The Complete Guide to Sending Money from Japan

Sending money from Japan to your home country is one of the most common financial tasks for foreign residents—whether you are supporting family back home, paying off overseas debts, or simply moving savings abroad. The good news is that in 2025 and beyond, there are more options than ever, ranging from traditional banks to cutting-edge fintech apps. The bad news is that the cost differences between services can be dramatic: one wrong choice can cost you thousands of yen in unnecessary fees. This guide covers everything you need to know to send money from Japan efficiently, cheaply, and legally.

Understanding Your Options: Overview of Transfer Services

Before diving into individual services, it helps to understand the landscape. International money transfers from Japan fall into three main categories:

1. Japanese bank wire transfers – The traditional method available at any major bank branch or online banking portal.
2. Specialized remittance services – Companies that exist purely to move money across borders, like Wise, Western Union, Seven Bank, and SBI Remit.
3. Digital wallets and apps – Services like PayPal that combine payments and transfers.

Each category has trade-offs in fees, exchange rates, speed, and ease of use. For most foreign residents, specialized remittance services offer the best combination of value and convenience.

Fee data based on 2025–2026 published rates. Always check current rates before transferring.

What Documents You Need Before Sending Money

Japan takes international money transfers seriously due to anti-money laundering regulations. Before you can send money abroad, you will need to have the following documents ready.

Required for all transfers:

• My Number (マイナンバー): Your 12-digit individual number is required by law for international transfers. Most services will ask for your My Number Card or, at minimum, your My Number notification slip.
• Residence Card (在留カード): Proof that you are a legal resident of Japan.
• Bank account or funding method: Either a Japanese bank account to debit from, or a debit/credit card registered to your Japanese address.

Important: Residency Status Matters

If you have been in Japan for less than 6 months, you are legally classified as a non-resident under Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. This means banks may apply additional scrutiny to your transfers and treat even domestic transfers differently. Once 6 months have passed since your arrival, visit your bank and request that your status be changed from non-resident to resident—banks do not do this automatically.

For a full guide on banking in Japan, including how to open an account and manage your finances, see our article on how to open a bank account in Japan as a foreigner.

Wise: The Best Option for Most Foreigners

Wise (formerly TransferWise) has become the go-to choice for foreign residents in Japan who want to send money abroad at the lowest possible cost. The reasons are straightforward:

• Mid-market exchange rate: Wise uses the real exchange rate—the same one you see on Google or Reuters—without any hidden markup.
• Transparent fees: Wise charges a fixed fee plus approximately 0.5–1.5% of the transfer amount depending on the currency pair.
• High transfer limits: Wise now supports transfers of up to ¥150 million per transaction, making it suitable even for large property purchases or business transfers.
• Fast processing: Most transfers arrive within 1–2 business days.
• Easy setup: You can verify your account using your My Number photo ID or your Residence Card.

How to set up Wise in Japan:

1. Download the Wise app or visit the Wise website.
2. Create an account with your email address.
3. Complete identity verification by uploading your My Number Card or Residence Card plus a selfie.
4. Add a funding method: your Japanese bank account, or a Visa/Mastercard debit card.
5. Enter the recipient's bank account details and transfer.

Wise is particularly strong for transfers to the US, UK, EU, Australia, and other major currency areas. For specific country comparisons, the Tokyo Cheapo guide publishes regularly updated fee data at tokyocheapo.com.

Traditional Banks: When to Use Them and When to Avoid Them

Japanese major banks—SMBC, MUFG (Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ), Mizuho, and Japan Post Bank—all offer international wire transfers, but they come with significant drawbacks:

Fees: Expect to pay ¥3,000–7,500 per transfer at a branch window, plus a separate foreign exchange margin of 1–3% on top of the mid-market rate.

Speed: Bank wires typically take 3–5 business days.

When banks make sense:

• When transferring very large amounts where the percentage cost is less significant than the fixed fee structure
• When your recipient needs a SWIFT wire specifically (common for property purchases)
• When sending to a country where specialized services do not operate

Japan Post Bank Update (2025): Japan Post Bank stopped international remittance services at physical branches on August 29, 2025. However, online international remittance via the Yucho Direct International Remittance platform is still available. If you have relied on Japan Post Bank's branch service, you will need to switch to online or find an alternative provider.

For a comprehensive guide on banking in Japan for foreigners, visit Living in Nihon's banking guide.

Remittance Services for Asia-Pacific Countries

If you are sending money to countries in Asia—particularly the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, or Sri Lanka—several specialized services offer excellent rates and country-specific features:

SBI Remit: Operated by SBI Group, SBI Remit offers competitive rates to many Asian countries. They support cash pickup options through partner networks, which is useful for recipients who do not have bank accounts. SBI Remit is particularly popular for transfers to the Philippines (via GCash) and Southeast Asia.

Japan Remit Finance (JRF): Specializes in transfers to specific countries with competitive flat-fee structures.

Brastel: Well-known in the Brazilian-Japanese community and for transfers to Latin America.

Japan Money Express: Serves remittances to a range of Asian countries with competitive rates.

