Sending Money from Japan: Why You Don’t Need a Japanese Bank Account

Last updated: April 2026 · 13 min read

Quick summary: Opening a Japanese bank account as a foreigner is slow, confusing, and sometimes impossible in your first weeks. But here’s what most guides don’t tell you: for the thing you actually need a bank account for — sending money home and managing international payments — there’s a faster, cheaper solution that takes 5 minutes to set up. This guide covers both: how to eventually get a Japanese bank account, and what to use in the meantime (and possibly forever).

Table of Contents

1. The real problem: what you actually need a bank account for
2. The solution most people don’t know about: Wise and Revolut
3. Sending money home: every option compared
4. When you do need a Japanese bank account: how to get one
5. Best Japanese banks for foreigners in 2026
6. The right order to set everything up
7. FAQ

1. The Real Problem: What You Actually Need a Bank Account For

Before getting into how to open a Japanese bank account, it’s worth asking: why do you need one?

Most people arriving in Japan think they need a Japanese bank account for everything. In reality, the needs break down into two very different categories — and only one of them actually requires a Japanese bank account.

The point: if your immediate need is sending money home, paying international bills, or managing money across currencies — you don’t need a Japanese bank account at all. You need Wise or Revolut. And you can have either one set up in about 5 minutes, from your phone, today.

A Japanese bank account matters eventually — especially once you’re employed and need to receive a salary. But it’s not your first problem. Let’s solve the actual first problem first.

2. The Solution Most People Don’t Know About: Wise and Revolut

Wise and Revolut are financial apps that let you hold, send, and receive money in multiple currencies — including Japanese yen — without the friction of traditional banking. They’re used by millions of expats, travelers, and international workers worldwide, and they solve the money problem that every foreigner in Japan faces.

Here’s what makes them different from everything else:

Wise — best for sending money home

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the most trusted international money transfer service in the world, used by over 16 million people. It’s built specifically for one thing: moving money between currencies at the real exchange rate, with low, transparent fees.

What Wise gives you:

• A Japanese yen account with Japanese bank account details (sort code and account number) — meaning your employer can pay your salary directly into Wise, without a Japanese bank account
• The real mid-market exchange rate — the same rate you see on Google, with no hidden markup
• Low, transparent fees — typically 0.4–1.0% of the transfer amount, shown upfront before you confirm
• Transfers to 80+ countries — arrives in 1–2 business days for most destinations
• A Wise debit card — spend directly in yen in Japan, or in any currency abroad at the real rate

How to sign up — takes about 5 minutes:

1. Go to wise.com or download the Wise app
2. Enter your email address and create a password
3. Verify your identity — upload a photo of your passport and a selfie (this takes 1–2 minutes and is processed automatically in most cases)
4. That’s it. Your account is open. You can send and receive money immediately.

No Japanese address required to start. No Japanese bank account. No waiting for a card to arrive before you can transfer money. You can send money home within minutes of signing up.

Open a Wise account — free →

Revolut — best for daily spending and currency flexibility

Revolut is a broader financial app that works like a bank account across multiple currencies. Where Wise specializes in transfers, Revolut is stronger for daily use — spending, budgeting, and holding balances in different currencies simultaneously.

What Revolut gives you:

• Hold yen and multiple currencies in one account — switch between them instantly
• A Revolut card — use it anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, including in Japan
• Spend in yen at the real exchange rate — no foreign transaction fees on the standard plan (up to monthly limits)
• Send money to 160+ countries
• Instant transfers between Revolut users — free and immediate
• Budgeting and spending analytics built into the app

How to sign up:

1. Download the Revolut app
2. Enter your phone number and email
3. Verify your identity with your passport
4. Order your card (standard card is free, arrives in 5–9 business days in Japan)

The standard Revolut plan is free. You only pay if you upgrade to Premium or Metal for higher limits and additional features.

Open a Revolut account — free →

Wise vs Revolut: which one should you get?

Short answer: get both. They’re both free to open and complement each other well. But if you had to choose one to start:

• Get Wise first if your main need is sending money home regularly — it has better transfer rates and the yen account details are genuinely useful for receiving a Japanese salary
• Get Revolut first if you want one card for all daily spending in Japan and abroad — it’s more versatile as an everyday financial tool

3. Sending Money Home: Every Option Compared

This is where the difference becomes very concrete. Let’s compare sending ¥100,000 from Japan to a bank account in the UK (roughly £520 at current rates).

