fbpx

Send Money to Japan from Australia

Find your cheapest option to transfer money to Japan with the best exchange rates.

Written by 
Savvy Editorial Team
Savvy's content writing team are professionals with a wide and diverse range of industry experience and topic knowledge. We write across a broad spectrum of finance-related topics to provide our readers with informative resources to help them learn more about a certain area or enable them to decide on which product is best for their needs with careful comparison. Meet the team behind the operation here. Visit our authors page to meet Savvy's expert writing team, committed to delivering informative and engaging content to help you make informed financial decisions.
Our authors
, updated on August 18th, 2023       

Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

Find the best way to send money to Japan

When you’re wanting to send money to family or friends in Japan, it’s important to be on the lookout for cheap exchange rates, low fees and a simple transfer process. Compare a range of international money transfer providers here with Savvy to help you find the best exchange rates and lowest fees available. Consider a range of options with us before getting your international money transfer underway today.

site-logos OFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $250 1-3 days $0 50+
Go to site

Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfers

More details
site-logos Instarem
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $1 Within minutes From 0% to 1% 55+
Go to site

Enjoy $40 bonus on your first money transfers of $250 & above! Use code*: SAVVY20X2 (Minimum transfer of AUD 250 Valid till 31st August 2023)

More details
site-logos Xe
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From $0 100
Go to site

Xe is a 2021 Canstar Award Winner and offers the best exchange rates, low to no fees so customers save the most money

More details
site-logos Western Union Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1 - 2 days $0 35
Go to site

Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world online

More details
site-logos Wise Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From 0.41% 53
Go to site

Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.

More details
site-logos TorFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $200 0-2 days $0 35
Go to site

Excellent exchange rates with no transfer fees. Trusted by over 325,000 customers. Awarded Canstar’s 5 star rating 2018-2021.

More details
site-logos Currencyfair
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $5 Within minutes From $0 20+
Go to site

Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.

More details
site-logos Remitly
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 0-2 days From $0 21
Go to site

Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countries

More details
site-logos Revolut
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 Within minutes From $0 27+
Go to site

Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.

More details

Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.

If you decide to initiate a money transfer with one of the providers listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the provider offering that product.

More about sending money to Japan

What options are there for sending money to Japan?

There are many ways to send money to Japan. Your main options include:

International money transfer services

These are international money transfer providers who specialise in foreign currency exchange.  They send money across international borders without using the SWIFT international banking system, so they’re faster than traditional banks. Additionally, their fees and markups are smaller than other methods you could use, such as banks, PayPal or credit card companies, making them one of the best ways to send money overseas. Savvy has a panel of specialist transfer providers that offer a range of options to help you to send your money overseas.

Traditional banks

Banks commonly charge up to $30 to make a transfer to another bank account overseas, while it can take three to five business days for a bank transfer to arrive at its destination.  If you’re looking for the cheapest and fastest way to send money to Japan, you’ll be better off with a specialist transfer service than a bank almost every time.

Instant cash transfers

This is a fast way to get money to Japan, although it may not necessarily be the cheapest option, as you’ll pay a premium in fees for an instant cash transfer.  You can book your transfer either online or in person at a post office, and pay for it either using cash, a debit card and PayWave, EFTPOS, or through BPAY from your bank account.  Your recipient can collect their cash transfer in person at a nominated office in Japan almost instantly, depending on the time difference and business hours. This may not be the best way to send money overseas to Japan if speed isn’t a factor for you.

How do I find the cheapest money transfer to Japan?

There are several things you can do to make sure you get the highest exchange rate and lowest fees for your international money transfer to Japan.  These include:

Compare transfer services and exchange rates with Savvy

It pays to compare a range of providers with Savvy to work out which one will offer the highest exchange rate and lowest fees, and so will be the best company overall to choose for your transfer.  Comparing providers is free, so check back in with Savvy regularly before making your decisions about which is the best money transfer provider for you. In terms of the exchange rates to look for, transfers which come with close to the mid-market rate, or the mid-market rate itself, will enable you to buy the most yen with your Australian dollars.

Keep an eye out for special offers

Since competition is so fierce amongst international transfer providers, there are often special offers available which can give you a way to get your transfer completed very cheaply.  Special offers can include:

  • Free transfers – get your first one or two transfers free with promotions aimed at attracting new customers. For example, transfer provider SingX offers the first two transfers under $3,000 free of charge.
  • Promotional exchange rates for your first transfer. Companies such as Remitly can offer a high promotional exchange rate and no fees for your first transfer under certain conditions.
  • Fee waivers – other companies offer free transfers over a set amount, such as $10,000, as a way to attract larger business clients. It’s important to look at the exchange rates on these transfers to make sure they’re as close to the mid-market rate as possible, which represents the best exchange rate possible.

