How to Send Money from Japan: International Remittance Guide (2026)

What the Banks Actually Charge

A bank wire from Japan is expensive in two separate ways: a visible handling fee, and an exchange rate that is quietly worse than the market rate.

Japan Post's counter remittance service closed in August 2025; the replacement is a web-only service, so you cannot walk into a post office and send money abroad any more.

The part that is easy to miss: banks do not quote the mid-market rate you see on Google or on your bank's app. They add a margin — commonly 1.5% to 3% — and it never appears as a line item. On a ¥100,000 transfer that margin alone is ¥1,500–¥3,000, several times the visible fee. Wise charges a transparent percentage instead and shows you the exact rate before you confirm.

Creating a Wise Account

Step 1 — Download the App or Visit the Website

• Website: wise.com
• App: Search "Wise" on the App Store or Google Play

Step 2 — Register

1. Click "Open Account" or "Register"
2. Enter your email address and set a password
3. Enter your phone number and receive an SMS verification code — a Japanese number is not required
4. Fill in basic personal information (your name must match your passport exactly)

Step 3 — Identity Verification (KYC)

Wise has to verify your identity before it can send money:

1. Document verification: upload photos of your passport or Residence Card
2. Selfie verification: the app compares your face to the document photo
3. Address verification (in some cases): a utility bill or bank statement

Verification usually completes within 1–2 business days, and basic features stay available while you wait.

Step 4 — Get Your Japanese Transfer Details

In the app, add a JPY balance. Wise then issues you Japanese domestic transfer details in your own name — a bank name, branch and account number to give to your Japanese bank.

Those details come from Wise Payments Japan itself (bank code 0200 on the domestic clearing system). Older guides still describe a virtual account at Japan Post Bank or GMO Aozora — those were retired as Wise moved onto direct access. Always take the details from inside the app rather than from a screenshot.

Transferring from Your Japanese Bank to Wise

With your Wise transfer details in hand:

1. Log in to your Japanese bank's internet banking or use an ATM
2. Select Domestic Transfer (振込)
3. Enter the details Wise gave you:
   • Bank name: ワイズ・ペイメンツ・ジャパン (Wise Payments Japan)
   • Branch and account number: as shown in your app
   • Recipient name: your own name, exactly as Wise registered it
4. Enter the amount and confirm
5. Your bank charges its normal domestic transfer fee — ¥145–¥275 online or at an ATM at most banks, more if you use a counter

Wise emails you when the money lands, and the balance appears in the app.

Sending from Wise to a Recipient Bank Account — Step by Step

Step 1 — Start a New Transfer

1. Open the Wise app and tap Send (送金)
2. Select your source currency (JPY) and the destination currency (e.g., USD, EUR, TWD, HKD, KRW)
3. Enter the amount to send (you can enter either the JPY amount or the destination currency amount you want to arrive)

Step 2 — Review the Rate

Wise shows you in real time:

• The mid-market JPY/destination exchange rate
• The fee (amount and percentage)
• The estimated amount your recipient will receive
• Estimated arrival time

Step 3 — Enter the Recipient's Bank Details

Fill in the details for the recipient's bank account. Required fields vary by destination country:

• Recipient name (must match the bank account registration exactly)
• Bank name and address
• Account number / IBAN (format varies by country)
• SWIFT/BIC Code (required for most international transfers)
• Additional routing details as prompted (e.g., sort code for UK, routing number for US, BSB for Australia)

Wise will show you exactly which fields are required for your chosen destination country.

Step 4 — Confirm and Send

After reviewing all details, tap Send (送金する). Wise deducts from your JPY balance and begins processing.

Real Fee Examples

Wise's own pricing page states that transfer fees start from 0.27% and vary by destination currency. The exact figure is shown before you confirm, and you can model any amount in its calculator. As a rule of thumb, sending ¥100,000 from Japan costs somewhere between ¥270 and about ¥1,000 in Wise-side fees, depending on where it is going.

What that looks like in practice

A bank wire on the same amount would typically cost ¥2,500–¥7,000 in visible fees, before the exchange-rate margin.

The old habit of checking only the fee is what gets people: a ¥2,500 fee on a ¥100,000 transfer is 2.5%, and the rate margin on top can double that.

Arrival Times

USD, EUR and GBP transfers sent on a weekday morning in Japan often land the next day. Initiate transfers Monday to Thursday if timing matters — Friday afternoon and Japanese public holidays push settlement into the following week.

Cheaper Options Besides Wise

Wise is not the only way, and for some routes it is not the cheapest:

• Revolut still operates in Japan. Since August 2026 it has offered in-app account opening through a banking agency arrangement with Minna no Ginko, plus instant top-ups. Its transfer coverage from Japan is narrower than Wise's, so check your destination first.
• Specialist remittance companies such as SBI Remit, Kyodai Remittance, Seven Global Remit and PayForex are widely used by foreign workers in Japan. They often accept cash funding at a convenience store, which is useful if you do not want to link a bank account, and they are strong on Asian corridors.
• ゆうちょの国際送金, Japan Post's web-only service, charges a flat ¥3,000 and is simple if you already bank with Japan Post — but you pay the bank's exchange rate on top.
• Your own bank, at internet-banking rates, is worth pricing for a single large transfer when you need the money to arrive from a known institution rather than a fintech. It is rarely the cheapest option.

For a guide to choosing and opening the right Japanese account for transfers, see Best Banks in Japan for Expats.

Important Notes

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Review

Wise is legally required to review large or unusual transfers:

• If your account makes a large transfer for the first time, you may be asked to provide proof of the source of funds (pay slip, employment contract, etc.)
• Verification may hold the transfer for 1–5 business days

Transfer Limits

The cap depends on how the transfer is funded. Sending from your Wise balance is limited to ¥1,000,000 per transfer; funding the transfer directly by bank transfer (振込) raises the ceiling far higher, and Wise publishes its high-value limits on its Japan help pages. If you are moving a house deposit or a large bonus, check the limit before you tell anyone when it will arrive.

Recipient Bank Receiving Fees

The recipient's bank may charge an incoming transfer fee, and some countries withhold a small amount along the way. Ask the recipient to check what actually arrives, rather than assuming the quoted figure is final.

For a guide to choosing and opening the right Japanese account for transfers, see Best Banks in Japan for Expats.