It is important to know right ways to send and receive money from Japan. This guide will walk you through the best options.
Sending money to Japan is simple and easy. Follow these steps to get started.
There are multiple ways to easily send and receive money in Japan but these will largely depend on the provider you decide to use. Below you will find everything you need to know about sending and receiving money.
There are various ways you can send money to your family and friends in Japan. Traditionally, banks have dominated most of the corridors. However, the entrance of online money transfer services has drastically changed the scene.
There are international banks such as Llyod, Santander, Royal Bank of Canada, Standard Chartered Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of NewYork Mellon and others that have a strong presence in Japan. This makes it easier to send payments to Japan through wire transfers as it takes a much shorter time.
When sending through correspondent banks, transfers may take longer to be delivered and the fees can be significant. Depending on how significant you are as a customer, you may be able to do your transfer via telephone. For instance, Santander allows for telephone-based transfers. Also, most of the banks have online platforms that you can access 24/7 and transfer funds to your family in Japan
The greatest inconvenience with most banks is that they offer very low rates on transfers and others have hidden fees. Also, doing an electronic transfer of funds requires that you have a bank account.
In August 2018, Xoom launched its transfer support to Japan. This came as a huge relief to the 340,000+ Japanese immigrants living in the United States. TransferWise is another great online money transfer provider that allows Japanese in the diaspora to send money home through direct bank deposits.
If you are paying suppliers, employees, or contractors in Japan, OFX can help you transfer at competitive rates.
Setting up on an online money transfer is simple and takes a few minutes to get you going. Some of the providers will require that you verify your details before being allowed to send. When it comes to paying for your transfer, there is a lot of flexibility even if you do not have a bank account in the sending country.
You can use a bank transfer, direct debit, credit card, or debit card depending on the provider and the country you are sending from. Xoom and TransferWise allow for all three payments methods. OFX transfers to Japan can only be funded through BPAY or Electronic Funds Transfer.
The payout methods for money transfer services in Japan are mostly bank deposits. Some of the top bank’s money transfer services providers have partnered with include Aomori Bank, Bank of Fukuoka, Chiba Bank, Hokuriku Bank, Japan Post Bank Co., Mizuho Bank Ltd, Saitama Resona Bank Limited, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Most providers have mobile applications you can download and send money on the go. You can also check live rates, add or remove recipients, and track transfers.
Apart from making transfers online or through the bank, money transfer operators such as Western Union and MoneyGram allow you to deposit money at an agent and send.
You have the option of starting in-store and send money to a pickup agent in Japan or directly to the recipient’s bank account. You can also pay a bill directly from an agent location. The other option is to start online and finish the process in-store. MoneyGram has agents distributed in all the 47 cities in Japan from Aichi to Yamanashi.
Western Union and MoneyGram also have apps that you can download from either Google Play or App Store and send funds to Japan conveniently.
Sending money to Japan is simple on most platforms. When sending through the bank, you’ll need an account in the sending country and the recipient in Japan also needs an account. The process of setting up an online money transfer is simpler than opening a bank account. The only information you need is:
The two main ways you can receive money in Japan are cash pickup from a physical agent and direct deposits into your bank account.
• Cash Pickup -MoneyGram and Western Union are the two main transfer providers who use physical cash pickup agents in Japan to deliver transfers. It is usually the fastest method but also a bit costlier.
• Direct Bank Deposits -Most online money transfer service providers have partnered with banks to allow for direct deposits into recipients’ accounts. This is a much safer method when receiving large sums of money.
When the money is sent directly into a bank account, the recipient isn’t required to do anything. However, for cash pickups, there are some documents and information that is required by the agents before they can release the money. This may vary with the provider.
There are lots of reasons why Japanese in the diaspora send money home. They vary case by case but through analysis of the remittance information and frequency, the following are some of the common reasons.
Some Japanese in the diaspora do not live with their families. As such, they send money home to support them in their basic needs or supplement the income they are getting in Japan.
Some of the Japanese who work and earn abroad, prefer to have their earnings paid into their home accounts. Money transfer services like OFX can make this process simple.
Diaspora Japanese who have taken up home loans, often remit monthly payments through money transfer services. In fact, there are transfer features such as recurring payments than can help with such periodic and predictable payments.
Overseas Japanese who are sourcing for finished products or services from home often send money through online transfer providers to settle debt obligations.
Whether it is investing in the stock market, real state or in tech innovations, Japanese have a strong attachment to their domestic market. The good news is that, with currency exchange planning, you can lock in rates for the duration of your transfer.
Money transfer services have dominated most remittance corridors to Japan. This is because they are faster, cheaper and convenient to people sending both small and large amounts. The following are the key reasons why you should send you next transfer through money transfer service providers.
When sending money to Japan, there are a few things you must bear in mind to ensure smooth transfers. Top on the list are:
Therefore, sending money to Japan from any country requires that you understand the various avenues available and what you need to transfer funds. Always prioritise safety, cost and speed of delivery.
Sending money anywhere else in the world is as easy as sending money to Japan. If you're looking to send money to another country, here is the list of the most popular destinations.
Jonathan is the founder and editor of MoneyTransfers.com. Jonathan is highly experienced in the currency transfer market, having previously worked in the FX trading industry, alongside being an avid traveller. Using his knowledge he identified a need for transparency and further education to help people save money on their money transfers, leading to the creation of MoneyTransfers.com