The Atarashift Blog
Insights for working in Japan
Guides, interviews, and honest advice for international talent building a career in Japan.
The Atarashift Blog
Guides, interviews, and honest advice for international talent building a career in Japan.
Japan's banks require a residence card and registered address before they'll open an account for you. Here's which bank to choose, what documents you need, and how the process works.
Opening a bank account in Japan is non-negotiable if you're living and working here. Your salary gets deposited to it, your rent gets withdrawn from it, and half the country's services still run on bank-to-bank transfers. The good news: the process is more manageable than most expat guides make it sound. The catch: there's a specific order of operations that most newcomers get wrong.
Here's exactly how to do it.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot open a bank account on a tourist visa. A residence card and registered Japanese address are required.
- Japan Post Bank and SBI Shinsei accept applicants after just 3 months of residency; most other banks require 6 months.
- My Number (Japan's individual ID number) is mandatory for all new bank accounts since 2016.
- SBI Shinsei Bank is the top choice for English speakers; Japan Post Bank is the easiest starting point for new arrivals.
Yes, but only if you're a legal resident, not a tourist. Every major Japanese bank requires a valid residence card (在留カード, zairyu kaado), which means you need to be on a visa that grants residency status: a work visa, student visa, spousal visa, or similar long-term category. If you're visiting on a 90-day tourist visa, no Japanese bank will open an account for you. This is a firm rule with no exceptions.
The residency minimum also matters. In 2025-2026, Japanese banks tightened their Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures significantly in response to a surge in phone fraud cases, which often exploited bank accounts opened by short-term residents. As a result, most major banks now require that you have lived in Japan for at least six months before applying. Japan Post Bank (Yucho) and SBI Shinsei Bank are the notable exceptions: both will open accounts for residents who've been in Japan as little as three months, provided you hold a valid long-term visa (Japan Wise Life, 2026).
The order of operations most people miss: you need to get housing first, register your address at the ward office (shiyakusho) to update your residence card and receive your juminhyo (proof of address), and then go to the bank. Many newcomers try to open an account the first week of arriving and get turned away. The whole setup process (housing, then address registration, then bank) takes one to three weeks, and it's not worth trying to shortcut it.
Japanese banks standardized their application requirements more closely in 2025. Here's what you'll need at virtually every bank:
Required at all banks:
Commonly required (check your bank):
The My Number timing issue: if you're a new arrival, My Number notification letters are mailed to your registered address 1-3 weeks after address registration. Banks technically require it upfront, but Japan Post Bank and some branches of regional banks will accept a receipt or the My Number notification slip if you explain you've just registered. SBI Shinsei's online application lets you submit it after account opening with a grace period.
Before anything else, go to your local ward office (shiyakusho or kuyakusho) and complete address registration. Bring your residence card and passport. They'll stamp your address on your residence card. While you're there, pick up a juminhyo (¥200-300); you'll likely need it.
This step takes 30-60 minutes and is the foundation for everything else.
You need a Japanese SIM for SMS verification, which all banks use for digital authentication. Budget MVNOs (IIJmio, Mineo, LINEMO) cost ¥2,000-4,000/month and work for banking purposes. Get this before applying.
Your situation determines which bank makes the most sense. Don't just pick the most popular one; pick the one that fits your needs and visa timeline. See the comparison below.
Japan Post Bank and major regional banks require in-person visits. SBI Shinsei, Sony Bank, and Rakuten Bank offer full online applications, the most convenient option if you can qualify. Online applications typically take 3-7 business days to process; in-branch accounts can be opened the same day.
Whether you applied online or in-branch, your bank card (キャッシュカード) arrives by post within 1-2 weeks. Your account is technically open but limited until the card arrives.
Not all Japanese banks treat foreign customers equally. Here's how the main options stack up for expats in 2026:
| Bank | Min. Residency | English App | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Post Bank | 3 months | Partial | In-branch |
| SBI Shinsei Bank | 3 months | Full | Online |
| Rakuten Bank | 6 months | Full | Online |
| Sony Bank | 6 months | Full | Online |
| SMBC Prestia | 6 months | Full | In-branch |
| MUFG / SMBC / Mizuho | 6 months | Limited | In-branch |
Japan Post Bank is the default first account for most new arrivals. It accepts applicants after three months, has branches in every post office, and its ATMs are accessible at 7-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores nationwide. The app is partially in English. It's not the most feature-rich option, but it gets you set up fast.