Note that GoRemit, which was previously operated by SBI Shinsei Bank and was popular with English-speaking expats, was discontinued in October 2025. If you were using GoRemit, you will need to switch to an alternative service such as Wise or SBI Remit.

For career and job-related financial planning as an expat in Japan, For Work in Japan offers guidance on navigating your career and income in Japan.

Western Union and Seven Bank: Convenience-Focused Options

Western Union is available at 15+ branches in Tokyo and at Lawson convenience stores nationwide. It charges ¥400 for a ¥10,000 transfer and ¥1,480 for ¥100,000 to USD—slightly more than Wise, but it offers same-day transfers to cash pickup locations, which is useful when your recipient needs cash immediately or does not have a bank account.

Seven Bank (the bank associated with 7-Eleven) is another convenient option, with ATMs available 24/7 across Japan. Fees are ¥490 for ¥10,000 and ¥1,950 for ¥100,000 to USD. Seven Bank requires advance registration and My Number verification before you can send international transfers.

Both services are more expensive than Wise for regular bank-to-bank transfers, but their convenience factor is real—especially at midnight or on weekends when you need to send money quickly.

For resources on IT career transitions and working in Japan, Ittenshoku provides guides for foreign workers navigating the Japanese job market.

How to Minimize Transfer Fees: Practical Tips

Sending money smartly can save you significant amounts over a year of regular transfers. Here are the most effective strategies:

1. Compare exchange rates, not just fees: A service that charges zero fees but uses a poor exchange rate can cost you more than a service with transparent fees and mid-market rates. Always calculate the total amount your recipient will receive.

2. Bundle your transfers: Instead of sending small amounts frequently, consider sending larger amounts less often. Most services have a fixed component to their fees, so larger transfers are proportionally cheaper.

3. Use the right service for the right currency: Wise is best for most major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD). For certain Asian currencies and cash pickups, regional services like SBI Remit may offer better deals.

4. Check for promotions: Many services offer fee-free first transfers or special promotional rates. Wise occasionally runs promotions for new users.

5. Set up rate alerts: Some services allow you to set a target exchange rate and will notify you when the rate is favorable. This is particularly useful for large transfers.

6. Avoid PayPal for large amounts: PayPal's 3–4% conversion charge becomes very expensive on larger transfers. It is only practical for small convenience transfers.

Understanding your overall cost of living in Japan helps you plan how much to send home. See our cost of living in Tokyo breakdown for a detailed look at monthly expenses.

Tax and Legal Considerations When Sending Money from Japan

Japan has reporting requirements for large international transfers. Here are the key points every foreign resident should know:

• Under ¥3 million per transfer: Generally no special reporting required from the sender.
• Over ¥3 million: Transfer services are required to report these transactions to Japanese authorities. This is standard anti-money laundering compliance and does not affect legitimate transfers.
• Foreign income and Japanese taxes: If you are a tax resident of Japan, your worldwide income is potentially taxable in Japan. Money you send home from your Japanese salary is not taxed again, but foreign income you receive in Japan may be subject to Japanese tax.
• Overseas assets: If you hold overseas financial assets exceeding ¥50 million, you are required to file an overseas assets declaration with the Japanese tax authorities.

For a comprehensive understanding of your Japanese tax obligations, see our Japan income tax guide for foreign residents.

Always consult with a tax professional (税理士 / zeirishi) if you have complex cross-border financial arrangements.

Step-by-Step: Your First International Transfer from Japan

If this is your first time sending money internationally from Japan, here is a straightforward walkthrough using Wise as an example:

1. Ensure your status is correct: Make sure your bank has you listed as a resident (not non-resident) if you have been in Japan more than 6 months.
2. Gather documents: My Number Card (or notification slip plus another ID), Residence Card, recipient's bank account details (account number, SWIFT/BIC code, bank name and address).
3. Create a Wise account: Sign up, verify your identity, and link your Japanese bank account or card.
4. Enter transfer details: Amount, currency, recipient's bank information.
5. Review the total: Check the exchange rate, fee, and final amount recipient will receive before confirming.
6. Confirm and pay: Wise will debit your funding source and process the transfer.
7. Track the transfer: Wise sends email updates and you can track status in the app.

Most transfers to major currencies complete within 24–48 hours. Keep the transfer confirmation for your records. For a detailed comparison of fees and services updated in 2026, Japan Life Start has a useful fee comparison guide for Wise, SBI Remit, Revolut, and bank transfers.

For setting up all your services when first arriving in Japan, our guide on how to set up utilities in your Japan apartment has you covered.

Summary and Recommendations

Sending money from Japan does not have to be complicated or expensive. Here is a quick summary of the best choices for different situations:

• Best overall value: Wise – lowest fees, best exchange rates, high limits
• Best for Asia-Pacific cash pickup: SBI Remit or Western Union
• Best for convenience store access: Western Union (Lawson) or Seven Bank
• Traditional bank: Only for SWIFT wires required by recipients or very large business transfers

With your My Number Card ready, an account at a good Japanese bank, and access to Wise or another quality remittance service, you can send money home quickly and affordably. For more guidance on managing your finances as a foreigner in Japan, check our full guide to moving to Japan and our Japan national health insurance guide to ensure all your financial bases are covered.