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Send money from United Kingdom to Japan(GBP → JPY)
GBP
JPY|Updated recentlyMid-market 213.1204Cheapest todayof 7 providers
Wise
Rate 213.1204 · Fee £10.47
You send
£500
Recipient gets
¥104,329
Affiliate link · No extra cost to you
Quick answer: The cheapest way to send money from United Kingdom to Japan in May 2026 is Wise, which delivers 104,328.85 JPY on a 500 GBP transfer with a fee of £10.47.
Last reviewed: by Awais Imran, Reviews Editor
What is the cheapest way to send GBP to JPY?
Sending £500 from United Kingdom to Japan. Sorted by best value — most money received.
Source: SendMoneyCompare · Data updated every 6 hours from live provider APIs
#ProviderRateFeeRecipient gets
Rate 213.1204·Fee £10.47·0.00% markup
Rate 211.8630·Fee £14.81·0.59% markup
Rate 211.5433·Fee £18.46·0.74% markup
Rate 211.0105·Fee £24.97·0.99% markup
Rate 208.9006·Fee £50.42·1.98% markup
Rate 202.4644·Fee £133.06·5.00% markup
Rate 212.0548·Fee Free·0.50% markup
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our rankings, which are based on real transfer data. Editorial policy
Sending money from United Kingdom to Japan? Compare real-time exchange rates and fees across leading money transfer services. Find the provider that gives you the best JPY amount today.
British expats and immigrants regularly send money to Japan. The cost difference between providers can be significant — banks typically charge 3–5% in hidden exchange rate markups, while specialist services like Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit offer rates much closer to the mid-market rate. Our comparison shows the total JPY received from each provider after all fees and markups.
Which provider offers the best GBP to JPY rate?
Wise
4.3Exchange rate
213.1204
Fee
£10.47
Recipient gets
¥104,328.85
Speed
Instant to 2 days
Which provider is best for each transfer type?
Different providers excel at different things. Here's who's best for each use case on the United Kingdom to Japan route.
Cheapest transfer
Wise
Delivers the most JPY for your money
Fastest transfer
Wise
Delivers in Instant to 2 days
Cash pickup
Remitly
Widest cash pickup network
Bank transfer
Wise
Best rate for bank deposit to Japan
How to send money to Japan
Sending money to Japan is straightforward with the right provider. Here's how it works in 3 simple steps.
Step 1
Enter your transfer details
Choose how much GBP you want to send, compare providers above, and pick the one offering the best JPY amount for your transfer to Japan.
Step 2
Add your recipient
Enter your recipient's details in Japan — you'll need their bank account number. Most providers verify details instantly.
Step 3
Send & track your transfer
Pay using bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. Track your money in real-time until it arrives — bank deposit typically takes 1–2 business days.
What you need to send money to Japan
Make sure you have these details from your recipient before starting your transfer.
Full name
Recipient's name in katakana or romaji as registered with the bank
Bank account number
7-digit Japanese bank account number
Example: 1234567
Branch code
3-digit branch code identifying the specific bank branch
Example: 001
Bank code
4-digit bank code (e.g. 0001 for Mizuho, 0005 for Mitsubishi UFJ)
Example: 0001
Account type
Ordinary (futsu) or current (toza) account type
Note: Japan does not use the IBAN system. Japanese bank transfers require a 4-digit bank code, 3-digit branch code, and 7-digit account number. The recipient's name must be in katakana — romaji (Latin letters) may cause delays if the bank requires katakana matching.
Transfer examples: GBP to JPY
See how much your recipient would get for common transfer amounts.
Send £500
ProviderFeeReceives
Wise
213.12 · Instant to 2 days
XE
211.86 · 1-4 business days
OFX
211.54 · 1-3 business days
TorFX
211.01 · 1-3 business days
Remitly
208.90 · Minutes to 3-5 days
PayPal
202.46 · Instant to 3 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
Wise£10.47213.12¥104,329Instant to 2 days
XE£14.81211.86¥102,7951-4 business days
OFX£18.46211.54¥101,8671-3 business days
TorFX£24.97211.01¥100,2361-3 business days
Remitly£50.42208.90¥93,918Minutes to 3-5 days
PayPal£133.06202.46¥74,292Instant to 3 days
Send £1,000
ProviderFeeReceives
Wise
213.12 · Instant to 2 days
XE
211.86 · 1-4 business days
OFX
211.54 · 1-3 business days
TorFX
211.01 · 1-3 business days
Remitly
208.90 · Minutes to 3-5 days
PayPal
202.46 · Instant to 3 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
Wise£10.47213.12¥210,889Instant to 2 days
XE£14.81211.86¥208,7261-4 business days
OFX£18.46211.54¥207,6381-3 business days
TorFX£24.97211.01¥205,7421-3 business days
Remitly£50.42208.90¥198,368Minutes to 3-5 days
PayPal£133.06202.46¥175,525Instant to 3 days
Send £5,000
ProviderFeeReceives
Wise
213.12 · Instant to 2 days
XE
211.86 · 1-4 business days
OFX
211.54 · 1-3 business days
TorFX
211.01 · 1-3 business days
Remitly
208.90 · Minutes to 3-5 days
PayPal
202.46 · Instant to 3 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
Wise£20.94213.12¥1,061,139Instant to 2 days
XE£29.61211.86¥1,053,0421-4 business days
OFX£36.92211.54¥1,049,9071-3 business days
TorFX£49.94211.01¥1,044,5151-3 business days
Remitly£100.84208.90¥1,023,438Minutes to 3-5 days
PayPal£266.12202.46¥958,442Instant to 3 days
How much does it cost to send money from United Kingdom to Japan?
