Sending money from Japan to another country is a regular need for foreign residents — supporting family overseas, investing in your home country, or building savings in a familiar currency. Japan has multiple options ranging from traditional bank transfers (expensive) to modern fintech services (much cheaper). This guide maps the landscape as of 2025-2026.
The Core Options
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
The most widely used money transfer service among Japan’s foreign resident community:
- Fees: Typically 0.4–1.0% of transfer amount; transparent fee shown before confirming
- Exchange rate: Mid-market rate (no hidden markup) — the same rate you see on Google
- Speed: 1–2 business days for most currency pairs; some currencies same-day
- Setup: Identity verification required (residence card + passport); takes 1–3 days to verify; after setup, transfers are quick
- Japan bank transfer: Send yen from your Japanese bank account to Wise; Wise converts and sends foreign currency to recipient
- Multi-currency account: Hold USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, etc. in Wise account; receive money in multiple currencies
- Recommended for: Regular transfers of ¥50,000–¥5,000,000 to most countries
Revolut Japan
- Free plan offers limited monthly currency exchange at mid-market rate; paid plans (¥980–¥1,980/month) give higher limits
- Strong for holding and spending in multiple currencies; virtual card for online shopping
- Transfers: peer-to-peer within Revolut is free; bank transfers similar fees to Wise
- Good complement to Wise; some currencies have better rates than Wise on Revolut
Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) International Remittance
- Traditional option; available at post office counters nationwide
- Fee: ¥2,500 flat fee + ¥1,000 receiving fee in some countries + exchange rate markup (~2–3%)
- Total cost significantly higher than Wise for equivalent transfer
- Advantage: No identity verification beyond existing Japan Post Bank account; useful for countries where Wise is not available
- Best for: recipients in countries without Wise coverage, or very small transfers where percentage fees make Wise’s fee less attractive
Major Japanese Bank Transfers (SWIFT)
- MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho all offer international wire transfers
- Fee: ¥3,500–¥5,000 flat + correspondent bank fees (¥1,000–¥3,000) + 2–3% exchange rate markup
- Reliable and traceable; SWIFT confirmation
- Best for: Large business transfers (¥5M+) where compliance and auditability matter more than cost; not recommended for regular personal transfers
SBI Remit (SBIレミット)
- Japan-based fintech; competitive rates especially for Southeast Asian corridors (Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia)
- Often the cheapest option for remittances to Southeast Asia
- Cash pickup option at partner locations in recipient country
- App-based; competitive exchange rates; fees ¥350–¥1,000 flat for many corridors
Comparison: ¥200,000 Transfer to USD (Approximate)
| Service | Fee | Rate markup | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ¥1,200–¥2,000 | 0% | ¥1,200–¥2,000 |
| Revolut (paid) | ¥500–¥1,000 | 0–0.5% | ¥500–¥2,000 |
| Japan Post Bank | ¥3,500 | 2–3% | ¥7,500–¥9,500 |
| Major bank (SWIFT) | ¥7,000–¥8,000 | 2–3% | ¥11,000–¥14,000 |
Practical Tips
- Verify your account before you need it urgently: Wise verification takes 1–3 days; set it up when you first arrive, not when you urgently need to send money
- Tax considerations: Large transfers (especially transfers of overseas income to Japan) may have tax implications; consult a tax accountant if transferring amounts over ¥5M regularly. This guide provides practical orientation, not tax advice.
- Exchange rate timing: The JPY/USD rate fluctuates significantly (120–155 range in 2023–2025); setting rate alerts (on Wise or XE.com) to transfer when the rate is favorable can meaningfully increase amounts received
- Anti-money laundering (AML): Large single transfers may trigger documentation requests; transfers over ¥1M in a single day to some services require additional explanation. Normal salary-level transfers proceed without issue.
- Recipient bank details: Always confirm the recipient’s IBAN/SWIFT/routing information is correct; misdirected international transfers are difficult and slow to recover