The Best Way to Send Money from Japan to Other Countries

There are many ways to send money from Japan to banks on other parts of the globe. In fact, nowadays your choices are almost limitless.

But as your number of choices increases, so do the chances that you’re going to pay more than you need in transfer fees and hidden exchange rates.

This guide, then, will show you which of the more popular money transfer service options is the cheapest, so you can get the most money on the receiving end.

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Good to Know

Before you choose which money transfer service provider you’re going to use to transfer money out of Japan, it pays to find out about transfer fees, exchange rates, and transfer speeds.

Knowing these things ahead of time will save you time and money and help you pick the best service provider for your needs.

So, let’s look at each of these three important topics.

Transfer Fees

The first thing to consider when transferring money out of Japan are the transfer fees you have to pay.

These transfer fees come in three forms: fixed fees, percentage fees, and combination fees.

We’ll look at each one in more detail in the following sections.

Fixed Fees

Fixed fees stay the same no matter how much you transfer out of Japan, which means that when sending large amounts of money, you should always use a money transfer service provider that charges fixed fees.

In this case, you won’t have to worry about getting hit with hefty percentage fees on large transfer amounts, but instead pay a fixed fee that is quite reasonable.

What’s more, if you have a PRESTIA or Sony Bank account in Japan, you won’t be charged any fixed fees. But keep in mind you will pay for your international transfer through reduced exchange rates.

Percentage Fees

Another type of fee you’ll come across when sending money from Japan is a percentage fee, which changes with the amount of JPY you transfer out of the country.

It’s hard to find a bank in Japan that only charges a percentage fee, as most of them either charge a fixed fee or combination fee.

So, if you’re looking to take advantage of percentage fees on large transfers, you should look at some of the online money transfer service providers.

Combination Fees

Combination fees are when an online money transfer service provider or bank charges both a fixed fee and a percentage fee for international transfers.

Wise use this method, as do some Japanese banks.

Both Rakuten Bank and MUFG Bank charge fees in yen rather than a big percentage. Rakuten Bank takes JPY750 per transfer, JPY3,000 more to send yen and JPY1,000 for the intermediary bank if you pay it. MUFG Bank takes JPY3,000 online (JPY2,500 to its own overseas branches), plus 0.05% of the amount with a JPY2,500 minimum when you send yen.

Now that we’ve gone over fixed fees, let’s look at exchange rates.

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Exchange Rates

When sending money from a bank account in Japan to a bank account in another country, make sure the money transfer service provider is offering mid-market exchange rates, or as close to it as possible.

You can use XE.com to find the latest mid-market exchange rates.

Out of all the online money transfer service providers that people use, Wise offers the best mid-market exchange rates.

With that said, it doesn’t mean Wise will always produce the most money on the receiving end. There’s a lot more that goes into the equation than just exchange rates, which we’ll cover in section on money transfer service providers.

Transfer Speeds

You also want to think about transfer speeds when sending money from Japan to another country.

If you’re not in a rush, you can use Wise to make a transfer, as they send the money anywhere from within minutes to days.

If you’re in a financial emergency and need the money instantly, you can use Western Union, but be prepared to pay for the speed.

Money Transfer Service Providers

Let’s look at some of the more popular money transfer service providers and the fees they charge.

Wise

Wise is the cheapest money transfer service provider on this list once you count what you actually pay. On 7 October 2026, a JPY100,000 transfer paid by bank transfer arrived in a US bank account as US$625.06, with the fee already taken out.

You can choose between two payment options when sending money out of the country.

• bank transfer: JPY987 in total fees on JPY100,000
• debit card: JPY4,129 in total fees on JPY100,000

Paying by bank transfer is the cheaper option by about JPY3,000. (Verified October 2026.)

To find out more about how you can save money on your next international transfer on international transfers, check out our in-depth review of Wise.

Bank Transfers

When sending JPY100,000 from a bank in Japan — for example, Rakuten — to a bank in the U.S., you pay JPY750 for the transfer plus JPY3,000 to send in yen, so about JPY3,750 before any intermediary or receiving bank fees.

What arrives in dollars then depends on Rakuten Bank’s own exchange rate, which includes its margin, and on any receiving-bank fee.

There are more cost effective options on this list, even if you plan to send larger amounts of Japanese Yen to the U.S.

Usually, the more money you send through a bank, the less you pay as a share of the amount. That holds in Japan too.

Because most of the fee is a flat amount, the cost as a share of the transfer falls as you send more. A JPY1,000,000 transfer from Rakuten Bank carries the same JPY3,750 in fees as a JPY100,000 one.

Western Union

If you use Western Union to send JPY100,000 from Japan to the U.S., you get US$625.86 in your American bank account (Western Union’s quote on 7 October 2026). You pay JPY101,480 for that, because its JPY1,480 fee goes on top.

Per yen you pay, that’s about 1% less than Wise delivers, but still well ahead of the banks.

