How to Open a Bank Account in Japan as an Expat: A Complete Guide

Why You Need a Japanese Bank Account

A Japanese bank account is essential for daily life once you're in Japan. Whether you're here for a working holiday, a full work visa, or a longer-term stay, you'll need one for:

• Receiving your salary: Most Japanese employers pay by bank transfer — without an account you can't get paid
• Paying rent: Most landlords require automatic debit (口座振替) from a Japanese bank account
• Utility bills: Electricity, gas, water, phone, and internet are all billed via bank auto-debit
• Online shopping: Many Japanese e-commerce platforms require a Japanese bank account for payment
• Building a credit history: Regular account use is a prerequisite for applying for a credit card in Japan

💡 We recommend opening your bank account within your first week in Japan. See Moving to Japan: A Complete Checklist.

Which Banks Accept Foreign Nationals

Japan has many banks, but not all of them are equally welcoming to foreign nationals. Here are the four most popular options among expats:

Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) — Top Recommendation

Japan Post Bank is the first choice for most foreign nationals — and for good reason:

• Around 24,000 post offices nationwide, including places no other bank reaches
• Relatively low barriers for foreign nationals
• ATMs in practically every post office; note that FamilyMart stores are switching their ATMs from the JP Bank network to Seven Bank, so 7-Eleven is the reliable late-night option
• No account opening fee; no monthly maintenance fee
• Often accepts applicants with less than six months' residency, though the account will be a restricted one

Downsides: Online banking interface is Japanese-only; international transfer fees are higher.

Sony Bank — Best English-Language Experience

Sony Bank is one of the few Japanese banks offering a full English online banking interface — ideal for expats whose Japanese isn't fluent yet:

• English website and app
• Multi-currency account support (USD, EUR, and more)
• Competitive international transfer fees
• Fully online application — no branch visit required

Watch out for: Requires 6+ months of residency; requires My Number (マイナンバー); physical ATMs are limited (use SEVEN BANK ATMs).

Rakuten Bank (楽天銀行) — Low-Fee Online Bank

One of Japan's largest internet-only banks:

• Fully online account opening — no branch visit required
• Free ATM withdrawals each month (number varies by account tier)
• High cashback when integrated with Rakuten Ichiba and Rakuten Card
• No account maintenance fee

Watch out for: Some notices arrive in Japanese only; 6+ months' residency often required; stricter screening than Japan Post Bank.

MUFG (三菱UFJ銀行) — Japan's Largest Bank

Best suited to expats on formal work visas:

• Nationwide branch and ATM network in major cities
• Used by more companies for payroll than any other bank
• Full international wire transfer services
• Wide range of credit cards and financial products

Watch out for: Stricter screening for foreign nationals; branch experience can be inconsistent; 6+ months' residency often required.

Bank Comparison Table

Required Documents

Regardless of which bank you choose, you'll need:

Essential Documents

1. Residence Card (在留カード): The most important piece of ID — issued at the airport on arrival. Your registered address must already be printed on the back (this is added when you complete residence registration at the ward office)
2. Passport (パスポート): Name must match your Residence Card
3. Proof of address: The address on your Residence Card, or a resident certificate (住民票) from the ward office
4. Seal (印鑑) or signature: Most banks accept a signature now, but having a seal is good insurance — available at ¥100 stores (Daiso) or seal shops for ¥500–¥2,000
5. Phone number: A Japanese mobile number is required — sort out your SIM card first

Helpful Supporting Documents

• My Number notification letter or My Number Card (マイナンバー): Required by some banks (e.g., Sony Bank) at account opening
• Employment certificate: May speed up the review process if you have a formal job
• Student ID: Proof of student status if applicable

⚠️ Important: Your Residence Card must already have your address printed on it. Complete your address registration (転入届) at the ward office first, then go to the bank.

Step-by-Step Account Opening

In-Branch Application (Japan Post Bank, MUFG)

Step 1 — Choose a Branch

Select the branch closest to your home or workplace. Larger branches in urban areas tend to have more experience with foreign nationals, and some have English or Chinese-speaking staff.

Step 2 — Take a Number

Walk in and tell the information desk you want to open a new account (「口座開設をしたいです」). Take a number and wait to be called.

