Send money from Japan to United States(JPY → USD)

Wise is the most cost-effective option for most JPY to USD transfer amounts, using the real mid-market exchange rate with a transparent fee of 0.5–0.9%. For a ¥100,000 transfer (approximately $670), Wise charges about ¥500–¥900 in total. OFX is the best option for large transfers (¥500,000+) because it charges no flat fee and offers tighter exchange rate spreads on higher volumes — contact their dealing desk for amounts over ¥1,000,000. XE offers competitive rates with a margin of 0.4–1% and no upfront fee. Japanese banks are the most expensive option by a wide margin, costing ¥5,500–¥9,000 in fees and markup on the same ¥100,000 transfer.

The simplest way to avoid expensive SWIFT fees is to use a digital transfer provider instead of your Japanese bank. With Wise, you fund your transfer via furikomi (Japanese domestic bank transfer) to Wise's Japanese bank account — furikomi costs ¥0–¥500 depending on your bank. Wise then converts your yen at the mid-market rate and deposits USD into the recipient's US bank account via ACH, bypassing the SWIFT network entirely. This eliminates the ¥4,000–¥6,000 SWIFT fee, the 1.5–3% exchange rate markup, and any correspondent bank deductions. OFX and XE work similarly. Some Japanese banks offer reduced SWIFT fees for internet banking customers, but even discounted bank fees are typically 2–3x the total cost of a digital provider.

Wise delivers to US bank accounts within 1–2 business days via ACH, with many same-day arrivals when funded early in the day. OFX and XE deliver within 1–2 business days. SWIFT transfers from Japanese banks take 2–4 business days and may be delayed further if correspondent banks are involved — JPY SWIFT transfers typically route through Tokyo or New York correspondents, each adding processing time. Funding via furikomi clears same-day if sent before your Japanese bank's cutoff time (usually 2:00–3:00 PM JST). Weekend and Japanese holiday transfers are queued for the next business day.

Yes, several providers support large JPY to USD transfers. OFX specializes in high-value transfers with no maximum limit and offers better exchange rates for amounts above ¥500,000 — their dealing desk can negotiate custom rates for transfers over ¥1,000,000. Wise allows up to ¥1,000,000 per transfer for standard verified accounts, with higher limits available. XE supports large transfers with competitive rates. For amounts over ¥1,000,000 from a Japanese bank, you may need to provide additional documentation including the purpose of remittance. Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act requires reporting for transfers exceeding ¥30,000,000. US FBAR reporting applies if you hold Japanese financial accounts exceeding $10,000 in aggregate.

The JPY/USD rate is one of the most liquid currency pairs in the world, trading approximately ¥140–¥160 per dollar in recent years (though this fluctuates). The mid-market rate — the midpoint between buy and sell prices on global currency markets — is the fairest benchmark. Wise uses this exact rate with no markup. Banks and other providers add a spread of 0.5–3% on top of the mid-market rate. You can check the current mid-market rate on Google, Reuters, or XE.com and use it as your benchmark when comparing providers. Because JPY/USD is so liquid, the interbank spread is extremely tight (under 0.01%), meaning any spread a provider charges above mid-market is their profit margin.