OBTAINING A CREDIT CARD Due to the fact that your small regional bank only opens its cashpoints whilst you are at work and you cannot use your card outside of your prefecture, it is useful to have a credit card, so you can leave town without a week's salary in your pocket. It is also useful to pay for the many services on offer to JETs as many companies do not accept automatic bank transfers to pay for their services.

Getting a credit card in Japan is quite difficult and it may take a few attempts. You will most likely be rejected by many credit card companies due to the fact that you are a foreigner, or that your Visa is only valid for one year. Some will simply tell you that you cannot have a card as your are foreign. In America you could probably sue them for emotional distress but this is Japan and it would take about 15 years for the case to get to court.

However, Citibank Japan have made things a whole lot easier for JET Programme participants by recognising the JET community as a reliable body for their cards. With 24 hour English language customer service and online statements it is easily the most suitable card for JETs and being an international organisation, the 'gaijin' factor does not come into play. They also offer JETs the first year annual fee free. More details can be found in the DealZone.

Another approach that can yield results is to apply for a card through the bank you are currently using, they know your details and the credit check is thus a little easier. Get your supervisor to help you with the forms, you will need a copy of your Alien Registration Card. It does help if you have a credit card in your home country, supply the bank with a photocopy of the card.

Note that there are different types of cards in Japan and that they work a little different to back home. Standard credit cards operate slightly differently in Japan. You are automatically charged the full amount from your bank account at the end of the month for whatever transaction you make rather than paying interest on the sum. For this reason when you are spending a relatively large sum in a shop they will ask you if you would like to pay in two installment. This will allow you to split payment over two months or even three but you will not be able to spend to the limit of your card and sit on the debt for months and months. If you would like a card that operates in the same fashion as back home where you pay interest in the debt, then you need to specifcally request this.