Transfer fees from United Kingdom to Japan vary by provider. Specialist services charge £0–10 per transfer, while banks charge £25–50 plus a 2–5% exchange rate markup. The exchange rate markup is usually the bigger cost — always compare the total JPY your recipient receives, not just the advertised fee.
Understanding the total cost
The true cost of a money transfer has two components:
Transfer fee
The upfront charge — typically £0–£10 with specialist providers.
Exchange rate markup
The hidden cost — the difference between the provider's rate and the mid-market rate (213.1204).
Ways to send money to Japan
Choose how you want to pay for your transfer. Each payment method has different costs and speeds.
Bank deposit via the Zengin (Japanese Bankers Association) payment system is the primary method. Japan's banking system is highly reliable but can be strict about name matching — ensure the recipient's name exactly matches their bank records.
Bank Transfer
Low costSpeed: 1–3 business days
Usually the cheapest option — lowest fees and no card processing charges
Debit Card
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Fast and convenient — small card processing fee applies
Credit Card
Higher costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Fastest option but highest fees — card issuer may charge cash advance fee
Apple Pay
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
How can my recipient receive money in Japan?
Your recipient in Japan can receive money through these delivery methods. The best option depends on their location and preferences.
Bank Deposit
1–2 business days
Direct transfer to any Japanese bank account via the Zengin system. The standard method for domestic and international transfers.
WiseRemitlyWorldRemitWestern Union+1 more
Cash Pickup
Minutes
Collect cash at convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart), post offices, and agent locations across Japan.
Western UnionMoneyGram
What are the transfer limits and regulations for Japan?
Important rules and requirements to know before sending money to Japan.
Regulatory body
Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan
Inbound transfer limits
Transfers over JPY 1,000,000 (approx. $7,000) must be reported to the Bank of Japan
Documentation you may need
- Sender's government-issued photo ID
- Purpose of remittance for amounts over JPY 1,000,000
- Recipient's residence card (zairyu card) for non-Japanese nationals
Important things to know
- Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act requires reporting of large cross-border transactions.
- The Zengin system processes transfers on business days only — weekend transfers settle on Monday.
- Japanese banks are strict about name matching — katakana names must match the account holder exactly.
- My Number (individual number) may be requested for tax reporting on large inbound transfers.
How long does it take to send money to Japan?
Most transfers from United Kingdom to Japan arrive within 1–2 business days with specialist providers. Bank wires take 3–5 business days. Some providers offer instant or same-day delivery to Japan for a small premium.
FastExpress delivery
- WiseInstant to 2 days
- RemitlyMinutes to 3-5 days
- PayPalInstant to 3 days
Standard delivery
- XE1-4 business days
- OFX1-3 business days
- TorFX1-3 business days
- Regency FXSame day to 2 business days
Popular banks in Japan
These are the most commonly used banks for receiving international transfers in Japan.
BankSWIFT/BICNotes
MUFG Bank (Mitsubishi UFJ)
BOTKJPJT
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
SMBCJPJT
Mizuho Bank
MHCBJPJT
Japan Post Bank (Yucho)
JABORJPJ
Resona Bank
DIWAJPJT
Rakuten Bank
RAKTJPJT
Common questions about sending money from United Kingdom to Japan
What is the cheapest way to send money from United Kingdom to Japan?
The cheapest option changes daily based on exchange rates. Use our comparison table above to see today's rates from every provider. Specialist services like Wise, Remitly, and OFX consistently offer better value than banks.
How long does it take to send money from United Kingdom to Japan?
Most specialist providers deliver to Japan within 1–2 business days. Some offer instant delivery for certain payment methods. Bank wires typically take 3–5 business days.
How much does it cost to send £500 from United Kingdom to Japan?
Costs depend on the provider's fee and exchange rate markup. Compare all providers in our table above to see exactly how much JPY your recipient would receive from a £500 transfer today.
Can I send money from United Kingdom to Japan online?
Yes, all the providers we compare support online transfers from United Kingdom to Japan. Most also offer mobile apps. You can typically pay by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.
Is it better to use a bank or a money transfer service to send money to Japan?
Money transfer services are almost always cheaper. Banks typically charge £25–50 per wire plus a 2–5% exchange rate markup. Specialist providers charge £0–10 with markups under 1%, saving you significantly on every transfer to Japan.
Everything about sending money to Japan
Recipient requirements, delivery methods, regulations, popular banks, and more.
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