Question about WISE card use abroad

[Roger Van Zant]

I have been using WISE to send money back to the UK every month for a while now.
I also have a WISE debit card which I have activated and used a couple times here in Japan.

I will be visiting the UK in October and I just want to confirm the correct way of doing things:

1) Transfer yen from my Japnese bank account to my WISE account.
(I do this monthly anyways, so no problem)

But then, what do I do if I want to use my WISE card in the UK (at ATMs/shops/bars etc.)?

2) Convert the yen to gbp online within the WISE app before leaving Japan?
2) Keep yen in the account without converting to gbp and just use the card in the UK (presumably having them convert from jpy to gbp each time I use the card)?

I've never used the card abroad before, so just looking for some advice.

Thanks.

[Kiro]

I spent the summer in the EU and was using my Wise card to pay for everything.
Regarding your 2 options, I suppose it depends if you expect the JPY to appreciate or depreciate vs. the GBP by October?

I converted half of my JPY into EUR via the Wise app before leaving and was paying for everything in euros. Since the yen kept depreciating against the euro, I converted a bit more while over there, but I didn't use all euros anyway.

As for withdrawals at ATMs, you get one for free per month, up to JPY 30,000 I think, then you pay a small fee for any additional.

I hope this helps!

[adamu]

It's up to you.

If you convert to GBP first, it'll use the GBP balance.

If you don't have enough GBP balance, it'll convert from your JPY balance on the fly, giving you a notification about how much JPY it used.

[Roger Van Zant]

I see.
I'll only be in the UK for two weeks, so not really bothered about currency fluctuations.
Good to know both options are open to me.
Thanks.

[Cedric]

Wise card work like a Bliss. I used it in all my overseas trip where Japanese issued Amex or Visa or Mastercard sometimes fail, Wise never has.

Same with Wise card can also withdraw cash. You have an allowance of 30K JPY a month if i remember correctly after that you are charged a fee but still better than what a global pass card with prestia would give you.