Banks and exchange counters at two international airports in Japan will start handing out euro bank notes on the morning of Jan. 1, 2002 -- before the currency becomes legal tender in Europe several hours later.
The banks and exchange counters at Narita and Kansai international airports will be the only places in Japan where the notes will be available on the first days of the New Year, as bank branches in the rest of the country will not reopen until Jan. 4.
While euro bills will be available at the airports, euro coins will not.
The airport banks and exchange counters will continue to accept current European currencies such as German marks and French francs as well as travelers checks denominated in those currencies even after the euro becomes the legal tender -- but not indefinitely.
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and Fuji Bank will exchange such currencies until Feb. 28, but authorities recommend completing exchanges soon as some banks will stop accepting the notes before that date.
Deposits on current European currencies will be automatically changed to euros before the yearend at the fixed exchange rates, bank officials said.