Do you send money to family every month? If you use a bank counter, you are paying about 3,000 to 5,000 yen per month just for fees. This article ranks 5 services that I have tested for fees, speed, country reach, and language support.
Caution: Bank counter loses you 60,000 yen per year
Example: Sending 100,000 yen to Vietnam every month
Bank counter: 5,000 yen times 12 = 60,000 yen per year
Wise: 1,500 yen times 12 = 18,000 yen per year
Difference: 42,000 yen. Switch to Wise.
Example: Sending 100,000 yen to Vietnam every month
Bank counter: 5,000 yen times 12 = 60,000 yen per year
Wise: 1,500 yen times 12 = 18,000 yen per year
Difference: 42,000 yen. Switch to Wise.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Money Transfer Services for 2026
Rank 1: Wise – Lowest Fees, Transparent Rate
Best for: Monthly remittance, do not want to lose on rates, want to do everything on phone.
- Fee: about 1,500 to 2,000 yen for 100,000 yen transfer
- Rate: mid-market rate with no hidden fees
- Speed: hours to one business day
- Countries: 80 plus, with 40 plus currencies
- Languages: Japanese, English
- Apply: Residence Card plus Passport via app
Conclusion: Choose Wise. I have used it for 5 years with no issues.
Rank 2: Western Union – Recipient Does Not Need a Bank Account
Best for: Recipient has no bank account, wants cash, family in rural areas.
- Fee: 1,000 to 3,000 yen for 100,000 yen
- Speed: minutes (fastest)
- Countries: 200 plus
- Receive: cash, bank account, or mobile wallet
Rank 3: SBI Shinsei Bank
- Fee: 2,000 to 3,000 yen
- Speed: 1 to 2 days
- English support
Fees and Speed Compared
| Service | Fee for 100k yen | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | about 1,500 to 2,000 yen | hours to 1 day |
| Western Union | about 1,000 to 3,000 yen | minutes |
| SBI Shinsei | about 2,000 to 3,000 yen | 1 to 2 days |
| Rakuten Bank | about 3,500 yen | 1 to 3 days |
| Yucho | about 4,500 yen | 2 to 7 days |
| Megabank | about 7,000 yen | 1 to 3 days |
By Recipient Country
| Country | Choice 1 | Choice 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | Wise | Western Union |
| Philippines | Wise (GCash) | Western Union |
| China | Wise | UnionPay |
| Myanmar | Western Union | Wise (some areas) |
| Sri Lanka | Western Union | Wise (Colombo) |
How to Use Wise (30 Minutes Setup)
- Download the app
- Register email and password
- Verify ID with Residence Card and Passport
- Enter recipient name as on passport, address, and bank account or mobile wallet
- Enter amount and check fee and rate
- Pay from a Japanese bank account
- Funds arrive in hours to one day
Summary
- Monthly family remittance: Wise
- Recipient with no bank account: Western Union
- Bank-feel reliability: SBI Shinsei
Save 4,000 yen per month. More money for your family back home.
💸 Start Sending with Wise (Save 60,000 yen per year)
Cheaper than bank transfer, mid-market rate, apply with Residence Card
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Fees and exchange rates as of April 2026. Please check each service’s website for the latest details.
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