Opening a Bank Account in Japan
Compare banks, online banks, Japan Post Bank, documents, and newcomer constraints.
Bank accounts in Japan are easy only after your residence record, phone number, and identity documents line up. Many megabanks apply a 6-month residence rule to foreign residents, while Japan Post Bank, Sony Bank, SBI Shinsei Bank, and Prestia are often more practical early options.
The 6-month issue
The strict group is foreign residents who are not short-term visitors but have lived in Japan for less than 6 months. Many megabanks and local banks may refuse ordinary account opening during that period because of anti-money-laundering controls.
Japan Post Bank is the usual first stop because it can often open an account soon after arrival. Sony Bank and SBI Shinsei are useful online-bank options. A company may also help open a salary account at MUFG, SMBC, or Mizuho if the employer has a banking relationship.
Choose the first account by whether it can handle salary, rent, utilities, and payment slips. Japan Post Bank is accepted by many counters and landlords. Sony Bank and SBI Shinsei are stronger for debit cards, apps, and international transfers, while some smaller property managers and utility providers still work more smoothly with Japan Post Bank or a megabank.
Documents
Prepare residence card with current address, passport, phone number, resident record if requested, student ID or employee documents, and personal seal if the bank still asks for one. Some banks reject applications if the residence card address is blank.
The counter process can take 15 to 60 minutes. The passbook or app setup may be immediate, while cash card delivery can take 1 to 2 weeks. If the bank mails documents to your registered address and they bounce, the account can be restricted.
Overseas remittance
Bank wires can cost around JPY 4,000 to 7,500 at megabanks, JPY 2,500 to 5,500 at Japan Post Bank, and JPY 2,000 to 4,000 at Sony Bank or SBI Shinsei before receiving-bank fees. Exchange-rate spread also matters: on a JPY 100,000 transfer, a bank route can be JPY 2,000 to 5,000 worse than Wise.
Compare Wise, Revolut, PayForex, Sony Bank, SBI Shinsei, Prestia, and your home-country bank. Check exchange-rate spread, fixed fee, receiving-bank fee, and the romanized name format on both accounts.
ATM and transfer fees
Own-bank ATMs are often free on weekday daytime hours, but night and weekend use can cost JPY 110 to 220. Other-bank and convenience-store ATMs usually cost JPY 110 to 330 unless your plan includes free uses.
Salary accounts or balance conditions may give a megabank 1 to 3 free uses per month. Online banks such as SBI, Sony, and SBI Sumishin Net Bank often offer 5 to 15 free ATM or domestic transfer uses, so frequent cash users can save JPY 3,000 to 10,000 per year.
Salary transfer and direct debit
When you join a company, submit a salary-transfer account. Some employers specify a megabank, while many now accept an account chosen by the employee.
Electricity, gas, water, mobile, and credit-card direct debit is set through each provider’s website or a paper direct-debit request form. A registered bank seal and account number may be required. Setup can take 1 to 2 months, so payment slips at convenience stores may be necessary in the meantime. Keeping at least JPY 30,000 after payday reduces failed debits and reminder fees.
Common mistakes
Do not start with only a megabank if you arrived last week. Do not apply before your municipal address is written on the residence card. Do not close the first account until salary, rent, utilities, and card payments have moved successfully.
Keep screenshots or PDFs of account number, branch code, cash-card delivery, and transfer records. If a registered seal is lost, bank-seal changes and municipal paperwork can overlap, so recovery is not always possible within a few days.
Useful terms
- Yucho ginko: Japan Post Bank
- Koza kaisetsu: account opening
- Futsu koza: ordinary deposit account
- Kyuyo furikomi: salary transfer
- Furikomi tesuryo: transfer fee