Step 3 — Fill In the Application Form

Complete the account opening form (口座開設申込書), which includes:

• Name (matching your Residence Card, with katakana reading)
• Address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Occupation

Step 4 — Submit Documents for Review

Hand over the completed form along with your Residence Card and passport. Staff will make copies and review — the in-branch process typically takes 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 5 — Receive Your Account Details

Once approved, you'll receive on the same day:

• Passbook (通帳): A printed record of your transactions
• Debit card (キャッシュカード): Usually sent by post 1–2 weeks later

Online Application (Sony Bank, Rakuten Bank)

1. Go to the bank's official website or download the app
2. Fill in personal details and upload photos of your Residence Card and passport
3. Complete online identity verification (eKYC)
4. Wait for review (approximately 3–7 business days)
5. After approval, your debit card is mailed to your registered address

Things to Know

The 6-Month Residency Rule

This is the hurdle foreign nationals hit most often. Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (外国為替及び外国貿易法), banks have to confirm that a non-resident's transactions are not restricted. Japan Post Bank spells out the definition it applies:

• a foreign national who has been in Japan for less than six months and is not working at an office in Japan is treated as a non-resident
• a foreign national employed in Japan does not fall into that category, whatever their length of stay

Non-resident accounts come with restrictions, and at Japan Post Bank they are concrete:

• ✗ No transfers at ATMs at all — you cannot pay rent from an ATM
• ✗ Domestic transfers are processed as international transfers, so they cost ¥3,000 by app or online banking and ¥7,500 at the counter
• ✗ No internet banking transfers in the ordinary sense, and no ゆうちょBizダイレクト
• ✓ Deposits, withdrawals and passbook use work normally

In practice the line is blurrier than the rule suggests. Because the test turns on employment, people with a Japanese employer often open an ordinary account in their first week — take your employment certificate or offer letter and ask for the standard product. Working-holiday and student arrivals are more likely to be steered towards the restricted version.

The useful detail is what happens at the six-month mark: you become a resident for this purpose, and the restrictions come off. Tell the bank and the account is reclassified — at Japan Post Bank you ask at a post office or directly managed branch, and from then on ATM transfers work normally. Do not assume it happens automatically, because it does not.

Setting Up Internet Banking

After opening your account, sign up for internet banking (ネットバンキング) as soon as possible so you can check your balance and transfer money anytime. The services are:

• Japan Post Bank: ゆうちょ Direct (ゆうちょダイレクト)
• MUFG: MUFG Direct (三菱UFJダイレクト)
• Sony Bank: internet banking through the Sony Bank app
• Rakuten Bank: internet banking is included automatically when your account is activated

Account Management

• Never lend your account to others: This is illegal in Japan and can lead to account freezing and criminal liability
• Close the account before leaving Japan: Accounts left dormant with a positive balance may be frozen
• Keep your card and PIN safe: Japanese debit card PINs are 4 digits; forgotten PINs must be reset in-branch
• Update your address when you move: Notify your bank promptly after any change of address

Practical Tips

1. Call ahead to confirm: Different branches can have different requirements — calling first saves you a wasted trip
2. Bring a Japanese-speaking friend: If your Japanese is limited, having someone to help translate makes the whole process much smoother
3. Go on a weekday morning: Fewer people; bank staff tend to be more patient
4. Bring an extra set of photocopies: Banks will make their own copies, but having spares is never a bad idea
5. Bring some cash for an initial deposit: a token amount is enough at most branches, and it lets you check that the passbook and card work before you leave the counter

Common Questions

I've been in Japan less than a week — can I open an account right away?

Yes, try. As long as you've completed your address registration (転入届) at the ward office and your address is on your Residence Card, you can head to Japan Post Bank. Note that account functions may be restricted under the 6-month rule.

One bank turned me down — what now?

Try a different branch or a different bank. There is some subjectivity in how individual branches and staff handle foreign national applications. Being turned down at one place doesn't mean all banks will turn you down — try a few.

Can I hold multiple accounts?

Yes. Japan has no restriction on how many bank accounts you hold. Many expats combine a Japan Post account for day-to-day use with a commercial bank account for salary deposits — keeping different funds separate for easier management.

Is there mobile payment in Japan?

Yes, and it is close to universal. The dominant service is PayPay, followed by Rakuten Pay (楽天Pay), d払い (d-barai) and au PAY. All of them can be funded from a Japanese bank account, and all of them want your My Number or a verified ID before they will unlock their limits. PayPay is the sensible starting point — the acceptance rate is the highest in the country. See Setting Up PayPay in Japan.

If you remember LINE Pay from an earlier trip, note that the Japanese service shut down on 30 April 2025 and its balances moved into PayPay. LINE Pay still exists in Thailand and Taiwan, but not here.