Sending Money Home from Japan: Wise, Revolut, Seven Bank Compared
A practical decision guide to Wise, Revolut, Seven Bank, Smiles, PayForex and more — with corridor-specific recommendations and dated fee examples.
You set up a remittance app in your first month in Japan. It worked, nobody complained, and you never looked at it again. That is completely normal — and it might be costing you ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 a year without you noticing.
The fee listed on the transfer screen is rarely where the money goes. The real cost is usually baked into the exchange rate. A service that charges ¥0 in fees but applies a 2% spread above the mid-market rate will cost you significantly more than one that charges ¥600 and uses the actual interbank rate. On ¥100,000 per month, that spread difference is worth about ¥24,000 annually. Quietly gone.
This guide covers the major services used by English-speaking engineers in Japan — with corridor-by-corridor recommendations, a few date-stamped examples, and the tax-documentation angle that becomes relevant once you start thinking about overseas dependent deductions.
The Three Numbers That Actually Matter
Before comparing any service, you need to understand what you are actually being charged.
1. The exchange rate spread
The mid-market rate (also called the interbank rate or real exchange rate) is the rate banks use to trade currencies between themselves. It is what you see on Google or XE.com. Every remittance service marks this rate up — that markup is their margin, and it is usually not labelled as a fee.
A 1% spread on ¥100,000 means you lose ¥1,000 per transfer before any declared fee. On ¥100,000 sent monthly, a 1% spread costs ¥12,000 per year. A 2% spread costs ¥24,000.
2. The transfer fee
This is the number most comparison sites lead with because it is visible. It can be a flat fee (¥500), a percentage, or zero. Zero is not necessarily better — it almost always means the cost is absorbed into the spread instead.
3. Speed
Most transfers complete within minutes to 24 hours now. Speed matters most for emergencies or cash pickups. For monthly transfers to a bank account, a 1–2 day window is fine.
Illustrative annual cost comparison at ¥100,000/month
| Spread above mid-market | Annual hidden cost | Plus flat fee (¥500/transfer) | Total annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5% (e.g. Wise JPY→USD) | ¥6,000 | ¥6,000 | ¥12,000 |
| 1.0% | ¥12,000 | ¥6,000 | ¥18,000 |
| 2.0% (e.g. typical bank wire) | ¥24,000 | ¥6,000 | ¥30,000 |
| 3.0% (e.g. some WU corridors) | ¥36,000 | ¥6,000 | ¥42,000 |
These are illustrative ranges. Actual spreads vary by corridor, amount, and market conditions. Always check the live rate on the day you transfer.
One Simple ¥50,000 Comparison
If you just want a rough sense of what a ¥50,000 transfer usually costs, here is the clearest way to look at it.
This is not a perfect apples-to-apples table. Some services price by corridor, some by payout method, and some hide more of the cost in the exchange-rate spread than in the visible fee. But it gives you a realistic small-transfer benchmark.
| Service | Example used | Typical / official sender-side fee on ¥50,000 | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Major bank-transfer corridors like USD / GBP / AUD | Roughly ¥200–¥350 | Mid-market rate, low visible fee. India / PHP can be higher. |
| Revolut Standard | Weekday transfer within the free FX allowance | Usually ¥0 from Revolut’s side | Weekend exchange adds about ¥500 at 1%. Intermediary bank fees can still appear on some routes. |
| PayForex | Public fee pages for US / AUD / CAD / NZ bank-transfer routes | Usually ¥1,480–¥1,980 | Check the corridor. PayForex can still make sense if documentation matters more than raw price. |
| Seven Bank app-based Philippines service | Credit to bank / e-wallet | ¥1,150 | For ¥40,001–¥50,000. FX spread still matters. |
| Seven Bank app-based Philippines service | Cash pickup | ¥1,200 | For ¥40,001–¥50,000. |
| Smiles | Philippines fee table | ¥1,450 | For ¥40,001–¥50,000. FX rate still matters. |
| Kyodai | Philippines fee table | ¥1,450 | For ¥40,001–¥50,000. |
| PRESTIA online overseas transfer | Standard online overseas transfer | ¥3,500 | High formal-bank cost, plus FX spread and possible intermediary fees. |
The big takeaway is simple: on a ¥50,000 transfer, Wise or weekday Revolut are usually in a very different cost bracket from bank wires and many cash-pickup-focused services. Those higher-fee services can still be the right choice when you need cash pickup, a specific corridor, or stronger tax paperwork — but you are usually paying for that convenience.
