Sending money from Japan to your home country costs more than it should if you’re using the wrong service. The best money transfer apps can save you thousands of yen per transaction. Here’s a direct comparison of what’s available from Japan.
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.
Wise gives you the real mid-market rate with no markup — the cheapest way to send money from Japan.
Try Wise Free →