Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Banks

How to Use an ATM

Goal of this lesson

Be able to use an ATM with your cash card and PIN to withdraw, deposit and transfer money, and to protect your account by managing your PIN and avoiding ATM-related scams.

Explanation

At an ATM, you can use your cash card and PIN (暗証番号) to withdraw and deposit money, make transfers, check your balance and more. Besides bank branches, you may also be able to use ATMs in convenience stores. Fees may apply depending on the time, the day of the week and the ATM you use, so check your bank's website. Some ATMs let you switch the screen to English or other languages.

Never tell anyone your PIN, and avoid easy-to-guess numbers such as your date of birth. Police officers and bank staff will never ask for your PIN. A phone call saying "you can get money back at an ATM" is a scam. Close accounts you no longer use, for example when returning to your home country, and never hand your account or card to anyone else. Selling it or even giving it away is a crime.

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

ATM（エーティーエム）で できること：

- お金を 出す・入れる - 振込（ふりこみ） - 残高（ざんだか）を 見る

キャッシュカードと 暗証番号（あんしょうばんごう）を 使います。コンビニの ATMも 使える ことが あります。時間や 曜日で 手数料（てすうりょう）が かかる ことが あります。英語などに 変えられる ATMも あります。

- 暗証番号は だれにも 教えません。警察（けいさつ）や 銀行の 人も 聞きません。 - 「ATMで お金が もどる」という 電話は うそ（詐欺・さぎ）です。 - 口座や カードを 人に 売ったり あげたり しては いけません。犯罪（はんざい）です。

Check quiz

Q1

What do you use to withdraw money at an ATM?

  1. Only your residence card
  2. Your passport
  3. Your cash card and PIN
  4. Your health insurance card
AnswerC. Your cash card and PIN

Insert your cash card and enter your PIN to use the ATM.

Q2

What should you do if you get a call saying "You have a refund. Take your mobile phone and go to an ATM"?

  1. It is a scam; don't follow it, hang up and ask for advice
  2. Go to an ATM right away
  3. Press the buttons as instructed
  4. Tell them your PIN
AnswerA. It is a scam; don't follow it, hang up and ask for advice

You will never get money back by operating an ATM. If you are worried, consult the police consultation line "#9110" or similar.

Q3

Do police officers or bank staff ever ask for your PIN over the phone?

  1. Often
  2. Sometimes, if it is by phone
  3. Yes, to confirm your identity
  4. No (if asked, suspect a scam)
AnswerD. No (if asked, suspect a scam)

Police officers and bank staff will never ask for your PIN.

Q4

What should you do with an account you no longer use, for example when returning home?

  1. Give it to a friend
  2. Close it at the bank
  3. Sell it online
  4. Lend it to an acquaintance
AnswerB. Close it at the bank

Close accounts you don't use. Handing your account to someone else is a crime even if you receive no money.

Q5

What about ATM fees?

  1. Always free
  2. The same amount anywhere in Japan
  3. They differ by time, day and ATM, so check
  4. Only transfers are free
AnswerC. They differ by time, day and ATM, so check

Fees differ by bank, ATM and time of day. Check your bank's website.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What if there is a suspicious device or person at the ATM?

A. Don't use that ATM; tell the bank staff or call using the phone installed at the ATM. Make it a habit to check for suspicious devices around the card slot before using it.

Q. Can I lower the amount that can be withdrawn?

A. Some banks let you set a lower ATM usage limit. The National Police Agency also recommends this as a way to reduce damage from scams.

Q. What if I was tricked into making a transfer?

A. Consult the police right away and also contact the financial institution you transferred to. Under the Act on Relief Payments for Transfer Fraud (振り込め詐欺救済法), the recipient account may be frozen, and you may get back all or part of your loss within the amount remaining in the account (you will not necessarily get it all back).

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original