Wise

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. ...

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the single most useful financial tool for foreigners in Japan. Whether you’re sending money home, receiving payments from abroad, or managing multiple currencies — Wise solves it cheaply and simply. What Is Wise? Wise is an online financial service that lets you: Send money internationally at the real exchange rate (not the bank’s inflated rate) Hold money in 40+ currencies in one account Receive payments in foreign currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) with local bank details Spend globally with the Wise debit card (Mastercard) Setting Up Wise in Japan Step 1 — Create Your Account Go to wise.com or download the app Register with your email address Verify your identity: passport + residence card photo required This typically takes 24–48 hours for verification. ...