during my day trip to Tokyo?

1. Airport transfer from Narita to Haneda by Airport Bus Limousine
2. Stored my luggage at Haneda Airport
3. Purchased the Welcome Suica Card (managed with initial amount, no reloading)
4. Traveled from Haneda > Ueno Park > Asakusa > back to Haneda
5. Purchased a locally crafted Souvenir
6. Purchased food (pastry & beverage) at Airport Restaurant

 

What did I miss WITH ZERO CASH during my day trip to Tokyo?

I really missed trying the street food outside the Senso-ji temple.  The vendors would've probably accepted the Welcome Suica IC card as payment instead of cash, but I didn't use it as I wanted to ensure that I had sufficient balance to make it to Haneda without stopping to reload the card.  I'll look forward to trying the street food on my next visit to Tokyo.

I’d been thrown several curveballs since the start of my Tokyo trip—but none as intriguing as going cashless.  This experience certainly made my Tokyo trip even more adventurous and gave me a solid story to talk - or write - about.    

Until next time, folks. Stay sharp, stay curious. 🎯🌍✨

Sayonara 🌸