For many people who started working in Japan, the first major hurdle they run into is opening a bank account.
And from what I’ve heard and seen, opening a bank account in Japan can be pretty confusing for foreigners.
So in this article, I’ll go over the current banking situation in Japan and explain how to choose the right bank account from the perspective of someone (me) who has been using Japanese bank accounts for years.
Contents (Tap to Jump)
Minimum Requirement
Before getting into the main topic, here are the minimum requirements you must meet to open a bank account in Japan.
Minimum Requirement
- Be at least 16 years old
- Have a valid residence card (students may also need a student ID)
- Have more than 3 months remaining on your residence period
If even one of these is missing, you can’t open an account. These are the minimum requirements.
Choosing Wrong One Costs You ¥5,000 a Year
When choosing a bank, the one thing you absolutely want to avoid is opening an account with a bank outside your daily activity area. Why?
Because in Japan, you get charged a fee when you withdraw cash from an ATM that doesn’t belong to your own bank.
For example, here’s what happens if you use a Japan Post Bank (Yucho) cash card at a Seven-Eleven ATM.
- Weekdays 8:45 AM - 6 PM → ¥220
- Saturdays 9 AM - 2 PM → ¥220
- All other times → ¥330
This means that just two ATM withdrawals per month add up to nearly ¥5,000 per year. Naturally, if you use an ATM from the bank you have an account with, there’s no fee.
So the best approach is to open an account with a bank that has ATMs within your daily activity area.
With that in mind, the following are the recommended choices.
【Option 1】No Phone Number Needed
The easiest option to start with is Japan Post Bank (Yucho). Because you don’t need a phone number to open an account. And as I’ll explain later, Japan Post Bank also has the largest number of ATMs in Japan.
And here’s what you need to open a Japan Post Bank.
Requirements for Japan Post Bank
- Age 16 or older
- A residence card (with at least 3 months remaining)
- Student ID (if you’re a student)
- A smartphone with a camera
If you apply at a physical branch, you’ll need a hanko (personal seal). So if you don’t have one, applying online is recommended.
You’ll also be asked whether you want to apply for Yucho Direct, which allows online transfers. You’ll definitely end up using this service, so I strongly recommend applying when you open the account.
And by the way, regardless of the bank, it usually takes 10 days to 2 weeks for the cash card to arrive.
ATM Availability Ranking
One major advantage of Japan Post Bank is that you can use its ATMs not only at post offices, but also at FamilyMart - for free.
Keeping that in mind, here are the current top 5 banks by number of ATM locations.
| Bank | Number of ATMs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Post Bank | 31,200 | *Includes FamilyMart ATMs |
| Seven Bank | 27,990 | *+16,000 more by 2026 |
| Lawson Bank | 13,584 | |
| MUFG | 8,300 | |
| AEON Bank | 6,800 |
Also, Seven Bank has announced that starting in spring 2026, 16,000 additional ATMs will be installed at FamilyMart over several years. So opening a Seven Bank account is also a good option.
Requirements for Seven Bank
- Age 16 or older
- A residence card (with at least 3 months remaining)
- Student ID (if applicable)
- A phone number in Japan
【Option 2】The Most Versatile One
That said, both Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank still charge fees when using other banks’ ATMs. So if you move to a new area or if the ATMs near your home are removed, the situation changes.
That’s why my personal recommendation is Rakuten Bank. Rakuten offers free ATM withdrawals even at other banks, depending on your status.
Here’s how it works:
- For the first two months after opening an account, you get three free ATM withdrawals per month. After that:
- With a balance of ¥100,000 or more → 1 free withdrawal per month
- The rest depends on your account rank (see the table)
Requirements for Rakuten Bank
- Age 13 or older
- A residence card (with at least 3 months remaining)
- A Japanese phone number
- MyNumber card or another accepted form of ID
※ Student IDs cannot be used.
Why You Should Go Cashless Early
To summarize everything:
- If you have a Japanese phone number → Rakuten Bank
- If you don’t have a phone number → Japan Post Bank
That covers the recommended bank accounts. But in the end, going cashless is the best strategy. Using services like QUICPay or PayPay reduces the need to carry large amounts of cash, which naturally lowers your risk.
Of course, going cashless requires a credit card, so I’ll cover that topic in a separate article.
I hope this article helps you choose the right bank account in Japan.
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