Hi paristhedog,
The best/easiest/most cost effective solution for you would be to open
an account with Citibank Canada. You will receive a Citibank Banking
Card which you will be able to use in Japan via ABM (ATM) machines.
>> Citibank Canada
Citibank is the best bet for most visitors to Japan, as it offers
7day/24h ATM service, accept foreign cards and is free for Citibank
(or associate) card holders. The drawback is that they aren't as
numerous as Japanese banks or post offices.
Check the list of Citibanks in Japan below:
http://www.jref.com/practical/bank.shtml
Citibank branches in Japan
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/glb_sprt/index.html
Citibank Canada FAQ
How do I open an account with Citibank?
"If this is your first account with us and you are a resident of
Canada, submit the completed application by mail along with a cheque
drawn on a personal bank account in your name held at another Canadian
Financial Institution for the initial deposit."
http://www.citibank.com/canada/citibankcanada/english/faq.htm
Citibank Banking Card
"Use it to get cash at over 820,000 ABMs worldwide or make purchases
at select merchants."
http://www.citibank.com/canada/citibankcanada/english/abmcard_d.htm
Citibank Chequing Accounts
http://www.citibank.com/canada/citibankcanada/english/cheq_l.htm
CitiPhone Banking Centre
Need Assistance? No matter what you need help with, no matter where
you are, you can always reach us.
By Phone:
Call the CitiPhone Banking Centre
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Toll-free across Canada & U.S.: 1-800-387-9292
In Toronto: 416-947-4100
Call collect from outside North America: 416-947-4100
By Fax:
Toll-free across Canada and the U.S.: 1-800-226-7705
In Toronto: 416-947-5498
By Mail:
Citibank Canada
Retail Banking Administration Centre
P.O. Box 4436, Station A
Toronto, Ontario M5W 3Z1
In Person:
Citibank Canada
Citigroup Place
123 Front Street West, Suite 1700
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2M3
http://www.citibank.com/canada/homepage/english/contact.htm#personal
If Citibank isn't suitable for you, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi may
be the next best thing because apparently they will open an account
with only one form of identification: a valid Driver's License, valid
Passport, *OR* Foreign Resident Registration Card.
>> Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
"I was going to wait until my work visa arrived before trying to open
an account. But then somebody suggested I go to Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank
in Roppongi. Easy! I opened up a regular passbook account, and all
they needed to see was my passport. I even had the option of a Pooh
Bear ATM card."
http://www.thunderguy.com/japan/live-in-japan/bank-account-in-tokyo/
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
Customer Identification
"Since October 1990, the Government has required Japanese banks to
identify the name and address of customers when they open a new
account and/or perform large cash transactions. With the enforcement
of the "Law on Customer Identification by Financial Institutions" and
the "Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law (Amended)," the following
changes have come into effect as of January 6, 2003. These laws apply
to overseas branches of Japanese banks as well as banks or branches of
foreign banks in Japan.
1. Identification Items
(1) Individual customers - Name, address and date of birth In the
event a transaction is initiated by a proxy, identification of the
proxy is also required.
2.Transactions Requiring Identification
Banks will request customer identification when a customer:
(1) Opens a new account, rents a safe deposit box, enters into a
custodial transaction, etc.
3. Identification Documents
(1) Individual customers Valid Driver's License, Valid Passport, or
Foreign Resident Registration Card
http://www.bk.mufg.jp/english/customer/index.html
Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Roppongi Branch
4-9-7 Roppongi
03-3408-8111
http://www.ehills.co.jp/rp/dfw/EHILLS/area_directory/motoazabu/money_e.php
Money Exchange
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi group
WORLD CURRENCY SHOP
Roppongi Hills Mori-Tower 6F,6-10-1 Roppongi
03-5413-9722
http://www.ehills.co.jp/rp/dfw/EHILLS/area_directory/motoazabu/money_e.php
Toronto / Montreal / Vancouver
http://www.bk.mufg.jp/english/network/americas.html
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (Canada)
* North America > Canada > Ontario > Toronto
Address: PO Box 42, Suite 2100, South Tower, Royal Bank Plaza,
Toronto, ONT M5J 2J1, Canada
Phone: +1 416 8650220
Fax: +1 416 8659511
Email link
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=1911&category_id=1&account_id=1985&page_id=0&published=1
Japanese contact
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd
* Asia > Japan > Tokyo > Tokyo
Address: 7-1 Marunouchi, 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8388, Japan
Phone: +81 3 932401111
Fax: +81 3 932404197
Email link
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=7023&category_id=1&account_id=29243&page_id=0&published=1
>> Additional Links of Interest
Following are a list of Canadian banks which have branches in Japan.
You could contact the branches nearest to you and ask about Japanese
banking.
>> The Bank of Nova Scotia
Japanese Contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=7023&category_id=1&account_id=27670&page_id=0&published=1
Canadian Contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=1919&category_id=1&account_id=27672&page_id=-1&published=1
>> Royal Bank of Canada
Japanese contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=7023&category_id=1&account_id=27755&page_id=0&published=1
Canadian contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=1914&category_id=1&account_id=27756&page_id=-1&published=1
>> The Toronto-Dominion Bank
Japanese contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=7023&category_id=1&account_id=27729&page_id=0&published=1
Canadian contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=1911&category_id=1&account_id=27730&page_id=-1&published=1
>> Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Japanese contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=7023&category_id=1&account_id=27710&page_id=0&published=1
Canadian contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=1911&category_id=1&account_id=27711&page_id=-1&published=1
>> First Commercial Bank
Japanese contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=7023&category_id=1&account_id=30872&page_id=-1&published=1
Canadian contact
http://www.privatebanking.info/user/account.jsp?location_id=1907&category_id=1&account_id=30870&page_id=0&published=1
Opening a bank account in Japan
"Opening a bank account should be a fairly straightforward thing if
you have a proper visa (one year or more) and your alien registration
card (no need to take your passport in that case). Most big banks have
bilingual application forms in Japanese and English. Ask for the right
counter and papers, fill the application and submit it when your
waiting number is called. It should just take a few minutes. Some
banks might ask you for your "hanko" (personal stamp with your name on
it). As foreigners are not supposed to have one (you can if you want,
but it is not obligatory), you can just sign instead."
http://www.jref.com/practical/procedures.shtml
?Travel to Japan?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2226.html
I was glad to work on this for you. If you have any questions, please
post a clarification request and wait for me to respond before
closing/rating my answer.
Thank you,
hummer
Some of the Google search terms used:
Japan banks accounts canada canadian open account japanese citibank
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Roppongi |