Use currency tools

Some transfer providers offer currency exchange tools on their mobile apps or online websites. One such tool, a rate alert, enables you to set an alert when the AUD to JPY exchange rate hits a certain level. Exchange rates change so often that an alert can tell you when the rate is at its most profitable for your transfer.

Other tools you can use to help you get the cheapest money transfer to Japan are limit orders and forward contracts.  Such tools are mainly reserved for business users but can be useful if you intend to make regular transfers to Japan.  A limit order means that your transfer will only go through at a certain set exchange rate.  A forward contract enables you to lock in your exchange rate for transfers into the future, possibly up to a year in advance.

Use an international transfer account

Some transfer providers offer an international account where you can store money in different currencies and transfer it overseas at your convenience. The exchange rate between the dollar and the yen is highly volatile; as an example, it varied from around ¥78 at the end of 2021 to a high of over ¥95 in June 2022. If you timed your transfer to convert dollars to yen at its peak, you could then have stored them and used them when the rate fell again later in the year. This is a way to get the top exchange rate if you’re thinking of making regular or business transfers.

What else should I compare when sending money to Japan?

On top of exchange rates, some of the main areas to compare when looking at your money transfer options with Savvy are:

Fees

There are three ways that international money exchange companies can make their money:

  • They can charge a set fee for the transfer (up to $15), but offer the mid-market exchange rate
  • They can charge a fee which is a percentage of the transfer amount (typically from 0.4% to 0.65%) plus a small margin on the exchange rate
  • They may not charge a fee at all but add a higher margin onto the exchange rate

Any of these options will probably prove to be cheaper than using your regular bank, as banks routinely charge higher fees plus a greater markup on the exchange rate.  When comparing transfer providers, look for one that has the lowest fees for the sum you wish to transfer and which offers an exchange rate as close to the mid-market rate as possible. Most often, set fees are the most economical option for larger transfers of $5,000 or more, while percentage charges are the cheapest for smaller transfers.

Transfer limits

Transfer companies often have minimum and maximum transfer limits.  Minimums range from $1 up to $250, while maximum limits range anywhere from a daily limit of $5,000 up to maximums of $500,000 or more.

Payment methods

Decide how you wish to pay for your transfer from Australia to Japan. You can choose between paying by direct debit from your bank account or using a credit card. However, the latter could be a very expensive option, as credit card providers can charge transfer fees as high as 3% to 5% of your transfer amount.

Alternatively, you could use your debit card with EFTPOS, BPAY or PayWave.  You could also choose to send your money using a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or even hand over cash if you’re arranging an instant cash transfer in person.  Which payment method you choose will determine which transfer company is best for you, as not all companies will accept all payment options.

Receival methods

Think about how you want your transfer to be received in Japan. Do you want it transferred to a bank account, collected in cash, or paid into a mobile app or digital wallet?  If your recipient doesn’t have a bank account, you could even send a mobile phone recharge directly to their phone, although this would mean they couldn’t use the transfer in cash. When comparing transfer services, check that they offer the method you’re after.

How to send money to Japan from Australia

More of your frequently asked questions about sending money to Japan

What factors will affect the speed of my transfer to Japan?

The time of day and day of the week that you send your transfer to Japan can influence how fast it takes to arrive.  Transfers can be delayed by weekends and public holidays, so for the best chance of your transfer arriving quickly, send your money early in the day and as early in the week as possible. If you’re sending more than $10,000, your transfer may be delayed as part of AUSTRAC’s compliance measures, as you may be required to submit further documentation and information through this process.

Are international money transfer services reliable?

Yes – Savvy’s money transfer service providers offer a safe, reliable way to send money to Japan.  They’re all fully licenced and use the very latest digital encryption technology available to ensure your personal and financial information is kept safe.

How can I track my transfer to Japan?

Some international transfer companies offer tracking tools as part of their online or mobile apps.  These tracking tools allow you to enter your tracking number and see exactly where your transfer is in the pipeline. You should also receive a delivery confirmation from your transfer provider.

What is an exchange rate guarantee?

An exchange rate guarantee is given when a quote is issued for the exchange rate of an international transfer.  The guarantee means that a particular exchange rate is ‘locked in’ for a set number of hours, often up to 36, so you’ll still get that exact exchange rate even if the rate has changed since you were given the quote.

Helpful guides on money transfers

Money Transfer Banner - Woman sitting at the window of a cafe looking at her phone

International Money Transfer Limits

Find out about international money transfer limits in Australia If you’re looking to transfer funds internationally, there are many ways...

We'd love to chat, how can we help?

By clicking "Submit", you agree to be contacted by a Savvy Agency Owner and to receive communications from Savvy which you can unsubscribe from at any time. Read our Privacy Policy.