I'm going on exchange in Nagoya from the 1st April. I'm thinking of buying a digital camera and a laptop over there, but would appreciate it if anyone could give some advice as to where would be best, and how much I would be looking at... Some people have also said that it might not be a great idea to get a laptop in Japan because it would be installed with a Japanese operating system etc..

Also, was wondering what to expect in terms of costs wen renting a mobile phone.. And where I could do this.

And lastly (sorry, very flustered traveller here), could anyone tell me what the situation is like in regards to ATMs? I am planning on taking my bank card (Cirrus...which I have heard will be of practically no use), and a credit card. (and cash of course.) How easy is it to find an ATM that will take my credit card, and what kinds of places accept credit cards?

Thank you!

Okay, if you offer a Visa card in some pa-and-ma shop in a tiny village in the Japanese Alps, they will probably scratch their head and politely refuse with a lot of bowing and profuse apologies, but credit cards are routinely accepted in most stores and restaurants in Japan's major cities and towns.

Using a card to withdraw cash from an ATM is more difficult, since unlike in other first-world countries not all machines in Japan are connected to the international system. ATMs which accept foreign-issued cards can generally be found in airports, mainline railway stations, major department stores and other places where foreign tourists are common.

In Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto it is certainly possible to buy laptops with English operating systems in stores specialising in taxfree electrical goods for export. Unless your Japanese is excellent, be wary of buying a laptop where all the on-screen menus pop up in Japanese. I bought a Japanese laptop a couple of years ago, but then ran into a problem with the Internet connection when I got back home. Imagine the problems I had trying to decipher the Japanese on screen while the guy at the Luxembourg P&T helpdesk was trying to talk me through the Internet set-up program!!!

Cirrus shouldn't be a problem since it can be used at post office ATMs:

http://www.yu-cho.japanpost.jp/e_a0000000/aa200000.htm

(Post Office in Japan also does savings bank and limited insurance business.)

Check with Cirrus ATM locater to get some idea of how widespread available ATMs are in Nagoya.

http://www.mastercard.com/atmlocator/index.jsp

Mitsuhiro.

I'm not positive about this but if you get a laptop with Windows XP Professional (and possibly Home ed. as well) I think you can change the menus to English. Of course any pre-loaded Japanese software would remain Japanese. And maybe the Windows Help System as well.

I don't know what the prices are in Australia but I would tend to think you would be better off buying at home. But if you want a large selection and the latest and greatest models, you can't beat Japan.

Thank you very much for all your help! It's all made me feel a bit more prepared for my trip. Thank you again!