Looking at the fee structure, Western Union charged a JPY1,480 fee on the day, and its exchange rate came in just under 1% below the mid-market rate. Western Union itself notes that it also makes money from currency exchange.

Having said that, if you have a financial emergency you can use Western Union to send money from Japan to the U.S. and enjoy the same rates as some of the cheapest online money transfer service providers.

What Banks and Wise Charge on a JPY100,000 Transfer

On a JPY100,000 transfer from Japan to the US, Wise quoted a JPY987 fee, Rakuten Bank charges about JPY4,750 and MUFG Bank about JPY5,500. (Verified October 2026.)

Provider	What it charges	Total fees
Wise	JPY987 fee at the mid-market rate	JPY987
Rakuten Bank	JPY750 transfer fee, JPY3,000 to send in yen, JPY1,000 intermediary bank fee if you pay it	JPY4,750
MUFG Bank (online)	JPY3,000 to another bank, plus 0.05% on yen sends with a JPY2,500 minimum	JPY5,500

On 7 October 2026, Wise’s JPY100,000 bank-funded transfer arrived as US$625.06 after the fee. The bank totals above leave out exchange-rate markups and anything the receiving bank deducts.

• Exchange rate: Wise’s quote used the mid-market rate with no markup. Rakuten Bank adds its own fee to the interbank rate. From about 17:00 on a business day until about 10:00 the next one, it multiplies the rate by 1.0075 (1.015 over bank holidays). Sending at night costs you more.
• Receiving bank: Rakuten Bank says the receiving bank’s fee comes out of the amount that arrives. MUFG says fees from intermediary banks can be deducted too.
• Transfer size: bank fees are mostly flat, so they hurt small transfers most. The same JPY4,750 on a JPY1,000,000 transfer is under half a percent.

The Best Method to Send Money from Japan

Using a JPY100,000 transfer to the U.S. as an example, Wise comes in as the cheapest way to send money from Japan. The amounts below are live quotes from 7 October 2026, so check again before you send.

Method	Speed	Send	Receive	Speed
Wise	1 to 3 Days	JPY100,000	US$625.06	1-2 days
Western Union	1 to 4 Days	JPY101,480 (incl. JPY1,480 fee)	US$625.86	1-3 days
Rakuten Bank	2 to 3 Days	JPY100,000	Depends on Rakuten’s rate	1-2 days

Does Japan Make You Report Money You Send Abroad?

Not you personally. Your bank reports transfers over JPY1,000,000 to the tax office. The JPY1,000,000 customs declaration is a separate rule, and it only covers cash and similar items you carry across the border. (Verified October 2026.)

• Bank transfers over JPY1,000,000: your bank sends the tax office a statement with your name, address, the amount and the reason for the transfer. It may ask for your My Number and the purpose when you send. You don’t file anything yourself.
• Payments of JPY30,000,000 or more: a separate payment report goes to the Ministry of Finance. Anything at or under JPY30,000,000 (or the foreign-currency equivalent) is exempt, so most personal transfers never reach it.
• Cash, checks and securities over JPY1,000,000: declare them to Customs on the Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment when you leave or enter Japan. Bank transfers don’t go through Customs.
• Overseas assets over JPY50,000,000 on 31 December: residents file an overseas assets statement by 30 June the next year. Non-permanent residents are exempt, which means non-Japanese who have lived in Japan for five years or less in the past ten.

None of this stops you sending money. It only decides who files what. Sending money the other way? Our guide to transferring money to Japan covers it, and our guide to tax in Japan for foreigners explains how residency status works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit on how much I can send from Japan?

It depends on the bank. MUFG’s online service caps you at JPY3,000,000 a day and JPY5,000,000 a month, and a single transfer can’t exceed JPY3,000,000. Rakuten Bank says it sets no transfer limit, apart from a system cap on each transfer. (Verified October 2026.)

How long does a transfer from Rakuten Bank take?

Rakuten Bank says it generally arrives 1 to 5 business days after the send date. The time depends on the currency, the destination country and how many intermediary banks are involved. A request received after 23:50 goes out the next business day.

Is the exchange rate worse at night?

At Rakuten Bank, yes. Between about 17:00 on a business day and about 10:00 the next business day, it multiplies its rate by 1.0075. Over bank holidays the multiplier is 1.015. Sending in the morning on a business day avoids both.

Do I need a My Number to send money abroad?

Banks use your My Number for the report on transfers over JPY1,000,000. If you don’t have one, your name and address are enough.

Who pays the receiving bank’s fee?

Usually the recipient, because it comes out of the amount that arrives. Rakuten Bank lists the receiving bank’s fee as the recipient’s cost. MUFG warns that intermediary banks can deduct their own fees from the transfer.

Now, on to You

That wraps up our guide on sending money from Japan.

Hopefully by now you have a good understanding on what to look for when sending money out of the country, so you can get the most on the receiving end.

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