Pre paid visa/mastercard for japan/HK region?

[subbie]

Hey, anybody know if there is a service in japan or HK to get pre paid credit card ?

I am wondering because I want to get some stuff off the psn server in japan but due to the tekken dr feasco, sony only lets you use credit cards of the region you are in (ie, you can only use a credit card with a hk address to purchase things from the hk store).

I know this sounds lame but japan has some really wicked ps1 games that even now support ps3 (like gunner heaven).

:033:

[madhatter256]

How about American Express? They have Amex Gift Cards that can be used internationally.

[Jamtex]

At the moment there aren't.

You can't use US based gift cards because the registered address can't be outside of America and the ones that do can only have a Romanji address rather then the Japanese script one it would expect.

Japanese JCB and Visa Gift cards are basically that, a printed note that can be spent like a gift voucher in shops, although you can get things like Webmoney (which I ironically use to play Majong Fight Club online on the PS3) these can't be used on the PSN network.

Still no fear, Sony have promised to do point cards like Microsoft do (and you can buy Xbox 360 cards in a number of convience stores) so when these come out you can hassle Yakumo or someone to buy and ship you one.

[subbie]

Still no fear, Sony have promised to do point cards like Microsoft do (and you can buy Xbox 360 cards in a number of convience stores) so when these come out you can hassle Yakumo or someone to buy and ship you one.

Problem I have with that is that with the pace sony goes at, There is no telling when this will actualy happen. As well it's questionable as to what regions will actualy get it (not all regions on the PSN store have an option for sony pre-paid cards).

:crying:

[Jamtex]

Sony have announced the prepaid ticket system, according to the page it will be available in June.

http://www.jp.playstation.com/info/release/nr_20070508_psn_ticket.html

It will be available from post offices and most convience stores (Lawson, Mini Stop, Circle K, etc) in amounts of 1000, 3000, 5000 and 10000 Yen.

[subbie]

Hey I need help from someone in japan who accepts paypal. Is there someone in japan who can pick me up a pre-paid PSN card? No import sites are caring this still yet its widly avalible in japan.

I did find a virtual mastercard site to use but they stop accepting canadian credit cards to deposit into the account so I need to pick up a psn card.

Please someone help!

[GodofHardcore]

Japan is for the msot part Cash Only anyway.

[ServiceGames]

Paying cash instantly through the internet would be an amazing feat even for the Japanese.

[subbie]

Yes but there are a few japanese members on this boards who do international selling and also have paypal accounts.

[GaijinPunch]

Japan is much more CC friendly than it used to be, but there are still loads of places that are cash only. Most convenient stores, and shops in Akiba for starters. Most online services have some sort of non-CC method such as net cash and web money.

subbie: What's a PSN card and where does one get one? (Playstation network?) Sorry, I've not got a new system, so know fuck all about such things. I'm sure we can work something out. Just remember the fees get pricey. Paypal gives a pretty lame exchange rate, then there's the Paypal fees we all love. :)

[subbie]

Japan is much more CC friendly than it used to be, but there are still loads of places that are cash only. Most convenient stores, and shops in Akiba for starters. Most online services have some sort of non-CC method such as net cash and web money.

subbie: What's a PSN card and where does one get one? (Playstation network?) Sorry, I've not got a new system, so know fuck all about such things. I'm sure we can work something out. Just remember the fees get pricey. Paypal gives a pretty lame exchange rate, then there's the Paypal fees we all love. :)


thanks, will pm you when i get on my pc.

psn yes is playstation network. pre paid cards are available in many stores and not just game stores. i'll pm the info later (typing this on my ps3 atm).

[Jamtex]

Japan has some great internet money things like Webmoney but most of it is is Japan only... :/

[GaijinPunch]

Japan has some great internet money things like Webmoney but most of it is is Japan only... :/

CC = Miles = Better
This is of course, ignoring the simplicity of never having to get off your lazy ass either. :)

[Giel]

Japan is much more CC friendly than it used to be, but there are still loads of places that are cash only. Most convenient stores, and shops in Akiba for starters. Most online services have some sort of non-CC method such as net cash and web money.

Is this true? Because this summer I'll be in Japan for 1,5 months and I was planning on taking some cash with me, but making most of my purchases on the creditcard seeing as you can only get money from certain ATM's. But if what you say is true I should probably make sure there is some more cash on my account, because withdrawing money with a Creditcard is just plain stupid.

[Jamtex]

Well you can get money from any post office as long as your card has either a cirrus or a visa plus logo on it (which is the vast majority of them....) and to be frank there are at least 3 post offices in Akihabara in walking distance so you have no excuse..

http://www2.wagamachi-guide.com/japanpost/search/map.asp?GPOS=139.776655943616%2C35.6936520218617&GSCL=5&IDS=&Map.x=234&Map.y=113

There are also Citibanks too and again, they have a website which will tell you the address of the banks easily...

[GaijinPunch]

There's a good chance they won't be open. Getting money from a bank via debit card is pretty easy now w/ Citibank. Just be glad there are Citibank ATMs at all. I first moved here when the ATM's just started staying open until 9PM.

But yeah, you need loads of cash. And don't count on your CC working in Akihabara at all.

[Jamtex]

Do you like in the sticks or something as I've never had any trouble getting money from a post office. Most of the small ones are open from 9 to 5, some have the ATM machines seperate and these can be open until 9pm and there are a lot of major post offices / sorting offices which are open 24 hours a day. I'm in Nerima and it's about 30 minutes walk away from my local sorting office which means 24 hour cash... in central tokyo (ie Ginza, Tokyo, Akihabara, Ueno, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Nakano, Nihonbashi, Shinagawa) you should be able to get money 24 hours a day if you have a Cirrus (and Maestro) or Visaplus (Electron / Delta) cashpoint or debit card.

One tricky thing is trying to get a cash advance with a credit card as the only place you are likely to get this is Citibank, everywhere else you might as well forget. So take bugger loads of cash, only take Travellers cheques if you want to have fun cashing them or if you are a 4ft8 weakling who would get mugged by 10 year old schoolgirls.

[GaijinPunch]

Do you like in the sticks or something as I've never had any trouble getting money from a post office.

I never said he'd have trouble getting money from a post office. I said there's a good chance it won't be open when he needs it. IE, the weekend. Each large area has a 24 hour post office, but I have no clue about the ones in Akihabara.

[Jamtex]

There is one about a ten minute walk from Akihabara station.

[GaijinPunch]

There is one about a ten minute walk from Akihabara station.

Far easier said than done for someone that doesn't live here.

[Jamtex]

I dunno, I've left a map. It's basically get to Akihabara electric town exit, as you exit the gates, turn left, walk to end of road, turn right, walk to end of road, Cross the big road, walk straight keeping on the main road until you get to the lights, turn left, cross road, cross over bridge over river, walk straight, see post office. Seriously I found these in my first week of being here back in 2004, just a case of using a map...

[GaijinPunch]

Based on your instructions, I would far rather hit a Citibank somewhat close to a station and not have to bother.