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
📖5 min read
Photo: Yen Finder Editorial
SponsoredThis article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you sign up through them, but our recommendations and editorial stance are not influenced by the partnerships.
Contents📖 ~5 min read
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
Service
Use case
Wise debit
Payments and ATM withdrawals in Japan
Revolut card
Same as above + FX diversification
PayPay
Works at ~90% of QR-payment merchants
Suica/PASMO
Transit + small retail
Credit cards
Hotels and major chain stores
→ 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
Residence card (a tourist visa alone is not enough)
My Number notification card or individual number card
Proof of address (resident certificate, utility bills — usually two pieces)
Required at most banks
Personal seal (registered seal preferred; some banks accept a regular seal)
A phone number in your own name (Japanese mobile number)
Passport
Sometimes required
Certificate of employment / student ID
Proof of income
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
Trying to open an account on a tourist visa → guaranteed rejection
Applying without a My Number → won't be accepted
Getting stuck without a personal seal → some banks accept signatures, but check ahead
Visiting a regional bank with no English support → you'll need a translator
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.
