Sending money home is one of the most frequent financial tasks for foreigners in Japan. Done wrong, you lose 3–5% of every transfer. Done right, you keep almost everything.
Quick Comparison
| Service | Fee (¥100,000 transfer) | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ~¥400–600 | 1–2 days | Most people, most currencies |
| SBI Remit | ¥0–500 | 1–3 days | Philippines, China, specific corridors |
| Japan Post | ¥2,500 | 3–5 days | Simple, accessible |
| Megabank SWIFT | ¥2,000–4,000 + rate spread | 3–5 days | Avoid |
| Revolut | Low fees, limits apply | 1–2 days | Multi-currency users |
Wise — Best for Most People
Wise (formerly TransferWise) consistently offers the best exchange rates and transparent fees for international transfers.
Why Wise wins:
- Uses the real mid-market exchange rate — the rate you see on Google
- Low, transparent fee (typically 0.4–1.5%)
- Fast: most transfers arrive in 1–2 business days
- 40+ currencies supported
- App is excellent and available in English
- You can see exactly how much the recipient gets before you send
How to use Wise from Japan:
- Create account at wise.com
- Verify your identity (passport + residence card)
- Enter amount and recipient details
- Pay from your Japanese bank account (domestic bank transfer)
- Recipient gets funds in their local currency
Cost example: Sending ¥300,000 to USD
- Wise: ~$1,970 delivered (0.52% fee + mid-market rate)
- Megabank: ~$1,900 delivered (¥3,000 fee + 2% rate spread)
- Wise saves ~¥10,000 per transfer
Get your first Wise transfer fee-free (up to ¥125,000 with referral)
SBI Remit — Best for Specific Countries
Operated by SBI Bank, strong for specific corridors:
| Country | Fee | Exchange Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ¥0 | Competitive |
| China | ¥0 | Competitive |
| Vietnam | ¥0 | Competitive |
| Korea | ¥0–500 | Competitive |
| USA | ¥0–500 | Check vs Wise |
For Philippines remittances especially, SBI Remit is often the cheapest option. Available from Japan Post ATMs (you don’t even need an account).
GMO Remit (GMOあおぞらネット銀行)
Strong rates for certain corridors, particularly:
- Southeast Asia
- South Asia
Lower-known than Wise but worth comparing for less common destination countries.
Japan Post — For Simplicity
International Postal Money Order (国際送金)
- Available at any post office
- Fee: ¥2,500 per transfer
- No account required
- Accepts most currencies
- Slow (3–5 business days)
- Maximum ¥1,000,000 per transaction
Best for people who don’t have a Japanese bank account yet or prefer in-person service. Not the cheapest but straightforward.
Megabank Wire Transfers — Avoid
MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho all offer international wires, but:
- High fixed fee: ¥2,000–4,000
- Exchange rate 1–3% below mid-market (hidden cost)
- Slow: 3–5 business days
- Need a bank account with them
Total cost on ¥500,000 transfer: Often ¥20,000–30,000 more expensive than Wise.
Use your Japanese megabank account only to initiate the payment to Wise — send to Wise’s Japanese bank details, then Wise completes the international transfer cheaply.
Tips to Save More
1. Send larger amounts less often
Fixed fees hurt small transfers. Wise’s percentage fee is the same regardless, but other services with fixed fees are cheaper per yen sent at higher amounts.
2. Set rate alerts
Wise and Revolut let you set alerts for when the exchange rate hits your target. Not urgent transfers can benefit from timing.
3. Avoid weekend transfers
Some services apply wider spreads on weekends when currency markets are closed.
4. Use Wise for multiple currencies
Wise’s multi-currency account (Wise Account) lets you hold yen, dollars, pounds, euros, etc. — and convert at good rates when the timing is right.
Tax Note
Sending money from Japan to your home country is not taxed in Japan. However:
- If you receive Japanese-source income in your home country, it may be taxable there
- US citizens must report foreign accounts over $10,000 on FBAR
- Consult a cross-border tax advisor if you’re uncertain about your obligations