Japan to Korea Money Transfer Fees (2026)

If you’re a foreign resident in Japan with family, a spouse, or financial ties in Korea, sending money there is probably a recurring task — not a one-off. And unlike sending money back to your home country, this corridor doesn’t always get covered by the big-name remittance comparison sites, so it’s easy to end up overpaying by a few thousand yen every single transfer without realizing it.

Here’s a comparison of the main ways to move money from Japan to Korea, based on fees, exchange rates and limits. All fees were checked on each provider’s official fee table on September 18, 2026.

⚠️ Heads up: GoRemit, the international transfer service from SBI Shinsei Bank that many long-term residents relied on, closed in October 2025. SBI Shinsei Bank points former users to SBI Remit’s international transfer service, but accounts were not carried over — you need to sign up for SBI Remit separately.

Four Main Ways to Send Money to Korea

1. Bank wire (online banking or branch) — international transfers from major Japanese banks like MUFG or Mizuho
2. SBI Remit — a registered money transfer company in Japan, and the service SBI Shinsei Bank points former GoRemit users to
3. Wise — uses the mid-market rate (the one you see on Google) and shows its fee separately
4. Shinhan SBJ Bank One-Touch Express — app-based transfers from a Korean-affiliated bank in Japan, Korea only

An earlier version of this guide also listed WireBarley. We’ve removed it. In Japan, any non-bank remittance provider has to be registered with the Financial Services Agency as a funds transfer service provider, and WireBarley does not appear on the FSA’s list of registered providers (84 companies as of July 31, 2026). We couldn’t confirm it as an option for sending from Japan to Korea. Before trying an unfamiliar transfer app, check that its name is on that list.

Fees and Limits Compared (official fee tables, checked September 18, 2026)

These are the fees from each provider’s official table on that date. Except for Wise, each provider adds an exchange-rate margin on top when converting to won (send in yen and the Korean bank converts it at its own rate) — which is why the fee alone won’t tell you the cheapest option.

The Cheapest Option Depends on How Much You Send

Wise’s fee scales with the amount, while SBI Remit and SBJ Bank charge a flat fee, so the winner changes with the amount. We’ve only included the cases the numbers can settle:

• Around JPY 30,000 — Wise’s total cost of JPY 638 (exchange rate included) is lower than SBJ’s JPY 1,000 won-transfer fee and SBI Remit’s JPY 1,500, and both of those also add a rate margin. Wise is clearly cheaper.
• Around JPY 100,000 — Wise’s JPY 1,310 is still below SBI Remit’s JPY 1,500 fee. Against SBJ’s JPY 1,000 won transfer, it depends on whether SBJ’s rate margin is more or less than JPY 310.
• JPY 300,000 and up — Wise’s fee climbs past JPY 3,000 while SBI Remit stays at JPY 1,500. Without knowing each provider’s rate margin, there’s no way to rank them. Compare the amount of won that actually arrives, on the same day.

Which One Should You Actually Use?

• Occasional small transfers — Wise, per the numbers above.
• Monthly living expenses of JPY 100,000–300,000 — compare SBJ’s won transfer (JPY 1,000), SBI Remit (JPY 1,500) and Wise once by the won amount received. Note that One-Touch Express is not available if your status of residence is Temporary Visitor, Student, or Designated Activities.
• A lump sum over JPY 1,000,000 — SBI Remit caps each transfer at JPY 1,000,000 and SBJ at JPY 300,000, so look at a bank or Wise. International transfers over JPY 1,000,000 are reported to the tax office by the bank or provider under the Foreign Remittance Reporting Act. That’s not a problem in itself — it just means there’s a record.

Before You Transfer

• Your My Number is required, not optional. Under Article 3 of the Foreign Remittance Reporting Act, anyone sending money abroad from Japan must give their My Number to the bank or transfer provider. If you already registered it when opening the account, you don’t need to give it again for each transfer. Foreign residents also verify their identity with their Residence Card.
• Exchange rates move in real time — compare the final amount received in won, not the fee.
• Per-transfer, daily, monthly, and annual limits differ by provider — check them before moving a larger sum.

Quick Summary

This article is for general informational purposes only. Fees and exchange rates change over time and with ongoing promotions. Always check the current fees and rates on each provider’s official app or website before making a transfer.