Japan Times

After many many months of procrastinating, I finally decided to open a bank account. I figured that I'd need a bank account if I was going to do bank transfers to pay for things like plane tickets home and whatnot. (Lots of places don't take credit cards). I'd been to the bank once or twice before with friends, and to exchange money, and I've got to say that the Japanese banks have the Canadian ones licked when it comes to service (not that that would come as a surprise). First of all, there are no lines.. just take a number and sit on the comfy sofa while you wait to be served. It's a small thing, but a nice one. But the thing that blew my mind was the supreme awesomeness of the ATM machines. As I said, I needed to make a bank transfer; the problem was that I didn't yet have my ATM card since they have to mail it to your house. Well oddly enough the security guard of all people showed me how to do the transfer from the machine in cash with no ATM card. I didn't even need an account; just put the money in the machine (it accepts stacks of bills and handfuls of coins), the machine counts the money, sends it, and gives you back the change. No standing in line (or in this case waiting for your number), no waiting for the bank managers approval, no fuss, no muss; just instant transfer satisfaction. Brilliant.

Labels: japan, osaka