The numbers tell the story. On a ¥100,000 transfer, using a Japanese bank instead of Wise costs you roughly ¥2,000–3,500 in fees alone, plus an exchange rate that works against you by another ¥1,500–2,000. You lose ¥3,500–5,500 per transfer. If you send money home monthly, that’s ¥42,000–66,000 per year — gone to fees that Wise users don’t pay.

And beyond the money, consider the process. Using a Japanese bank to send an international transfer means:

• Going to a physical branch during opening hours (weekdays, 9am–3pm at most banks)
• Filling out a paper form in Japanese
• Waiting at the counter — often 30–60 minutes
• Potentially being asked questions you can’t answer in Japanese
• Getting everything stamped and processed manually
• Doing this every single time you want to send money

Wise takes 5 minutes on your phone. The recipient gets more money. You never visit a branch. There is genuinely no reason to use a Japanese bank for international transfers once you have Wise or Revolut set up.

Set this up today. Wise and Revolut are both free to open and take about 5 minutes. Even if you’re still planning your move to Japan, opening these accounts now means you’re ready the moment you arrive. Open Wise · Open Revolut

4. When You Do Need a Japanese Bank Account: How to Get One

Wise and Revolut solve the international money problem completely. But a Japanese bank account is still necessary eventually — specifically for:

• Receiving your salary (Japanese employers pay into Japanese bank accounts)
• Setting up automatic payment (口座振替, kōza furikae) for rent, utilities, and phone bills
• Some Japanese online shopping sites that only accept Japanese cards
• NHI and pension premium payments by direct debit

The challenge: Japanese banks are not set up for foreign arrivals. Here’s what you’ll run into.

The obstacles

You need a Japanese phone number

Every Japanese bank requires SMS verification to a Japanese phone number during online registration, or a phone number for the branch to call. This is why getting your SIM card sorted before trying to open a bank account matters. See the Japan SIM card guide if you haven’t done this yet.

You need a Japanese address

Banks require a registered Japanese address — specifically, the address on your Residence Card (在留カード). This means you need to register your address at city hall first, which requires having accommodation. This is one reason share houses work well: you have an address from day one.

Most banks have a waiting period for new arrivals

Several major Japanese banks — including Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) and Mizuho — require that you have lived in Japan for at least 6 months before opening an account. This is not publicized prominently, and many foreigners only find out when their application is rejected.

The process itself is in Japanese

Most Japanese bank websites, application forms, and branch staff operate in Japanese. Some banks have English options — these are the ones worth targeting as a foreign resident.

5. Best Japanese Banks for Foreigners in 2026

Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) — easiest for new arrivals

Japan Post Bank is historically the most accessible option for foreigners, available at any post office across Japan.

• No minimum stay requirement — can apply relatively soon after arrival
• Apply in person at any post office — bring your Residence Card, passport, and Japanese phone number
• No minimum balance
• Downside: No English app, limited English support, no international transfers online (you must visit a counter)
• Best for: Getting a Japanese account quickly to receive your first salary

Sony Bank — best English support

Sony Bank is a fully online bank with strong English support — rare in Japan.

• English-language app and website
• Competitive international transfer rates (better than most Japanese banks, though still not as good as Wise)
• Apply online — no branch visit required
• Requirement: You need to have been in Japan for some time and have a stable visa — recently arrived working holiday holders may struggle
• Best for: Long-term residents who want a Japanese account with English support

Rakuten Bank — best for online shopping

Rakuten Bank pairs well with the broader Rakuten ecosystem — Japan’s largest e-commerce platform.

• Fully online — no branch visits
• English app available
• Pairs with Rakuten credit card — useful for Japanese online shopping
• Requirement: Established address and phone number; some visa types may face difficulties
• Best for: Residents who shop frequently on Rakuten or want an online-first Japanese account

Wise’s yen account — the bridge solution

Worth mentioning again: Wise gives you Japanese bank account details — a real Japanese account number and branch code — that some employers will accept for salary payments. This isn’t a full replacement for a Japanese bank account in all situations, but it buys you time while you’re working on the real thing. Check with your employer first, but it works for many.

6. The Right Order to Set Everything Up

Based on everything above, here’s the order that makes the most sense for most foreigners arriving in Japan:

Before you arrive (or on your first day)

1. Open Wise — takes 5 minutes online. You now have a way to send money home and receive international transfers. Do this before anything else.
2. Open Revolut — also 5 minutes. Order the free card. Use it for daily spending while your Japanese setup is in progress.

Week 1 in Japan

1. Get your SIM card — you need a Japanese phone number before you can open a Japanese bank account. See the SIM card guide.
2. Register your address at city hall — you need your Residence Card with your registered address before any Japanese bank will accept your application.

