Travelers to Japan should be aware that for the second time – to my knowledge – 7-Eleven stores in Japan are not allowing Mastercard cards, including Maestro and Cirrus cards, to be used at their ATM machines.
Seven Bank, operated by 7-Eleven, is among the more popular ways of obtaining cash in Japan. Over 12,000 7-Eleven stores have an ATM within, permitting cash withdrawals.
Unfortunately, due to a dispute between Seven Bank and Mastercard, Seven Bank has again blocked the usage of Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus at their ATMs. The first suspension of service lasted nine months, from December 2009 to August 2010. In both instances, Seven Bank claims in their own words that the action is “in response to a revision in conditions by MasterCard that will impede the Company’s provision of ATM services.”
You can still withdraw cash using Visa cards (including those with the Plus logo), American Express, JCB, Union Pay, Discover Card and Diner’s Club.
If you have a Mastercard, Maestro or Cirrus card on the other hand … like me … you’ll want to turn to Japan Post, the postal provider of Japan that pretty much has an ATM located in every one of their branches across the country. Note however that not all ATMs are available 24 hours a day… only central post office locations in the major cities offer 24 hour ATM service. Most others are available only during the post office’s business hours: those in major cities will have longer business hours, while those in more rural locations will have shorter hours and may be closed on weekends and holidays.
Citibank is another alternative, as they have bank locations in the major cities and at the main international airports.
One thing to note is that you can do an online search for Seven Bank ATMs in English through their website, while for Japan Post the search is only available in Japanese.
Here are some links:
Seven Bank
Japan Post
Japan Post ATM Search (Japanese Only!)
Citibank list of ATM locations (PDF File)
Jose's Japan Tips 
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Thanks for the new info. I’m actually MOVING to Japan in just 2 days and I’m very disappointed to hear about this change with 7-11 since I have Citibank with Cirrus and it’s Mastercard. 7-11 was always so much more convenient to me compared to accessing to Japan Post. Oh well!
Tina, hopefully it’s a small inconvenience like the first time it happened
Thanks for reading my blog!
Actually you even can’t get Money with a Debitcard with Maestro or Cirrus at Japan Postbank too and to my knowledge, even at Citibank.
I strictly recommend you a Visa-Card if you come to Japan…
I don’t know whats wrong with Mastercard.
http://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en/ias/en_ias_index.html
http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/news/2013/news_041913_01.html
Finaly this one:
Now:
http://www.mastercard.com/jp/personal/jp/cardholderservices/atmlocations/notification.html
Mario,
This is actually a separate issue from the one with 7-Eleven. Right now, there is an upgrade going on at Japanese ATMs for the Mastercard Chip and Pin cards, so that is why those specific chip cards are not being accepted. But the other Mastercards with a Magnetic stripe are still accepted at the ATMs (Except 7-Eleven of course). I think the situation with the Chip and Pin cards will be resolved much sooner.
Thank you for reading my blog 🙂
Jose
Please tell me if the 7-day JR Pass covers trip from Hokkaido up to Kyushu (Hakata Stn) from Tokyo.
Yes, the 7 day Japan Rail Pass will cover most Japan Railways journeys throughout the country.
Is this dispute still on or can overseas maestro cards be used at 7-11 stores now? Thanks
Hi! The dispute is over for the time being. If I didn’t update my articles to reflect that fact, my apologies 🙂