【2026】International Remittance in Japan: Wise, PayPay & Bank Transfers Compared
- There are several ways to send money from Japan abroad, and fees, exchange rates and transfer speed differ by method.
- This article introduces the main remittance services in a comparison table.
- It also explains points to watch when sending money.
There are several ways to send money from Japan abroad. Compare fees, exchange rates, and speed to find the best option.
① Comparison Table
| Service | Fees | Rate | Speed |
| Wise | ~0.4-1% | Mid-market | Hours to 1 day |
| Bank Transfer | ¥2,000-5,000 | Bank rate | 1-3 business days |
② Our Recommendation: Wise
Wise is usually the cheapest for small to medium transfers. It uses the mid-market exchange rate with very low fees.
When travelling abroad or visiting your home country, see our guide to overseas Wi-Fi & eSIM options.
Before sending money abroad, first open a Japanese bank account.
If you send money to China, it helps to compare the fees and exchange rates of each method. Our sister site Zainichi Money Navi compares sending money from Japan to China in detail in How to send money from Japan to China (fees compared).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to send money from Japan overseas?For small to medium amounts, Wise (formerly TransferWise) is usually the most economical. It uses the mid-market exchange rate and charges a fee of about 0.4-1%.
How do I send money with Wise?Install the Wise app, verify your identity with your residence card etc. (1-3 days), deposit Japanese yen, then register the recipient's account and send the money.
Which is cheaper, a bank transfer or Wise?In most cases, Wise is cheaper. A bank transfer typically costs 2,000-5,000 yen per transfer plus an exchange fee, while Wise charges only about 0.4-1% of the amount sent.
Is there a limit on overseas remittances?For Wise, the limit depends on your identity verification level. Banks have per-transaction and per-day limits. Remittances of 1,000,000 yen or more may trigger a reporting obligation to the tax office.
💸 海外送金をもっと詳しく💸 More on overseas remittance💸 海外汇款更详细💸 Chuyển tiền quốc tế chi tiết hơn
Wise・SBIレミットなどサービス別の使い方・中国送金の特集は、姉妹サイト「在日マネーナビ」が詳しいです。For step-by-step Wise / SBI Remit guides and a China-remittance feature, see our sister site Zainichi Money Navi.Wise·SBIレミット等各服务的使用方法、中国汇款特集,请见姊妹站「在日マネーナビ」。Hướng dẫn Wise / SBI Remit, chuyên đề chuyển tiền về Trung Quốc chi tiết hơn — trang đồng hành Zainichi Money Navi.
在日マネーナビを見る →Visit Zainichi Money Navi →访问在日マネーナビ →Đến Zainichi Money Navi →Ask our AI Concierge
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