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Whether you're a Japanese national living in Australia trying to support a family back home, or an Australian buying a property or car in Japan, there's never been a better time to need to transfer money to the land of the rising sun.
There are now many banks and money transfer services available to help you send money overseas to Japan without high exchange rates and high fees.
SendFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. T&Cs apply.
Fee-free transfers in 30+ currencies to over 200 countries.
You can use the table below to sort through different money transfer options to Japan. Use the table headings to sort through fees, minimum transfer amounts, transfer methods and more. If you'd like to find out more about a product, click the "More" link, or if you'd like to register with the service click on "Go to Site".
*The products compared on this page are chosen from a range of offers available to us and are not representative of all the products available in the market. There is no perfect order or perfect ranking system for the products we list on our Site, so we provide you with the functionality to self-select, re-order and compare products. The initial display order is influenced by a range of factors including conversion rates, product costs and commercial arrangements, so please don't interpret the listing order as an endorsement or recommendation from us. We're happy to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions, but we'd like you to make your own decisions and compare and assess products based on your own preferences, circumstances and needs.
Save money on your personal or business international money transfer today. Fill in the form and you’ll be contacted by a foreign exchange expert to have an obligation-free discussion about your options. Our foreign exchange experts offer a best rate guarantee, are ASIC authorised and never charge transfer fees.
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There is no single best way to send money overseas, and the best way for you may not be the best for someone else.
This is because there are other factors to consider when sending an international money transfer in addition to the exchange rate, including the transfer fees, the payment method, the speed of delivery and the level of customer service. One person may prioritise the exchange rate, while someone else may prioritise the payment method.
You should consider a range of products when deciding which provider is most suited to your personal money transfer needs.
The Japanese company that Haruto works for has asked him to oversee their operations in Sydney. He agrees to the new position, but with young children in school does not think that an overseas move is in their best interest. Instead he decides to investigate ways in which he can continue to support them financially by sending money home weekly.
Haruto starts by comparing a bank’s money transfer services with a money transfer service company to see which will give him the most value for his money:
| Bank | Money transfer service | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | The exchange rate offered by the bank is 90.3 Yen for every Australian dollar. | The exchange rate offered by the non-bank service is 91.46 Yen for every Australian dollar |
| Transfer fee | There is a $22 fee charged to the sender. Check with your Japanese bank to see if they charge additional money when accepting the transfer. | There is a $70 fee charged to the sender. The recipient should not be charged. |
| Amount received for $1,000 AUD | Haruto’s wife will receive 89,860 Yen when he sends $1,000 Australian dollars. | Haruto’s wife will receive 91461.43 Yen when he sends $1,000 Australian dollars. If he chooses to have it deposited directly into his bank account, it will be 92030.69 Yen. Check with the recipient bank to see if they charge a fee for the receipt of funds sent from Australia. |
| Transfer time | Typically three to five business days. | The money is received within minutes after it is sent if it is to be pick up. For bank transfers it will take one to two days before the funds get to the bank. |
| Transfer options | This is a bank to bank service only. | This company will allow for transfers to be picked up in person or sent to a bank account in Japan. |
Difference. There is a difference of 1601.43 Yen if Haruto’s wife were to pick up the money and 2170.69 Yen for a bank transfer. This is a significant difference even when subtracting the approximate 4400 Yen that Haruto is paying in fees.
As you can clearly see from Haruto’s case study, it pays to do your homework when considering transferring money from Australia to Japan. Especially in a situation such as his where he plans on making weekly money transfers. Look closely at the following when comparing money transfer service providers to avoid paying more than you have to:
There is no single best exchange rate, and the best exchange rate for you may not be the best for someone else. Exchange rates are also affected by wider economic factors. Previous performance isn't an indication of future performance. You should consider a range of products when deciding which provider is most suited to your personal money transfer needs.
Back to topJapanese nationals have many options available to them for sending money back home including:
Australian visitors to Japan can also take advantage of money transfer services if they suddenly find themselves without any cash:
There are a number of locations in the major cities in Japan where you can pick up money from a transfer service company:
1 F Root Bldg
1-11-19 Hiyakunin-Cho
Tokyo, 169-0073
32-801-029
Open Monday through Friday 10:30am to 6:30pm Saturday and Sunday 10:30am to 5:30pm
7F Union Roppongi
2-3-9 Roppongi
Tokyo, 106-0032
0345-308-323
Open Monday through Friday 9am to 7pm Saturday 10am to 4pm Sunday closed.
SBI Jyutaku Loan Kanazawa
4-1-22 Izuminode-Machi
Kanazawa, 921-8116
762-451-001
Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 6pm Closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
1 F Marukoshi Bldg
4-6-5 Sakae
Nagoya, 460-0008
0522-520-551
Open Thursday through Tuesday 10am to 6pm Closed on Wednesday.
Western Union-Tokyo
1F The 2nd Daikoku Bldg, 1-6-19 Yaesu
Chuo-ku, Tokyo
0034-800-400-733
Open Monday through Friday 10am to 7:30pm Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm
1F Oshima Bldg
1-15-4 Nihombashiningyo-cho
Chuo-ku, Tokyo
0034-800-400-733
Open Monday through Friday 9:30am to 6:30pm Saturday 10am to 3:30pm
C/O Tis Kyoto, JR Kyoto Station
Higashi-shio koju cho, Shiokoju-kudaru
Karasuma-dori, Shimokyo-ku
Kyoto-city, Kyoto
0034-800-400-733
Open Monday through Sunday 10:30am to 6:30pm
1F ON Bldg, 544-2 Higashishiokojicho
Shinmogyo-ku
Kyoto-city, Kyoto
075-344-0330
Open Monday through Sunday 11am to 8pm
Japan is a safe vacation destination for Australian travellers. You should, however, exercise caution when picking up your cash. If possible go during the day and use a taxi or hotel-supplied form of transportation to get to the pickup location.
Sending money from Australia to Japan will be relatively easy once you learn the steps. If you have set up a bank account for these transactions you can typically do the transfer online. For money transfer service providers be prepared with the following information:
You will be given documentation once the transaction is complete. Provide your recipient with the correct information and keep those papers in case there is a problem with picking up the money.
Finding a reliable company to send your money from Australia to Japan can provide you with peace of mind that your family is always being taken care of. Explore the options available, both banks and transfer companies, to find the one that meets your needs for the best price
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