Japan · Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Japan's banking mixes megabanks, regional banks and Japan Post Bank, and cash is still widely used. Foreigners can open accounts, usually needing a residence card, a Japanese address and often a phone number; some banks require a few months of residence.
Banks are supervised by the Financial Services Agency (FSA); the Bank of Japan is the central bank and deposits are protected by the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan. A registered company can open a corporate account.
- Opening a corporate account generally requires the company registration certificate and seal.
- Deposits are protected by the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan up to the standard limit (JPY 10,000,000 of principal per depositor per bank; payment and settlement deposits are covered in full).
- Banks apply know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering checks.
- 1
Choose a foreigner-friendly bank
Japan Post Bank (Yucho), Rakuten, Sony, SBI Shinsei or SMBC Prestia are relatively accessible; Japan Post Bank has no six-month residency minimum and is popular with new arrivals. Cash and cashless (IC card, QR) coexist.
- 2
Register your address and residence card
You need your residence card (在留カード) and a Japanese address registered at your city hall.
- 3
Prepare a phone number and My Number
Most banks need a Japanese phone number for SMS verification and may ask for your My Number (individual number). A hanko (personal seal) is not required at the foreigner-friendly banks above.
- 4
Prepare business documents (corporate accounts)
For a corporate account, prepare the company registration certificate (登記事項証明書) and the company seal (印鑑).
- 5
Apply in-branch or by app
Japan Post Bank accepts either a counter visit or the Yucho app; banks run KYC and anti-money-laundering checks.
- 6
Activate the account and set up payments
Receive your passbook and/or card, then set up direct deposit, furikomi bank transfers and cashless (IC card / QR) payments.
- Residence card (在留カード)
- Japanese address (registered at city hall)
- Japanese phone number (for SMS verification)
- My Number (individual number) — often requested
- Passport (identity)
- Company registration certificate + seal — business accounts
- Initial deposit (if required by the bank)
- Financial Services Agency (FSA)
Supervises banks and financial institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to open a Japanese bank account?
Usually a residence card (zairyu card), a local address, and often a Japanese phone number; some banks ask for a period of residence or an employer.
Is Japan cash-based?
Cash remains common, though cashless payment (IC cards, QR apps, credit cards) has grown quickly.
Can I open an account without Japanese language skills?
Some banks offer English support, and Japan Post Bank and certain online banks are relatively foreigner-friendly.
Top Commercial Banks
- 1
Japan's largest bank; member of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group with global reach.
- 2
Second-largest Japanese bank; SMBC Group; strong retail and corporate services.
- 3
Third megabank; known for investment banking and large corporate finance.
- 4
Japan's largest trust bank; asset management, real estate and wealth services.
- 5
Major retail bank strong in the Osaka-Kobe region; trust and asset management.
- 6
Savings arm of Japan Post; most physical locations nationwide; personal savings and remittances.
- 7
Central cooperative bank for agriculture, forestry and fisheries; large institutional investor.
- 8
Largest regional banking group in Japan by assets; dominant in Kyushu.
- 9
Leading regional bank in Kanagawa Prefecture; community and corporate banking.
- 10
Major regional bank in Chiba Prefecture; retail and SME banking.
- 11
Top regional bank in Shizuoka; sound finances and strong corporate focus.
- 12
Leading western Japan regional banking group; corporate and SME banking in Kyushu.
- 13
Leading online bank; competitive home loan rates and low-fee transfers.
- 14
Online bank integrated with Rakuten ecosystem; high-yield savings and free ATM withdrawals for cardholders.
- 15
Online bank linked to the PayPay payment network; mobile-first banking.
- 16
Online bank from Sony Financial Group; competitive FX rates and multi-currency accounts.
- 17
Bank integrated with Aeon Group retail ecosystem; free ATMs at Aeon stores nationwide.
- 18
Mid-size commercial bank; strong institutional and real-estate lending.
- 19
API-first digital bank; popular with fintech developers and businesses needing Banking-as-a-Service.
Bank ordering: FSA public data and annual reports. Megabanks first, then trust, postal, cooperative, regional, and digital banks, by approximate total assets.
Credit Cards
Rakuten Card Co.
Earn Rakuten points on every purchase; Visa/MC/JCB/Amex variants available.
Annual fee: Free
Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS
2% cashback on Amazon.co.jp for Prime members; 1% on all other purchases.
Annual fee: Free
NTT Docomo
10% Docomo points on Docomo charges; travel insurance; up to ¥100k smartphone replacement.
Annual fee: ¥11,000/yr
JCB
Double points (2×) on all purchases; extra at Amazon and Starbucks partner merchants.
Annual fee: Free
Epos Card Co.
Strong restaurant and entertainment discounts via Epos partner network; easy online application.
Annual fee: Free
KDDI / au Jibun Bank
11% points on au mobile charges; Ponta points integration; travel insurance and lounge access.
Annual fee: ¥11,000/yr
SMBC
5% points at Seven-Eleven and McDonald's (via Vpoint app); up to 20% at partner stores for new members.
Annual fee: Free
PayPay
1.5% PayPay points on most purchases; seamless PayPay app integration.
Annual fee: Free
American Express
Membership Rewards; 3× on selected business-spending categories; travel and business perks.
Annual fee: ¥34,100/yr
Rakuten Card Co.
Rakuten points on all business expenses; personal and corporate spending kept separate.
Annual fee: Free
Cards: Editorial overview. JCB is the primary domestic network; Visa/Mastercard for international use. Verify at issuer sites.
Government portals
- Prime Minister's Office of Japan — Official site of Japan's Prime Minister — cabinet policies, press conferences, policy statements
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Japan visa applications, overseas safety info, consular services, and diplomatic policy
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Residence status, work visas, permanent residency, and naturalization in Japan
- National Tax Agency (Japan) — Income tax, corporate tax, consumption tax filing and e-Tax online submission