Thursday, December 24, 2015

Cash Only!

When I lived in the US, I rarely carried cash.  I put everything I purchased on the credit card – groceries, gas in the car, stamps at the post office, etc.  I’d charge everything and write one check to pay it off when the credit card bill came. 

Here in Japan, pretty much everything runs with cash.  You can make plane reservations online, then print the reservation and pay for it at the 7-11!  The ryokans (Japanese inns) I’m staying at on this trip don’t take credit cards!  Hotels and other accommodations anywhere else would insist on having a credit card number. I’m not crazy about carrying cash around, but that’s the way thing work here.


5 comments:

D1-D2 said...

That's really strange. For some reason I thought Japan would be like Korea where everything can be payed for by card. I remember in Korea you could use a charged card to pay for subway fare, make a call and buy snacks at a 7-11 without ever having to take out your wallet.

Murphy said...

I live in Connecticut and the only thing I can't do with my credit card (ok yes actually I think I could do this but its frowned upon) is tip the woman who does my pedicure. Always have to have cash for that.

Beth in IL said...

Have a safe journey!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I wonder what the reason for cash only is. I'll have to google that!1
Merry Christmas

Brigitte said...

Here it's also cash for what you buy on a daily basis. Most companies don't take credit cards around here, but we have debit cards that you can use for paying. But cash is most common.