Promoted for
Small transfers

Looking for the best way to send money from the United States to family, friends or businesses in Japan (or even to your own overseas bank account)?
Don't head straight to your American bank – compare specialist money transfer services instead. They nearly always offer better JPY exchange rates and lower fees, so for the same amount of US dollars you send, your recipient will receive more yens.
Of the companies we've compared, MoneyGram is among the cheapest, with competitive exchange rates and fees starting from $0. Need a really fast transfer? Wise (TransferWise) can get money to your recipient in Japan within minutes.
Are you visiting from outside the US?
Bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to Japan. MoneyGram and Instarem have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.
When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money to Japan, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:
Some providers may charge the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many yens your recipient will end up with.
Many online providers can offer transfers to Japan within minutes, although you're likely to pay a premium for the convenience.
Here are some of the fastest average transfer speeds to Japan:Actual transfer times from the United States to Japan can depend on several several factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency.
The safest way to get your money to Japan is to use a provider registered with the United States's industry regulator, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both the United States and Japan.
A great way to dive deeper is by reading our extended reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.
If you need to make a sizable money transfer to Japan, consider using a provider such as OFX or Xe to benefit from its expertise in handling larger transfer amounts.
Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:To send money to Japan, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.
Sakura is working in the United States as a digital marketer and she stays in regular contact with her elderly parents back home in Japan. Her parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Sakura plans to send them $2,000 from the United States.
She decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on her transaction.
Bank | Money transfer company | |
---|---|---|
Exchange rate | 1 USD = 146.89 JPY | 1 USD = 148.84 JPY |
Transfer fee | $10 | $2.50 |
Transfer method | Bank account deposit | Bank account deposit |
Processing time | 2 - 5 working days | Next day |
Amount received | 292,316.02 JPY | 297,302.06 JPY |
The money transfer company enables Sakura to send an extra ¥4,986.04, which is transferred straight to her parents' MUFG Bank account.
When choosing a money transfer provider to send money from the United States to Japan, it's important to consider the cost, how you want your recipient to receive the funds and the turnaround time. Here are other features to review:
Compared to a month ago, the US dollar is stronger against the yen. Currently, $5,000 is worth ¥747,925.00, whereas a month ago, $5,000 was equivalent to ¥722,750.00. That's an increase of 3.48% over the past month.
But compared to a year ago, the US dollar is weaker against the yen. A year ago, $5,000 was equivalent to ¥794,100.00. That's a decrease of 5.81% over 12 months.
What's more important, however, is the strength of the US dollar against the yen and where it goes from here – which is harder to call. But whichever way it goes, shopping around has the potential to get you more yens for your US dollars and can help you get the best out of any market conditions.
Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.
Transferring COD is easy with our comprehensive guide to the best ways to send money from the US to .
Looking for the best way to send money from the US to Macao? Services, rates, and fees compared.
Send money to your friends and family in the Balkans. Compare international money transfer services to find the best deals for you and your recipient.
Looking for the best way to send money from the US to Malaysia? Services, rates, and fees compared.
Looking for the best way to send money from the US to Spain? Services, rates, and fees compared.
Want to send USD to Indonesia? We will help you pick the best international money transfer service and explain fees and exchange rates.
Need to transfer USD to Ukraine? Learn how to pick the right service to send your money to Ukraine.
Transferring NGA is easy with our comprehensive guide to the best ways to send money from the US to Nigeria.
Want to send USD to Bangladesh? We will help you pick the best international money transfer service and explain fees and exchange rates.
Looking for the best way to send money from the US to Mexico? Services, rates, and fees compared.
Is it okay to write a check in dollars to send to a mom’s friend in Japan for funeral?
Hi Anna,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, you may send a check to Japan, although it is not a quick option. You can obtain a check from your bank or US Postal Service.
Kindly note that it may take several weeks before the recipient can actually cash the check.
If you want a faster option, you may consider any of the money transfer companies listed above.
Cheers,
Anndy