Banks and exchange Kyoto's main banking district is around the Karasuma Shijo junction, extending east towards the river and north to Oike-dori, where Sumitomo, Sanwa and Tokyo Mitsubishi banks all have foreign exchange facilities. However, note that most banks in Kyoto don't open their exchange desks until 10.30/11am. Down near the station, the Central Post Office also handles foreign exchange (Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm). In addition to the post office ATMs , ATM machines in the All Card Plaza (in the Teramachi arcade, just north of Shijo-dori) and the underground Zest Mall (under the Kawaramachi Oike junction, near Kyoto City Hall) accept a range of credit cards, including some cards registered on foreign accounts. Otherwise, you can get cash advances over the counter without a PIN number at the following: for Visa go to Sumitomo Bank's main branch on Karasuma just south of Sanjo-dori, or a handy sub-branch in Hankyu department store; for MasterCard, head for Nanto Bank, on the Karasuma Oike junction; and Sanwa Bank, at Shijo Karasuma, for American Express.