SBI Shinsei Bank is the best choice for English-dominant users. The entire app and online banking interface runs in English. There's no hanko required, no monthly fee, and up to five free ATM withdrawals per month. Note that Shinsei's international wire service GoRemit was discontinued in October 2025; international transfers now route through SBI Remit (Japan Wise Life, 2026).
Sony Bank is the best option if you're managing foreign currency regularly. It supports 12 currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and more) in the English app, with competitive exchange rates.
SMBC Prestia (formerly Citibank Japan) is a premium option for those who want full English service at a traditional bank. It supports deposits in 17 currencies and requires no inkan.
Rakuten Bank is entirely online and application is straightforward, but it requires six months of Japan residency.
In 2025-2026, Japan's major banks tightened KYC procedures for foreign applicants after a significant rise in bank-account-linked phone fraud. SBI Shinsei and Japan Post Bank absorbed the bulk of new foreign account openings by maintaining the most accessible three-month residency threshold, while megabanks strengthened six-month rules and require in-branch applications for most non-citizen applicants (Expats Japan, 2026).
Once your account is open, cash access is easy. Seven Bank operates roughly 28,000 ATMs located inside all 7-Eleven stores nationwide and supports transactions in 12 languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese (Japan Guide, 2025). Lawson Bank ATMs also support English and Chinese.
A few things to keep in mind:
Japan has good options for international transfers, but your bank account plays a role in what's available.
Wise works as a standalone international transfer service connected to your Japanese account. You don't need a specific bank for it, but you need a registered Japanese bank account to send from. Wise typically beats bank exchange rates significantly.
Sony Bank lets you hold foreign currency balances and convert at competitive rates, which works well if you're timing transfers around the yen rate.
SBI Remit (formerly GoRemit via Shinsei) supports transfers to 150+ countries directly from SBI Shinsei customers.
How much you can send home depends on what's left after rent and daily costs; our cost of living in Tokyo breakdown helps you estimate a realistic monthly surplus.
No. You need a registered Japanese address first, which requires accommodation, and most banks require you to have been in Japan for at least three to six months. Japan Post Bank and SBI Shinsei accept applicants after three months. The fastest timeline from arrival to an open account is roughly four to six weeks if everything goes smoothly.
Your residence card shows your address only after you register at the ward office. If it's blank or shows your airport address, go to the ward office first. Banks won't accept a residence card without a proper registered address; it's one of the most common reasons applications get rejected.
Not anymore, at the most foreigner-friendly banks. SBI Shinsei, Sony Bank, Rakuten Bank, and SMBC Prestia have all eliminated the hanko requirement. Traditional megabanks may still request one for in-branch applications. If you're asked for a hanko and don't have one, you can get a simple mitome-in (認め印) from any 100-yen store for a few hundred yen.
No. All major Japanese banks require you to be a legal resident with a registered Japanese address. You can't open an account before arriving. Some expats use Wise or Revolut as a bridging solution during their first weeks; these work for basic transactions until your bank account is ready.
My Number (マイナンバー) is Japan's individual 12-digit tax and social security identification number. It's mandatory for all new bank accounts since 2016. You receive it by mail at your registered address 1-3 weeks after registering with the ward office. Most banks require you to present it during application. SBI Shinsei allows you to submit it within a short grace period after applying online.
In most cases, yes. Japan Post Bank is widely accepted for direct salary deposits. Some employers specify a preferred bank for payroll. Confirm this with HR before committing to a bank, particularly if you're joining a large traditional Japanese company.
The bank account is one of the first practical problems to solve when you move to Japan, and it's genuinely straightforward once you understand the sequence: housing, then address registration, then the bank application. Don't try to shortcut steps one or two. If you're within your first three months, Japan Post Bank and SBI Shinsei are your entry points. If you're past six months and want the best English-language experience, SBI Shinsei or Sony Bank are the clear leaders.
Still lining up the move itself? Our step-by-step guide to getting a job in Japan covers everything that happens before your first paycheck. Ready to get settled? Browse English-friendly job opportunities on Atarashift →
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