KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Ⅲ Necessary Information for Daily Life

2. Bank and Post office

2-1 Opening an Account

(1) Opening an account

Account applications are filled out and submitted at the counter of a bank or post office. A minimum deposit of 1 Yen is required. You can obtain a cash card by opening a savings account (Futsuu Yokin).

〈What you will need to open an account〉

① Foreign Residents Registration Card

② Health Insurance Card

③ Student I.D. (For students)

④ Personal Seal (Signature acceptable depending on institution)

⑤ Cash deposit (at least \1)

◆The use of cash cards (ATM)

Both deposits and withdraws can be easily made. To access the account, it is necessary to enter a series of four digit numbers (PIN). Don’t forget the PIN number! ATMs are also available at convenience stores.

〈ATM Operating Hours〉

Banks Weekdays 9:00-21:00

Weekends 9:00-18:00

Post Office Weekdays 9:00-19:00

Weekends 9:00-17:00

※The ATM operating hours vary depending on the banking facility. Furthermore, depending on the time, service charges may be applied. For details, inquire at the respective banking facilities.

(2) Automatic payment of utilities

Payment of public utilities such as electricity, gas, telephone charges and NHK television charges etc. can all be withdrawn automatically from your account. Your personal seal (hanko)and the registration number of your bill (customer number) is necessary to begin these services. You can also make payments of utilities, telephone charges, NHK television charges at convenience stores. Inquire at the respective stores.

2-2 Overseas Remittances

◆Banks

In order to transfer money through banks, you will be required to fill out an application form to identify bank name, branch name, account type and account number, address, name and telephone number of the recipient. In order to receive an overseas remittance you must inform the sender of the above information. You can transfer money to or from Japan.

◆Post offices

〈International Postal Remittances〉

① Sending a money order directly to the address of the recipient

If you send a money order this way, the recipient will get a notice from his/her local post office to come and collect the order in cash. It will be sent there by airmail.

② Sending a money order to the recipient’s postal saving account.

The money will be paid directly into the recipient’s postal saving account after arriving at the country of destination. This service is cheaper than sending money order to the address of the recipient.

〈International Postal Transfers〉

International transfers can only be conducted when both sender and the recipient have a postal transfer account at their respective post offices. There are countries which do not conduct this service. If the country you wish to send money to does, note that the time it takes for this service may differ from country to country. Check with the post office for details.

Kyoto Central Post Office, Postal Saving Section (Kyoto Chuo Yubin

kyoku Chokin-ka) (365-2511

2-3 Foreign Exchange

◆Exchanging foreign currencies

Currency exchange is available at banks displaying a “Ministry of Finance Authorized Money Exchanger” sign. This applies to traveler’s checks as well. Some discount ticket shops also have money exchange services.

TiS KyotoStore (354-9181	JR Kyoto Station, in front of Main Gate.
Mitsui Sumitomo Bank Shijo Money Exchange Corner (223-2866	Hankyu Department Store, 1st Fl., Shijo- Kawaramachi
World Currency Shop (365-7750	Kyoto Station Bldg. 8th Fl.

◆Places where you can get cash advances using foreign credit cards

If your credit card bears the VISA, Plus, MasterCard or Cirrus logos, you can withdraw cash at the following locations.

Takashimaya Department Store 7th Fl.	Southwest Corner of Shijo Street and Kawaramachi Street Intersection
Self Cashing Platt Kyoto	Turn East at the intersection of Shijo Street and Karasuma Street. It is at the first southwest corner.
Kyoto Family Shopping Center, 1st Fl.	Turn East at the intersection of Kadonooji Street and Nishijo Street. It is located on the north side of the street.
Takashimaya Department Store Rakusai Shop, 3rd Fl.	2-5-5 Higashi Sakaidani-cho, Oharano (In Rakusei New Town)

＊It is also possible to obtain cash advances with above mentioned credit cards from any Post Office ATM.

2-4 Postal Services

◆Days and times the Post Office is open

Regular (Small) Post Offices Monday through Friday 9:00 to 17:00

Large Post Offices Monday through Friday 9:00 to 19:00

Saturday 8:00 to 17:00

Sunday 9:00 to 12:30

＊It is best to confirm hours of operation, as times vary by post office.

◆Posting something on Saturday, Sunday, holidays, or late at night.

Some post offices provide a 24-hour “postal service”.

FFacilities p.178

◆Sending money by mail

〈Genkin Kakitome〉

Genkin kakitome is a domestic registered mail service handling cash (up to \500,000). A special envelope called a “Cash Registration Envelope” is used. Money and letters can be enclosed together. Ask for this service at the counter.

＊It is also possible to send money by placing a postal money order in a sealed letter.

◆Other Services Available at the Post Office

When moving	If you notify your post office of your new address, they will re-address any mail sent to your old address for 1 year free of charge.
When you are not at home	If you are away and parcels or special deliveries are delivered to your home, a slip advising you of the delivery will be placed in your mail box. Take this slip along with personal identification to the post office within a week to retrieve you parcel.
When you are away for a long period of time	If you vacate your residence for a long period of time, notify the post office in advance to have your mail held. They will deliver it to you on the day your come back (valid for up to 30 days only)
If you spoil a pre-stamped postcard	If you misprint or spoil a pre-stamped postcard, you can take it to the post office and have it exchanged for a new one for 5 yen.

◆International electronic mail (Kokusai Retakkusu)

If you are in a hurry, you can take the urgent message (not exceeding A4 in size) to your post office. They will fax it to the post office of the destination, from where it will be sent to the recipient by post. It takes one to two days from posting to delivery.

Inquiries about international mail

Chuo Post Office (365-2678/ 2754

2-5 Courier and Express Delivery Services

When you would like to have something delivered to somebody, in addition to the post office there are home delivery service companies (Takuhaiand Takkyubin Services). If you are sending something big, they will come to your residence to pick it up. It is a very convenient service, because items often arrive quicker and for a lower price than the post office. You can even request service at convenience stores.

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