Sending money home from Japan? You want it to arrive fast, with low fees, and at a decent exchange rate. Whatever you do, don’t use your Japanese bank to do it — I’ll explain why in a moment.
Here are the best options in 2025.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a Service
- Low fees — both fixed fees and percentage fees add up
- Good exchange rate — some services look cheap on fees but quietly give you a terrible rate
- Transfer speed — same day vs 2–3 days matters if someone’s waiting on the money
- Supported countries — make sure your home country is covered
Best Money Transfer Apps from Japan
1. Wise (formerly TransferWise) — Best Overall
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee | ~0.5–1.5% of amount |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market rate (best available) |
| Speed | 1–2 business days |
| Countries | Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and 80+ more |
Wise is the one I recommend to basically everyone. The fees are transparent — you see exactly what you’re paying before you confirm. And they use the real mid-market exchange rate, not some marked-up version the banks use to pocket the difference.
How to use: Download the Wise app, verify your residence card and passport, link your Japanese bank account, and send.
2. Revolut — Good for Frequent Transfers
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free up to ¥150,000/month (standard plan) |
| Exchange rate | Near mid-market rate |
| Speed | Instant to 1 day |
| Countries | 150+ countries |
Best for: People who send money frequently and want zero fees up to a monthly limit. If you’re regularly sending smaller amounts, Revolut can beat Wise on total cost.
3. SBI Remit — Best for Southeast Asia
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee | ¥0–¥1,000 fixed fee |
| Exchange rate | Slightly worse than Wise |
| Speed | Same day to Philippines, Vietnam |
| Countries | Philippines, Vietnam, China, and more |
SBI Remit is very popular among Filipino and Vietnamese workers in Japan, and for good reason — same-day transfers to popular destinations, low fixed fees, and support in Japanese and English. If speed matters more than getting the absolute best rate, this is your option.
4. Remitly — Good for Philippines
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee | Varies by speed (Express vs Economy) |
| Exchange rate | Good rates for PHP |
| Speed | Express: minutes / Economy: 3–5 days |
| Countries | Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and more |
Best for: Sending to the Philippines specifically. The Express option gets money there in minutes, which is useful when someone needs it now.
Comparison Table
| Service | Fee | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ~1% | 1–2 days | Best rate overall |
| Revolut | Free (limit) | Same day | Frequent senders |
| SBI Remit | ¥0–¥1,000 | Same day | SE Asia specific |
| Remitly | Varies | Minutes | Philippines |
| Bank transfer | ¥2,500+ | 2–5 days | Avoid — too expensive |
How to Send Money with Wise
- Download the Wise app
- Create an account and verify your ID (residence card + passport photo)
- Add your Japanese bank account
- Enter the amount you want to send
- Add your recipient’s bank details
- Confirm and send
Verification usually takes 1–2 business days the first time. After that, transfers go through quickly.
Seriously, Avoid Regular Bank Transfers
Sending money internationally through a Japanese bank — Mizuho, MUFG, whatever — typically costs:
- ¥2,500–¥5,000 in fees
- A poor exchange rate that’s 1–3% worse than the real rate
That adds up to a lot of wasted money over time. Use a dedicated transfer service instead.
Bottom Line
Use Wise for the best exchange rate. Use SBI Remit if you need same-day delivery to Southeast Asia. And if you’re sending to the Philippines regularly and speed is your priority, Remitly is worth having installed too.