Send Money Japan → Philippines
Best Remittance Services for OFW 2026
Compare SBI Remit, Wise, Metrobank, BDO, Western Union — find the cheapest and fastest.
How much do you want to send?
Compare Services
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
⭐ RecommendedBest exchange rate — lowest total cost
Recipient gets ~
₱73,260
1-2 business days
Fee
~0.4-0.6% of amount
Rate
Mid-market rate (best)
Speed
1-2 business days
SBI Remit
⭐ RecommendedBest for GCash delivery — instant transfer
Recipient gets ~
₱72,520
Instant to 1 hour (GCash)
Fee
¥0 fee (rate margin only)
Rate
Slightly below mid-market
Speed
Instant to 1 hour (GCash)
Metrobank Japan
Philippine bank in Japan — trusted by OFWs since 1996
Recipient gets ~
₱71,970
30 minutes
Fee
Low fixed fee
Rate
Competitive rate
Speed
30 minutes
BDO Remit Japan
Best for BDO account holders in Philippines
Recipient gets ~
₱72,006
Same day
Fee
Low fee
Rate
Competitive rate
Speed
Same day
Western Union
Best for cash pickup in provinces
Recipient gets ~
₱71,068
Minutes
Fee
Higher fee (~¥2,000-4,000)
Rate
Below market rate
Speed
Minutes
⚠️ Higher fees and lower exchange rate than digital services. Use only for cash pickup needs.
GCash Global Send
New 2026 — send directly from Japan GCash to Philippine GCash
Recipient gets ~
₱72,817
Instant
Fee
Low fee
Rate
Competitive
Speed
Instant
⚠️ Launched early 2026 — lower transfer limits. Best for small amounts under ¥50,000.
Quick Comparison — Sending ¥200,000
| Service | PHP Received | Speed | GCash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (formerly TransferWise) | ₱73,260 | 1-2 business days | — |
| SBI Remit | ₱72,520 | Instant to 1 hour (GCash) | ✅ |
| Metrobank Japan | ₱71,970 | 30 minutes | ✅ |
| BDO Remit Japan | ₱72,006 | Same day | — |
| Western Union | ₱71,068 | Minutes | — |
| GCash Global Send | ₱72,817 | Instant | ✅ |
Estimates only. Actual amounts depend on current exchange rates. Rate used: ¥1 = ₱0.37.
Important Tips for OFW Remittance
Send on weekdays (Mon-Fri before 3PM JST)
Banks process faster on weekdays. Weekend transfers may be delayed until Monday.
Compare rates EVERY time before sending
Exchange rates change daily. A difference of ₱0.50/yen on ¥200,000 = ₱100,000 difference per year.
Use GCash for emergencies
SBI Remit → GCash is instant. For urgent needs, this is the fastest option even if slightly higher cost.
Register for multiple services
Register for both Wise and SBI Remit. Use Wise for large monthly transfers (better rate), SBI Remit for urgent GCash needs.
Avoid scam remittance services
Only use officially registered services. Fake remittance agents (especially on Facebook) steal your money. Never send cash to a stranger claiming to offer better rates.
Keep all transfer receipts
Japanese Immigration may ask about large transfers during visa renewal. Keep receipts for at least 2 years.
💡 Yamada Hack: The Two-Service Strategy
The smartest OFWs in Japan use two services simultaneously:
1. Wise for your big monthly transfer (salary day — best rate, lowest total cost for large amounts).
2. SBI Remit for emergency GCash top-ups (instant, ¥0 fee, family gets money in minutes).
Set up both services NOW before you need them — SBI Remit takes 1-2 weeks to activate by post. Do not wait until an emergency to register!