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 practical, 2026-updated comparison of the main ways to move money from Japan to Korea, based on fees, exchange rate spread, and transfer speed.
⚠️ Heads up: GoRemit, the international transfer service from SBI Shinsei Bank that many long-term residents relied on, was discontinued on October 20, 2025. Existing users have been migrated to SBI Remit’s international transfer service — if you’ve been searching for GoRemit based on an older guide, this is why it’s gone.
Five Main Ways to Send Money to Korea
- Traditional bank wire (branch or online banking) — services from major Japanese banks like MUFG or Mizuho
- SBI Remit — Japan’s major remittance specialist, now also absorbing former GoRemit users
- Wise — the global transfer service best known for using the real mid-market exchange rate
- WireBarley — a Korea-based fintech remittance app, popular among international students and residents sending money to/from Korea
- Shinhan SBJ Bank One-Touch Express — a Korean-affiliated bank in Japan offering app-based small remittances
Fees, Exchange Rate, and Speed Compared
| Method | Cost Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional banks (e.g. MUFG) | Costly | FX handling fee of 0.05% of the amount (min JPY 2,500) + intermediary bank fee of approx JPY 3,000; FX margin also tends to be wider |
| SBI Remit | Mid | Fee roughly JPY 500-2,000 depending on the tier, JPY 1,000,000 cap per transfer, plus its own FX margin |
| Wise | Cheap | Uses the real mid-market rate; total cost typically around 0.2-1% |
| WireBarley | Cheap | Flat-fee structure, up to roughly 90% cheaper than traditional banks |
| Shinhan SBJ Bank One-Touch Express | Mid-to-cheap | Max JPY 300,000, min JPY 5,000 per transfer — well suited to smaller remittances |
💡 Run your own numbers — try the Japan-US Transfer Fee Calculator (2026).
Which One Should You Actually Use?
- Sending a small amount urgently — Wise or WireBarley, both of which typically land within a few hours to a day.
- Sending living expenses on a regular monthly basis — Shinhan SBJ Bank’s One-Touch Express is worth considering; the cap is lower, but the fee burden is light for smaller amounts.
- Sending a large lump sum (over JPY 1,000,000) — you’ll likely need a traditional bank once you exceed SBI Remit’s per-transfer cap, but make sure to weigh the FX margin, not just the sticker-price fee, when comparing total cost.
- Minimizing cost above all else — prioritize services with a narrower FX spread, like Wise or WireBarley.
Before You Transfer
- Most services require identity verification — typically your My Number or Residence Card (在留カード).
- Exchange rates move in real time, so if the transfer isn’t urgent, it’s worth comparing the same day’s rate across a couple of services before you commit.
- Per-transfer, daily, monthly, and annual limits differ by provider — check them ahead of time if you’re planning to move a larger sum.
Quick Summary
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cheapest options | Wise, WireBarley |
| Most expensive option | Traditional bank branch/online transfer |
| Key change to know | GoRemit discontinued October 2025 → merged into SBI Remit |
| Best for small recurring transfers | Shinhan SBJ Bank One-Touch Express (max JPY 300,000 per transfer) |
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.
As the numbers above show, the real cost hides in the exchange rate. The gap between a provider’s rate and the actual market rate — the spread — is what you actually pay.
Wise uses the mid-market rate you see on Google and shows its fee separately, so there is no spread to work out on your own.
Check the real cost for your amount →
If you live in Japan, sign up for a Japanese account — that is what lets you send from your local bank.
New to Wise? Start with how to sign up in Japan — the ID you need, how long verification takes, and the mistake that gets most applications rejected.
This is an affiliate link. If you sign up as a new user and complete a first transfer, TheFinExpat receives a commission at no extra cost to you. Our comparisons stay the same either way.