While it is possible to make a traditional bank transfer from abroad to a Japanese bank account, there are a number of alternative services that are well worth exploring. If you need to send money abroad from Japan, please check our article about "International Money Transfers from Japan." It is also a good idea to check whether you need "My Number" card in order to receive money transfers from overseas. If you do not have one, you can learn more from the following article: "What is Japan My Number Card?"

We would also like to remind that, while some countries use IBAN or other codes for international bank transfers, Japanese banks use SWIFT. If you do not know any information you are required to provide about your bank account, please consult with your bank in Japan.

Because there are so many countries in the world, it is highly advisable to check whether the service you intend to use is available in the country from which you intend to transfer funds as well as whether you meet the requirements set by that particular international money transfer company. For the purposes of this article, we have only covered services that allow you to send money to Japan from a variety of countries, rather than services that are specific only to one country. Please keep in mind that the services listed in the article may not be available in your country and may vary between countries.  

Advantages of International Money Transfer Services 

Although you can send money to Japan via traditional bank transfer, there are several advantages in using one of the alternative services. Not only can it be a less expensive and quicker alternative to banks, but depending on the service, it can offer more payment and receiving options such as cash pick up, payment by debit, credit card, etc.

International Money Transfer Services to Japan

MoneyGram

(Image Source: http://global.moneygram.com)

The service is available in many locations around the world. Payment options may vary depending on which country you transfer money from.

PayPal

(Image Source: https://www.paypal.com/jp/webapps/mpp/country-worldwide)

PayPal is a popular service for making payments and transferring money.

Remitly

(Image Source: https://www.remitly.com/us/en/japan)

The service allows transferring money to one of its providers in Japan which includes well-known banks such as MUFG Bank, Japan Post Bank, Mizuho Bank, etc. Please check their website for more information.

Western Union

(Image Source: https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/home.html)

Western Union is well-known throughout the world for service making international transfers. The service connects many countries around the world making it one of the most popular choices for overseas remittances.

Wise

(Image Source: https://wise.com/us/)

Wise, also known by its former name “TransferWise,” is one of the best services for transferring money to Japan. When using this service, you can pay for overseas remittance using a variety of methods. The website also lets you compare Wise's exchange rates and transfer fees with other banks and overseas remittance services.

XE

(Image Source: https://www.xe.com/mt/us-money-transfer/send-money-to-japan/)

The service allows making overseas remittances to more than 130 countries including Japan.

Xoom

(Image Source: https://www.xoom.com/japan/send-money)

Xoom is a nice international money transfer service that is part of PayPal. It allows sending money from abroad to a bank account in Japan.

In this article, we have covered a number of well-known services that allow funds to be transferred to Japan from a variety of countries around the world. It is highly recommended that you thoroughly research various services in order to select the one that is best suited to your needs.