Service-by-Service Breakdown
Wise
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate — the same rate you see on Google — and charges a transparent percentage-based fee on top. The fee varies by corridor and amount but is always shown upfront before you confirm.
Typical fees (JPY source, as of early 2026 — check current rates before transferring):
- JPY → USD: approximately 0.4–0.7% of the transfer amount
- JPY → GBP: approximately 0.4–0.7%
- JPY → AUD: approximately 0.4–0.7%
- JPY → INR: approximately 0.6–1.0% (higher due to INR corridor complexity)
- JPY → PHP: available but not the strongest corridor for Wise
Speed: Usually within a few hours to 1 business day for major corridors.
Tax documentation: Wise provides downloadable transaction history and transfer receipts from the app. These show sender, recipient, date, and amount clearly. They can work well for HR review, but they are not a dedicated annual certificate. If your HR department wants a single year-summary document, you may need to export and compile the records yourself, or confirm in advance that Wise’s format is acceptable.
For recipients in India: Wise says the recipient may need a FIRC, FIRA, or similar inward-remittance proof, often through the handling bank. Do not assume there will always be an automatic Wise-generated e-FIRC for an ordinary family remittance.
Best for: US, UK, Australia. Also strong for India. Best overall choice for engineers who prioritise rate transparency.
Revolut
Revolut offers competitive exchange rates during weekday market hours. The important caveat: Revolut applies a 1% markup on currency conversions during weekends (roughly Friday evening to Sunday midnight UTC) when FX liquidity is thinner. JPY is traded actively during weekday Asia-Pacific hours, but weekend conversions still attract this markup.
Plan structure matters:
- Standard (free) plan: fee-free exchange up to ¥300,000/month on weekdays; 0.5% fee above that
- Premium and Metal plans: higher or unlimited fee-free exchange allowances
Speed: Generally fast — often minutes. Bank transfers can take 1–2 days depending on the destination.
Tax documentation: Revolut provides downloadable PDF statements and individual transfer confirmations from the app. Similar to Wise — usable but not a dedicated annual remittance certificate. Confirm format with your HR team before relying on it.
Watch out for: Revolut is a Lithuanian-licensed e-money institution operating in Japan. It is not a traditional bank and does not have FDIC-style deposit protection in Japan. For regular small-to-medium remittances it is fine; for large one-off transfers, a bank-backed service gives you more formal documentation.
Best for: US, UK, Australia, Canada. Less ideal if you need a formal annual tax certificate.
PayForex (海外送金)
PayForex is a Japan-registered foreign exchange and remittance service specifically targeting the expat and business remittance market. It is registered with the Kanto Finance Bureau and operates under the Japanese Payment Services Act.
Key differentiator: PayForex issues a downloadable annual remittance certificate and individual transfer certificates. That makes it one of the cleaner options if you care about Japanese tax-season paperwork.
Rate model: PayForex operates on a spread model rather than explicit fees. Rates are competitive versus bank wires and worth checking directly for your corridor.
Speed: Typically 1–3 business days.
Tax documentation: Strong. Annual certificate downloadable from the user dashboard. One of the cleaner options if tax documentation is a priority.
Best for: Engineers who claim or plan to claim overseas dependents and want cleaner year-end documentation. Also useful for India, Philippines, and Southeast Asia corridors.
