TravelWise: A Cash-free Day Trip to Tokyo

An Easy Guide on how to navigate electronically with zero cash

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 for basic necessities in many countries, including Japan, one of the world’s most advanced countries.  Before my recent Tokyo trip, my research through various travel blogs highlighted the need to carry a reasonable amount of ¥ (Yen i.e., Japanese currency).  According to these blogs, sometimes only cash was accepted to pay for meals, local transport, shopping etc.  I had already planned to withdraw some Japanese Yen at Narita airport assuming that like most international airports Narita too would have ATMs located in the airport arrival lounge, facilitating convenient access to local currency.

But as the saying goes – man plans, God laughs 😊.  Instead of Japanese Yen for local expenses, I had only the plastic cards in my wallet to get by, on a beautiful Sakura-filled spring day in Tokyo.  Yet, I managed to have a great time in Tokyo and here's how I navigated through my cash-free Tokyo adventure:    

 

(I invite you to read other blogs in the Avantiqa 360 TravelWise series: 10 Tips to spend wisely when Traveling, Armenia and Georgia (country) travels).

 
Narita-Haneda Limousine Bus Service

Airport Transfer from Narita to Haneda Airport: 

While checking my bags for the Narita-bound flight to Tokyo, I was informed that I'd need to collect my checked bags at Narita airport, then take them over for re-checking to Haneda airport, for my flight out of Tokyo.  This detour to Haneda was an unexpected addition to my itinerary and an unavoidable drag on my schedule.  

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 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 baggage storage area, located in the departure lounge, where I could store my bags. This was welcome news, except, from my pre-travel research I'd learnt that in most cases, the baggage storage lockers had to be pre-booked and paid for online - or I could find lockers onsite, available on a first come first serve basis and payable with exact change coins.  This meant that I'd need cash for storage! ☹.  

I went over to the baggage storage area and was thrilled to discover that the baggage storage at Haneda airport is a concierge type facility, operated by a baggage handling team. No need to pre-book!

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 storage facility accepted credit card payment. No coins, no pre-booking!  

With my bags stored away, I was now free to explore Tokyo for the remaining duration of my day trip.  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 & miscellaneous payments: 

IC cards are rechargeable smart cards that can be used for trains and other public transportation around Japan and also as electronic money at several shops, restaurants, vending machines and convenience stores.  Choosing the right IC card can be challenging from the numerous brands available, with different features and limitations. Thankfully, the travel blogs and vlogs from my pre-travel research proved invaluable in finding the right card for my day trip to Tokyo, but they had also warned that cash might be required to recharge the IC card in some locations.  

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 available 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 challenges at Haneda Airport: 

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 (for more tips on managing your money during travel, please read 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 from Tokyo: 

Many of us love to bring home a little souvenir, something locally crafted perhaps, from our travels.  In some countries though, you might need 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 Haneda Airport: 

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.

 

What I accomplished 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 I missed with ZERO CASH during my day trip to Tokyo

I missed trying the local street food near Senso-ji temple.  

The food stall vendors would've probably accepted payment via my Welcome Suica IC card instead of cash, but I didn't use the card 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 street food on my next visit to Tokyo.

I've handled various interesting situations during my various world travels - now I can also add 'navigating in a foreign country with no local currency' to the list.  This experience certainly made my Tokyo trip even more adventurous and gave me a solid story to talk - and write - about.    

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

Sayonara 🌸 

Please visit my site, www.avantiqa.com and check out other interesting blogs on Travel, Communication, Business and Lifestyle related topics.