Opening a Japanese Bank Account as a Foreign Visitor — Quick Answer Guide to Practical Banks and Required Documents for Short and Long Stays

⚡ The 30-second answer: Practical banks for foreign residents = ①Prestia / SBI Shinsei (6+ months of residency) ②Japan Post Bank (6+ months) ③Shinsei Bank (no tourist visas) ④regional banks (residence card required). Short stays (tourist visa, up to 90 days) = opening an account is essentially impossible, so Wise / Revolut serve as a complete replacement. My Number is mandatory, and a residence card plus two pieces of Japanese address verification is the standard requirement.

Quick reference	Value
90-day tourists	Cannot open → use Wise instead
6+ months	Prestia / SBI Shinsei
Required documents	Residence card + address proof + My Number
Opening time	Same-day to 2 weeks
Fees	Major banks ¥0–1,000/month
Last verified	June 2026

The 30-second answer

Almost no Japanese bank will open an account for a short-term tourist (90 days or less). Wise / Revolut cards fully replace a local account. If you'll stay 6+ months and have a residence card and My Number, several foreign-friendly banks will open an account for you.

🏦 Short-term visitors (tourist visa, 90 days or less)

❌ Opening a bank account is essentially impossible

• A tourist visa alone is rejected
• You don't meet the "resident" requirement
• You cannot obtain a My Number

✅ Strong alternatives

→ These cover 95% of daily life in Japan on their own

🏦 Practical banks for residents staying 6+ months

1️⃣ Prestia (part of SBI Shinsei)

• Opens for those who switched from a tourist visa to a student or work visa
• Strong English support
• International transfer fee: ¥2,000–3,000
• App fully available in English

Required documents

• Residence card
• My Number
• Proof of address (resident certificate / utility bill)
• Personal seal (optional)

2️⃣ Japan Post Bank

• Usable at 23,000 post offices nationwide
• No tourist visas; student or work visas OK
• Low fees
• 24-hour ATMs

Required documents

• Residence card
• My Number (a few exceptions apply)
• Proof of address
• Personal seal

3️⃣ SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation)

• Large bank with many branches
• Work visa + 1 year of residency required
• English-capable branches in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and similar areas

Required documents

• Residence card
• My Number
• Proof of address
• Personal seal
• Certificate of employment (required at some branches)

4️⃣ MUFG (Mitsubishi UFJ Bank)

• Another major bank, similar to the above
• Work visa + 1 year of residency required

5️⃣ Shinsei Bank

• Full English support
• No tourist visas; student or work visas OK
• Low fees
• App available in English

6️⃣ Regional banks (Bank of Yokohama, Bank of Fukuoka, etc.)

• Open an account near where you live
• No tourist visas
• My Number required

📋 Required documents (general)

Mandatory

1. Residence card (a tourist visa alone is not enough)
2. My Number notification card or individual number card
3. Proof of address (resident certificate, utility bills — usually two pieces)

Required at most banks

4. Personal seal (registered seal preferred; some banks accept a regular seal)
5. A phone number in your own name (Japanese mobile number)
6. Passport

Sometimes required

7. Certificate of employment / student ID
8. Proof of income
9. Health insurance card

⏱ Time to open an account

Same day (the more modern banks)

• Prestia: App application → same-day possible
• Shinsei Bank: Same-day at some branches

1–2 weeks (typical)

• Japan Post Bank: Apply at a post office → card mailed in 1–2 weeks
• SMBC / MUFG: Branch application → 1–2 weeks

About 1 month (stricter cases)

• Regional or trust banks: Longer review times

💳 Bank account vs. Wise / Revolut

Pros of a Japanese bank account

• Free or cheap domestic transfers (¥110–440)
• Receive a salary and pay utility bills by direct debit
• Eligible for Japanese credit cards
• Tax handling linked to your My Number

Pros of Wise / Revolut

• Works on a tourist visa
• Low FX fees (0.5–1%)
• Cheap international transfers (¥600–1,200)
• Hold multiple currencies

🌏 Recommendations by use case

Tourists (1 week to 90 days)

• Wise debit + Revolut + credit card
• No bank account needed

Students (6 months to 4 years)

• Japan Post Bank + Wise
• Pays tuition and rent locally while keeping international transfers cheap

Work-visa holders (1+ year)

• A main bank (SMBC / MUFG / Prestia) + Wise
• Receive your salary locally and send money abroad cheaply

Permanent residents and naturalized citizens

• A main bank plus one or two sub-accounts
• Treated the same as Japanese nationals

📱 Online-only banks (foreigner-friendly)

Sony Bank

• No tourist visas
• Work visa + 1 year of residency
• Low fees
• App available in English

Rakuten Bank

• No tourist visas
• Open after registering as a Rakuten member

Aeon Bank

• No tourist visas
• Free ATM use inside Aeon stores

🌐 International transfer comparison

Bank wire (SMBC example)

• International transfer fee: ¥4,000–7,500
• FX markup: +0.5–1%
• Time: 2–3 business days

Wise (online)

• Fee: ¥600–1,200 (for a ¥100K transfer)
• FX markup: +0.5–1%
• Time: within 24 hours

Revolut

• Fee: ¥0–500 (depends on plan)
• FX markup: 0% within monthly allowance
• Time: instant to 24 hours

5 mistakes tourists often make

1. Trying to open an account on a tourist visa → guaranteed rejection
2. Applying without a My Number → won't be accepted
3. Getting stuck without a personal seal → some banks accept signatures, but check ahead
4. Visiting a regional bank with no English support → you'll need a translator
5. Living in Japan without Wise / Revolut → expensive losses on international transfers

Pre-departure checklist

Short stay

• Order a Wise / Revolut card (7–14 days to ship)
• Enable international use on your credit cards
• Confirm an overseas phone number works for PayPay

Long stay

• Consider banks within a week of receiving your residence card
• Pick up your My Number notification card
• Obtain a resident certificate / proof of address
• Make a personal seal (¥1,000–3,000)

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is there any way to open an account on a tourist visa?

A: As of 2026, almost all banks say no. Wise / Revolut are a complete replacement.

Q: Are there banks that open accounts without a My Number?

A: Since 2024, virtually every bank requires My Number. There are essentially no exceptions.

Q: How many residence cards do I need to open an account?

A: One card + two pieces of address proof + My Number is the standard set.

Q: Which banks support English?

A: Prestia, Shinsei, and select SMBC / MUFG branches offer English service.

Q: What if I want to open an account during a short business trip?

A: Stays under 3 months are not possible, so use Wise / Revolut. For stays of 3+ months, ask the bank directly.

About this article: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified June 2026. Bank policies and account-opening requirements change, so please confirm the latest details on each bank's official site.