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Using UnionPay cards

UnionPay cards, including those from ATB Bank, can work in Japan, particularly for ATM withdrawals and some payments,…

UnionPay cards, including those from ATB Bank, can work in Japan, particularly for ATM withdrawals and some payments, provided the merchant is informed to select the UnionPay option and the card is inserted rather than tapped. Success rates can vary.

ATB UnionPay cards in Japan may return 'invalid PIN' errors at ATMs

ATB UnionPay cards in Japan may return 'invalid PIN' errors at ATMs. The solution is to change the PIN code via the bank's mobile application. Note that acceptance for retail payments is inconsistent; physical cash is recommended as the primary payment method.

Russian UnionPay cards, specifically from Rosselkhozbank, are not operational in Japan due to sanctions

Russian UnionPay cards, specifically from Rosselkhozbank, are not operational in Japan due to sanctions. ATB cards are generally accepted, with exceptions like the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. For ATB UnionPay cards, it is recommended to issue them in CNY to avoid multi-step currency conversion (RUB to CNY to JPY). A CNY-denominated card converts directly to JPY upon payment.

Russian-issued UnionPay cards work in Japan with a ~70% success rate

Russian-issued UnionPay cards work in Japan with a ~70% success rate. Essential instruction for the user: explicitely inform the cashier to enable the UnionPay processing on the terminal. Lawson convenience stores are reported as more reliable than 7-Eleven or FamilyMart for these transactions.