- Japan Post Bank and SBI Shinsei are the go-to banks for new arrivals, they open accounts for residents under six months. Shinsei and SMBC Trust PRESTIA have full English support.
- Important 2025 change: Sony Bank stopped accepting new English-language applications (June 2025). Older guides are out of date, use Shinsei, PRESTIA, Japan Post, or Rakuten.
- You generally need a registered address, Residence Card, and Japanese phone number first; My Number is increasingly required and needed for international transfers.
- Most foreigner-friendly banks accept a signature instead of a hanko. A credit card is hard at first (no Japanese credit history), start with Rakuten or Epos.
- Send money home cheaply with Wise (mid-market rate), not a megabank wire. Once settled, NISA and iDeCo offer tax-advantaged investing.
Why it's awkward at first
Opening a Japanese bank account isn't hard, but order of operations matters: you generally need a registered address (jūminhyō) and Residence Card first, ideally a Japanese phone number, and increasingly your My Number. Some megabank branches are also genuinely unhelpful with non-Japanese speakers. The trick is choosing a bank built for foreigners rather than fighting a branch that isn't.
The unofficial six-month rule
There's no law requiring a minimum stay to open an account, but in practice many banks apply a "six-month rule", treating residents in Japan under six months as non-residents for account purposes (limiting features like international remittance). It's an anti-fraud policy, not a statute, and the banks below are the standard ways around it for new arrivals.
Banks that work for foreigners (2026)
| Bank | Why | English? |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) | Most willing for new arrivals, no minimum-residency demand; branches/ATMs everywhere; works from day one with a residence card. | Limited, but foreigner-tolerant procedures |
| SBI Shinsei Bank | One of the few that opens for residents under 6 months (deposit/withdrawal only until month 6); strong English net banking. | Full English app & site |
| SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA | Full English support, can apply online or by phone in English; good for those who want English service end-to-end. | Full English |
| Rakuten Bank | Fully online signup, residence card photo + selfie, no branch visit, no minimum residency. Great rates, ties into Rakuten ecosystem. | App mostly Japanese; signup foreigner-friendly |
| SMBC / MUFG / Mizuho (megabanks) | What many employers expect for salary; ATMs everywhere. | Patchy by branch |
Important: Sony Bank closed English signups
Choosing: a two-account strategy
The pragmatic path most settled foreigners land on:
- Open Japan Post Bank or Shinsei immediately on arrival for rent and daily life (they tolerate new arrivals).
- Open whatever megabank your employer prefers for salary once you're settled.
Many people keep both: a megabank for payroll, and Shinsei/PRESTIA/Rakuten for English service, better FX, and online life.
What to bring
- Residence Card with your address printed on the back (register at the ward office first).
- My Number, increasingly required, and needed for international transfers and investment accounts.
- Japanese phone number, almost always required on the form.
- Passport as secondary ID.
- Hanko if you have one (see below).
- Some branches ask for proof of employment or a student ID.
Do you need a hanko?
A hanko (印鑑, personal seal) is traditional for banking and contracts. In practice, most foreigner-friendly banks now accept a signature, Japan Post and Shinsei will open with one. Still, a basic hanko (your name in katakana) costs ¥1,000–3,000 and smooths some bureaucratic moments, so many people get one early. Property purchases and a few official processes occasionally want a registered seal (実印, jitsuin) plus a seal certificate (印鑑証明).
Online-only banks (Rakuten, au Jibun, PayPay Bank)
Online banks offer better interest, slick apps, and, increasingly, foreigner-friendly remote signup (Rakuten's residence-card-photo-plus-selfie flow is the smoothest). Trade-offs: support is mostly in Japanese, and a few employers still prefer a "traditional" bank for salary transfer. They pair well as your second account once your first is running.
Salary account & rent autopay
Your employer pays salary by bank transfer (振込, furikomi) into the account you nominate. Set up automatic rent payment (口座振替, kōza furikae) so rent is pulled monthly, the landlord or guarantor company provides the form. Utility bills can be auto-debited the same way, paid at any konbini with the paper slip, or charged to a credit card once you have one.
Cash cards, credit cards & the credit gap
You'll get a cash card (ATM/debit) immediately; it arrives by mail in ~1–2 weeks. A credit card is harder at first, Japan runs its own credit history and you start with none. Easier early cards: Rakuten Card, Epos, and cards tied to your own bank. Approval improves after a few months of salary history. Until then, debit cards and prepaid IC cards cover daily life.
IC cards & QR payment (the cashless layer)
Get a Suica or PASMO immediately (or add Suica to Apple Wallet / a Google phone). You'll tap it for trains, buses, konbini, vending machines, and many shops. Add PayPay (QR pay, near-universal in cities) once you have a bank account or card to link. Between an IC card and PayPay, you can go almost cashless day to day.
Sending money abroad cheaply
Megabank international wires are slow and expensive (¥3,000–7,000+ fees plus a poor FX spread). Use a specialist: Wise (mid-market rate, low fee, the default for most expats), Revolut, or a remittance service like SMBC PRESTIA GLOBAL PAY. You'll typically fund a Wise transfer by pulling from your Japanese account, which is another reason an English-friendly account helps. Note: international remittance features often unlock only after you pass the six-month mark and provide My Number.
Once settled, NISA & iDeCo
When you're established and plan to stay, two tax-advantaged accounts are worth knowing: NISA (tax-free investment account, expanded and made permanent in 2024, generous annual limits, no tax on gains) and iDeCo (private defined-contribution pension with income-tax deductions on contributions). Both are open to foreign residents with a My Number. They're a major reason long-term foreigners keep building wealth in Japan rather than only remitting home.
Frequently asked questions
Which bank is best for foreigners in Japan?
For new arrivals, Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) and SBI Shinsei Bank are the easiest, they open for residents under six months. For full English service, Shinsei and SMBC Trust Bank PRESTIA are best (PRESTIA even lets you apply online/by phone in English). Rakuten Bank offers fully online signup. The common strategy is two accounts: Japan Post/Shinsei immediately for daily life, plus whatever megabank your employer prefers for salary.
Can I open a Japanese bank account with less than 6 months in Japan?
Yes, at the right bank. Many banks apply an informal 'six-month rule' treating newer residents as non-residents, but Japan Post Bank and SBI Shinsei will open for new arrivals (Shinsei limits you to deposits/withdrawals until month six). Note that Sony Bank stopped new English-language applications in June 2025, so don't rely on older advice recommending it.
What documents do I need to open a bank account in Japan?
Bring your Residence Card (with your address printed on the back, register at the ward office first), a Japanese phone number, your passport, and increasingly your My Number (required for international transfers and investment accounts). A hanko helps but most foreigner-friendly banks accept a signature. Some branches also ask for proof of employment.
Do I need a hanko (personal seal) to bank in Japan?
Usually not anymore. Most foreigner-friendly banks now accept a signature, Japan Post and Shinsei will open accounts with one. A basic hanko (your name in katakana) is cheap (¥1,000–3,000) and smooths some other bureaucratic moments, so many people get one anyway, but it's no longer a barrier to opening an account.
What's the cheapest way to send money from Japan to my home country?
Use a specialist, not a megabank wire (which costs ¥3,000–7,000+ plus a poor exchange rate). Wise gives you the mid-market rate with a low fee and is the default for most expats; Revolut and SMBC PRESTIA GLOBAL PAY are alternatives. You fund the transfer from your Japanese account, so an English-friendly account helps. International remittance often unlocks only after six months plus My Number.