Week 2–4

1. Apply for Japan Post Bank — visit your nearest post office with your Residence Card, passport, and Japanese phone number. Most straightforward Japanese bank option for new arrivals.
2. Give your employer your bank details — Japan Post Bank for salary if they require a Japanese account; or try your Wise yen account details first and see if they accept it.

Month 3–6 (once settled)

1. Consider Sony Bank or Rakuten Bank for better English support and features, if Japan Post Bank is limiting you.
2. Continue using Wise for all international transfers — this doesn’t change regardless of which Japanese bank you have.

The key insight: Wise and Revolut solve your immediate money problems today. The Japanese bank account is a parallel process that takes weeks — don’t let waiting for it stop you from sending money home or managing your finances from day one.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Wise as my main account in Japan without a Japanese bank account?

For many purposes, yes. Wise gives you a Japanese yen account with real account details, a debit card you can use anywhere in Japan, and the ability to send money internationally. The gaps are salary payments from employers who specifically require a Japanese domestic bank, and automatic payment setups (口座振替) for rent and utilities. For everything else — daily spending, international transfers, receiving money from abroad — Wise works completely.

Is Wise safe? Is Revolut safe?

Yes. Wise is a publicly listed company (London Stock Exchange) regulated by financial authorities in every country it operates in, including Japan’s FSA. Revolut holds banking licenses in multiple countries and is regulated by the UK’s FCA. Both are used by tens of millions of people globally. They are not experimental fintech startups — they’re established financial institutions.

How long does it take to open a Japanese bank account?

Japan Post Bank: apply in person, card arrives by mail in 1–2 weeks. Sony Bank and Rakuten Bank: apply online, verification takes 1–3 weeks, card arrives after that. Budget 2–4 weeks from application to having a working account, and expect possible delays if your documentation isn’t exactly right.

My employer says they need a Japanese bank account to pay my salary. What do I do?

First, try giving them your Wise yen account details — some employers accept this. If they don’t, apply for Japan Post Bank as quickly as possible (it’s the fastest to obtain). Ask your employer if they can pay your first month’s salary by cash or another method while your bank account is being set up — many are willing to accommodate this for new foreign hires.

Can I open a bank account as a tourist (no residence card)?

No. All Japanese banks require a Residence Card, which means you need a mid-to-long-term visa. Tourist visa holders cannot open Japanese bank accounts. Use Wise and Revolut for the duration of your stay — they work without a Japanese address or residence card.

What’s the cheapest way to send money from Japan to Australia / Canada / the US?

Wise, by a significant margin, for most currency pairs. The combination of the real exchange rate and low transparent fees consistently beats Japanese banks, Japan Post, and services like Western Union. Check the Wise fee calculator for your specific currency pair — it shows you the exact fee and arrival time before you commit to anything.

Do I need to pay tax on money I send home?

This depends on your tax residency status, the amount, and your home country’s tax rules — it’s outside the scope of this guide and varies significantly by situation. If you’re sending large amounts regularly, it’s worth checking with a tax professional. For most working holiday visa holders sending regular portions of their salary home, it’s not a concern, but confirm with your home country’s tax authority if you’re unsure.

The Bottom Line

Getting a Japanese bank account is a process — it takes weeks, has bureaucratic obstacles, and requires things you might not have yet (a Japanese address, phone number, and Residence Card). None of this should stop you from managing your money from day one.

Wise and Revolut take 5 minutes to open, cost nothing to set up, and immediately solve the problem that most people think they need a Japanese bank account for: sending money home, receiving money from abroad, and spending in Japan without getting gouged on exchange rates.

Open both today. Work on the Japanese bank account in parallel. By the time you need one for your salary, you’ll have it — and you’ll already have a system in place that handles everything else better than any Japanese bank ever will.

Open Wise — free, 5 minutes →
Open Revolut — free, 5 minutes →

What to Do Next

• Best SIM cards for foreigners in Japan 2026 — You need a Japanese phone number before you can open a Japanese bank account
• Finding housing in Japan as a foreigner — You need a registered address before most banks will accept your application
• Working holiday Japan 2026: complete guide — The full first-month overview
• National health insurance Japan: foreigners’ guide — Set up automatic payment once your Japanese bank account is open

Last updated: April 2026. Bank requirements and Wise/Revolut fee structures change — always verify current details directly with each provider before making financial decisions.

Have a question about banking or sending money in Japan? Leave a comment below or send a message.