Seven Bank
Seven Bank is a Japanese bank licensed under the Banking Act, which means its remittance records carry formal bank-issued weight. It operates its international transfer service through the Western Union network, giving it reach to over 200 countries.
Fee structure: Seven Bank charges a flat transfer fee per transaction (fees vary by destination and transfer method — check the current fee table on their site). The exchange rate includes a spread above mid-market, which is typically wider than Wise or Revolut. The tradeoff is convenience and documentation quality.
Important distinction for Philippines transfers: Seven Bank runs two relevant services. Its general Western Union service can be sent by ATM or online. Its separate Philippine Money Transfer Service with BDO Unibank is app-only and supports transfers to Philippine bank accounts, e-wallets, and a broad cash-pickup network.
Speed: Bank-to-bank: 1–3 business days. Cash pickup: often within minutes.
Tax documentation: Seven Bank provides an annual international transfer statement accessible from online banking. As a bank-issued document, it is often easier for HR teams to review than app screenshots or CSV exports.
Accessible via ATM: For the general Western Union service, you can initiate transfers at Seven Bank ATMs or online. The separate Philippines app service is handled through the dedicated app instead.
Best for: Philippines cash pickup, first-time senders who want a familiar bank brand, and anyone who values bank-issued records over the absolute cheapest rate.
Smiles Mobile Remittance
Smiles is a Japan-registered funds transfer service specifically built for workers remitting to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It is well-known in the Technical Intern Trainee and Specified Skilled Worker communities, but its features are equally useful for any engineer sending to these destinations.
Key differentiator: Smiles offers a free annual remittance certificate downloadable directly from the app. This is specifically designed for nenmatsu chosei and kakutei shinkoku documentation.
Rate model: Competitive within its target corridors. Check current rates on the Smiles app — rates for JPY→PHP and JPY→VND are typically competitive versus general services.
Speed: Fast — often same-day or next-day to Philippines and Vietnam. Cash pickup options available in the Philippines.
Tax documentation: Strong. The annual certificate is one of the easier formats to work with if you plan to claim the fuyou deduction, but the practical rule is still the same: confirm with HR if they are strict about format.
Best for: Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia. First choice if you are sending to these destinations and plan to claim the overseas dependent deduction.
Kyodai Remittance
Kyodai is registered with the Japanese government and has a long track record with foreign workers in Japan. It is particularly strong for Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Key differentiator: Kyodai issues a Remittance History document formatted for Japanese year-end tax adjustment. This has been a go-to for technical workers claiming overseas dependents for years.
Rate model: Spread-based. Rates are competitive for its primary corridors.
Speed: Varies by destination — typically 1–2 business days for bank transfers, same-day for some cash pickup options.
Tax documentation: Good. Remittance History document is specifically formatted for nenmatsu chosei.
Best for: Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia. Strong alternative to Smiles for these corridors.
Japan Post Bank
Japan Post Bank changed its setup in 2025. The old branch / Yucho Direct international remittance handling ended on August 29, 2025, and the bank now routes outbound overseas remittances through its newer web-based ゆうちょの国際送金 service.
Rate model: Spread is higher than fintech services. Fees are also charged per transfer. Not the cheapest option for regular remittances.
Speed: Slower — typically 3–5 business days.
Tax documentation: Bank-side records are still strong, but the exact document flow is different from the old branch-centric setup. Think of Japan Post as a conservative bank option with formal records, not as the old paper-counter service many older guides still describe.
Where it still makes sense: anyone who prefers a large domestic bank over a fintech app, or who wants a formal bank channel for larger one-off transfers.
Best for: one-off large transfers where you prefer a traditional Japanese bank channel over a fintech service.
Traditional Bank Wire (MUFG, Mizuho, SMBC / PRESTIA)
For large, one-off transfers — a property down payment, emergency funds, investment capital — a traditional SWIFT bank wire from a major Japanese bank is often the right choice. The rate and fees will be worse than fintech options, but the documentation is unambiguous and the transfer limits are high.
SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA deserves a specific mention: it targets the expatriate and international professional market, offers English-language service, and issues formal Overseas Remittance Records and payment-order copies that are particularly useful for annual tax-report paperwork.
SWIFT fee: Typically ¥3,000–¥5,000 per transfer at major Japanese banks. Recipient’s bank may also charge an incoming wire fee.
Best for: Transfers above ¥500,000 where documentation quality matters more than cost efficiency. Also the right choice for US recipients who need a full paper trail for FATCA-related reporting.
By Corridor — What Works Best Where
JPY → USD (United States)
Best: Wise. Mid-market rate, fast, clear documentation, e-receipts.
Runner-up: Revolut (avoid weekend conversions).
US-specific note — FATCA: If you are a US citizen, the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act requires you to report foreign financial accounts. The thresholds: FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if aggregate foreign account balances exceed $10,000 at any point during the year. Form 8938 if foreign financial assets exceed $50,000 (higher threshold for those living abroad). Remitting money from Japan to the US does not itself trigger a tax event, but your Japanese bank accounts may need to be reported. Consult a tax professional familiar with US expat obligations.
JPY → GBP (United Kingdom)
Best: Wise. Consistently strong on this corridor, IBAN-based transfer, usually same-day.
Runner-up: Revolut.
UK-specific note: Large transfers (typically above £10,000 equivalent) may prompt your UK bank to ask about the source of funds under anti-money laundering (AML) procedures. This is normal — keep a record of what the transfer was for (salary, savings, etc.). There is no tax on receiving foreign remittances into the UK for UK residents, but if you are a UK tax resident with overseas income, different rules apply.
JPY → PHP (Philippines)
Best: Smiles (bank-to-bank), Seven Bank via Western Union (cash pickup).
Runner-up: Kyodai, PayForex.
Philippine-specific notes:
- Cash-based non-bank routes can face more limits and compliance friction than bank-to-bank routes. For larger or more frequent transfers, bank-to-bank is usually the cleaner long-term option.
- Recipients can receive unlimited amounts via bank-to-bank transfer — the MTSS limit applies to the non-bank cash transfer networks, not to bank accounts.
- Smiles and Kyodai both issue annual certificates, making them the best choice if you also plan to claim the fuyou deduction for a dependent in the Philippines.
JPY → AUD (Australia)
Best: Wise. Clean corridor, fast, competitive rate.
Runner-up: Revolut.
Australia-specific note: Receiving foreign remittances in Australia is not taxable income in itself. However, if you are an Australian tax resident with overseas income (rental income, investment returns, etc.), you need to declare that on your Australian return. The remittance itself is not the trigger — the foreign income is.
JPY → INR (India)
Best: Wise for straightforward bank transfers, as long as your family is comfortable handling any FIRC / FIRA or bank-side inward-remittance paperwork that may come up.
Runner-up: PayForex, Japan Post Bank for formal documentation.
India-specific notes:
- Under FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act), Indian residents can receive foreign remittances freely. There is no cap on inward remittances to India.
- The recipient may sometimes need a FIRC, FIRA, or similar inward-remittance proof through the handling bank. That is normal compliance paperwork, but do not assume Wise always provides an automatic e-FIRC for an ordinary personal transfer.
- Large transfers to India (generally above USD 250,000 equivalent) may require additional reporting under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme on the Indian side, though this threshold is unlikely to affect most family support transfers.
