ATMs and Banking Hours

After a couple of months since my account was opened, i finally transferred some money from Switzerland to help me survive. Interesting is that after you open an account in japan under Student Visa, your account is closely monitored for the first 6 months. Therefore, if you want to send money from abroad, you need to call the bank first and tell them the amount that will be credited, i have no idea what happens if you don't do it... maybe they'll just send the money back, but i thought is not worth to try it even if i'm sure you might have loved to know it ;)

Anyhow, everything went smooth. A transfer from switzerland to Japan, costs Fr. 25.-- as transfer costs in switzerland and costs about Fr. 5.-- as credit cost in Japan. It means, for a single transfer, you need to pay in total about 30 swiss francs (20 euro).

So, during these days, for the first time, i went and tried an ATM. Surprise surprise! If you withdraw money outside banking hours, there is a commission fee between 105 yen and 450 yen. (between 0.90 cents - 3.80 euro). Some ATMs (like the one above) i think is charging a minimum of 105 anytime. If you withdraw at your own bank's ATMs you pay only 150 yen, if outside banking hours.

Actually, i thought ATMs are supposed to be FOR outside banking hours. I didn't expect to have to pay any fee withdrawing money at my bank's ATM. In switzerland, in USA and in Germany, at the time i lived there, there was no commission fee for withdrawals....