After arriving in Japan, you need a bank account. Salary, rent, SIM contract, sending money home – your daily life depends on it. But many banks reject applicants with under 6 months of residence. This article ranks 5 banks based on ease of opening, language support, and overseas transfer fees.
Caution: Do not visit MUFG, Mizuho, or SMBC if you have less than 6 months of residence
You will be rejected at the counter. Go to Yucho or Rakuten first.
You will be rejected at the counter. Go to Yucho or Rakuten first.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Banks for Foreigners
Rank 1: Yucho (Japan Post Bank) – Open Even Under 6 Months, Nationwide
Best for: New arrivals, rural areas, simple needs.
- Opens with under 6 months residence (the biggest advantage)
- 24,000 plus post offices and ATMs nationwide
- No account maintenance fee
- Overseas transfer: from 2,500 yen
- Required: Residence Card, Passport, Juminhyo, utility bill
- Open: same day
Conclusion: For your first account, Yucho is the answer.
Rank 2: Rakuten Bank – Online Plus Rakuten Points
- Apply fully online
- No maintenance fee
- Earn Rakuten Points: 1 point per yen on monthly salary
- Overseas transfer: from 1,750 yen
- Need 6 plus months residence
Rank 3: SBI Shinsei – Low Overseas Transfer, English Support
- Overseas transfer: from 2,000 yen (cheapest among banks)
- Full English support
- Foreign currency deposits available
Rank 4: Seven Bank – Application in 9 Languages
- Forms in: English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Nepali, Thai, Indonesian
- 7-Eleven ATMs 24 hours
Rank 5: MUFG/Mizuho/SMBC – Megabanks
- High reliability
- Need 6 plus months residence
Quick Comparison
| Bank | Under 6 mo OK | Multilingual | Overseas Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yucho | Yes | Limited | 2,500 plus |
| Rakuten | No | Limited | 1,750 plus |
| SBI Shinsei | No | English | 2,000 plus |
| Seven Bank | No | 9 languages | 2,500 plus |
| Megabank | No | Limited | 5,000 plus |
Documents Needed
- Residence Card
- Passport
- Juminhyo
- Proof of address (utility bill)
- Personal seal
- My Number
- Japanese phone number
Summary
- New arrivals: Yucho (under 6 months OK)
- Rakuten ecosystem: Rakuten Bank
- Frequent overseas transfer: SBI Shinsei plus Wise
- Application in your language: Seven Bank
Combo: Yucho plus Rakuten Bank plus Wise.
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Bank conditions as of April 2026. Please check each bank’s website for the latest details.
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