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Remittance Comparison

海外送金比較 - 11 Services, 30+ Countries

💸 Save ¥5,000 - ¥50,000 per transfer by choosing the right service!

Banks charge huge fees. Fintech services like Wise are much cheaper.

Compare Transfer Services

💡 Yamada Hack: Best Service by Destination

For Asia (PH, VN, Nepal, India):

  • • Wise = Best rates overall
  • • SBI Remit = Good for cash pickup
  • • Remitly = Fast transfers

For Western Countries:

  • • Wise = Best choice
  • • Revolut = Good for frequent transfers
  • • Banks = Only for very large amounts

Quick Setup: Get Started with Wise

1

Create account

Sign up at wise.com (English)

2

Verify identity

Upload passport + residence card

3

Add recipient

Enter their bank details

4

Send money

Pay via bank transfer or debit card

5

Track delivery

Money arrives in 1-2 days

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Can I send money from Japan as a foreigner?

✅ Yes! But you need 6+ months residency for most bank transfers. Wise and other fintech services may work earlier with proper ID verification.

❓ Why is Wise so much cheaper than banks?

✅ Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with a small transparent fee. Banks add 2-3% hidden markup to the exchange rate, costing you thousands of yen.

❓ Which is best for Philippines?

✅ Wise for best rate, SBI Remit for convenience (send from conbini), Remitly if recipient needs cash pickup.

❓ Which is best for Vietnam?

✅ Wise is usually best. SBI Remit is also good. PayPay Remit works if you're comfortable with Japanese.

❓ How long does a transfer take?

✅ Wise: 1-2 days. Remitly Express: minutes. Banks: 3-7 days. Cash pickup services: can be instant.

❓ Is it safe to use Wise/Remitly?

✅ Yes! These are regulated financial services with millions of customers. Wise is registered with Kanto Finance Bureau in Japan.

❓ What's the maximum I can send?

✅ Wise: Up to ¥1,000,000 per transfer. Banks: Usually higher limits. Large amounts may require additional documentation.

Important Notes

  • • Exchange rates shown are approximate (Feb 2026)
  • • Actual rates change constantly - check before sending
  • • Set up your account BEFORE you need to send (verification takes time)
  • • Keep receipts for tax purposes
  • • Beware of scams - only use official websites

Frequently Asked Questions

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is consistently the cheapest option for most remittance corridors from Japan, using the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees typically between 0.5% and 1% of the transfer amount. SBI Remit offers competitive rates to Asian countries and same-day delivery to many destinations. Remitly provides strong rates and speed for remittances to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Latin America. Traditional bank wire transfers are almost always the most expensive remittance option from Japan.
Wise charges transparent fees of approximately 0.5% to 1% and uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no hidden markup. By contrast, Japanese banks typically add a 1% to 3% spread on top of the interbank exchange rate and charge a flat transfer fee of ¥3,000 to ¥7,500. On a ¥300,000 remittance, the difference between Wise and a bank transfer can easily exceed ¥10,000 in total cost, making Wise substantially cheaper for regular remittances from Japan.
Transfer speed from Japan varies by service: Wise typically takes 1 to 2 business days for most corridors, SBI Remit offers same-day delivery to many Asian countries when initiated before the cutoff time, Remitly provides delivery within hours for bank transfers to supported countries, and traditional bank wire transfers generally take 2 to 5 business days. Cash pickup options through services like Western Union are available within minutes to hours at agent locations worldwide.
Never exchange currency at airports or train station exchange counters where spreads are highest. Set up rate alerts on Wise or Remitly to be notified when the yen strengthens relative to your target currency. Consolidating transfers into larger, less frequent amounts reduces the impact of per-transfer fixed fees on your total remittance cost. Comparing multiple services using this remittance comparison tool before each transfer ensures you always get the best available rate.
For most remittance services you need your Japan residence card and the recipient's bank details including account number, bank name, and SWIFT or IBAN code. For transfers exceeding ¥1 million, My Number documentation is required and the transaction may be reported to tax authorities. First-time users of most services need to complete identity verification by uploading your residence card and passport images, which typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.

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