Tax Documentation: Which Services Are HR-Ready
If you plan to claim the overseas dependent deduction, you need a remittance document that clearly shows: the sender (you), the recipient (the dependent), the amount, and ideally an annual summary. Here is how each service compares:
One important rule: the NTA approves document types, not remittance brands. These provider notes are about which services tend to generate cleaner paperwork in practice, not about any official tax-office whitelist.
| Service | Annual certificate | Format | HR-friendliness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Transaction history / receipts | PDF / CSV export | Moderate — confirm format with HR |
| Revolut | Account statement | Moderate — confirm format with HR | |
| PayForex | Annual certificate + per-transfer certificate | Good — built for cleaner tax paperwork | |
| Seven Bank | Annual transfer statement | PDF (online banking) | Good — bank-issued |
| Smiles | Annual remittance certificate | PDF (in-app) | Excellent — very HR-friendly |
| Kyodai | Remittance History document | Excellent — very HR-friendly | |
| Japan Post Bank | Bank statement / branch receipt | Paper | Excellent — unambiguous bank record |
| SMBC PRESTIA | Overseas Remittance Record | PDF (online banking) | Excellent — strong formal bank record |
For the New Arrival: Setting Up in Your First Month
Getting a remittance service working quickly is one of the first practical tasks after arriving. Here is the cleanest sequence:
1. Open a Japanese bank account first
You cannot send money without one. The most accessible options for new arrivals in 2026 are SBI Shinsei Bank, Rakuten Bank, and SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA — all offer English-language services and can be opened with a residence card before you receive your My Number notification. Some accounts can be opened online; others require a branch visit.
2. Prepare your My Number information
Many services that support international transfers from Japan will ask for your My Number information (個人番号) as part of compliance. Wise and Revolut Japan both clearly require My Number documents for cross-border use. That does not always mean you need the physical My Number card on day one: depending on the service, a My Number notification card or a My Number-listed residence certificate may also work.
3. Register with your chosen service
Most fintech services require: passport or residence card, selfie for identity verification, and some form of My Number documentation. Registration typically takes 10–30 minutes and is done via the app.
4. Do a small test transfer first
Before sending ¥100,000, send ¥5,000 or ¥10,000. Confirm it arrives at the right account and that the recipient can access the funds. Discover any issues at low cost.
5. Set up recurring transfers if you send monthly
Wise, Revolut, and most services support scheduled recurring transfers. Setting this up once removes the monthly friction and ensures you never miss a payment.
When to Use a Bank Wire Instead
Fintech services are the right choice for regular monthly remittances up to a few hundred thousand yen. There are situations where a traditional SWIFT bank wire from MUFG, Mizuho, SMBC, or PRESTIA is the better choice:
- Large one-off transfers above ¥500,000–¥1,000,000 (property down payment, helping with a home purchase, moving savings back home)
- Formal documentation is critical — property transactions, inheritance, investment records
- Recipient’s bank requires SWIFT — some banks in the US, UK, and Australia will only accept SWIFT wires for large transfers
- You need PRESTIA’s formal Overseas Remittance Record for tax documentation on a large claim
The higher cost of a bank wire (typically ¥3,000–¥5,000 in fees plus a wider spread) is more justifiable when the transfer is large and happens infrequently.
If you want the quick links before you leave: Wise signup link — you can get either a free card or zero fees on a transfer up to ¥75,000, depending on the offer Wise is showing at the time.
Revolut signup link — free Standard plan, up to ¥25,000/month of ATM withdrawals with no Revolut fee, weekday FX up to ¥300,000/month with no extra fee, plus virtual and single-use cards in the app.
Key sources: FSA Japan registry of licensed funds transfer service providers, NTA guidance on valid remittance documents for overseas dependent deductions, Wise send-money pricing, Wise verification in Japan, Revolut Japan Standard plan, Revolut Japan Standard fees, Revolut Japan My Number guidance, PayForex remittance fees, Wise e-FIRC guidance, Seven Bank international money transfer service, Seven Bank Western Union service, Seven Bank Philippines app fee page, Japan Post Bank international remittances, Japan Post Bank new overseas remittance service, Smiles remittance fee page, Kyodai fee page, SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA transfer fees, and SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA on overseas remittance records. Exchange rate spreads and fees change frequently — verify current rates on the provider’s platform before transferring.
