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Multiple-Account Strategy for Foreign Residents

The Multiple-Account Strategy for Foreign Residents is the documented pattern by which long-tenure foreign residents split everyday banking across several Japanese banks by function.123 No single account covers nationwide cash access, cheap international wires, card approval, and a mortgage relationship at once, so residents assign each job to the bank that handles it best.

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at each bank's own site or the Financial Services Agency site.

Overview​

Japan's banks differ more by role than by quality, so mid-tenure residents stop asking which bank is best and start asking which bank does which job.123 The standard stack has four slots: Japan Post Bank for cash access and salary deposit, SBI Shinsei Bank or Sony Bank for international wires and foreign currency, Rakuten Bank for card access and points, and an optional megabank for a mortgage or corporate relationship.

The map below shows how the four slots divide the work.

Account rules and fee schedules are set per bank nationally, so this strategy works the same in every prefecture.123 Strictness at account opening still varies by branch and by bank, so confirm screening practice with the specific branch you visit.

TermReadingMeaning
ゆうちょ銀行Yūcho GinkōJapan Post Bank, the banking arm spun out of the postal savings system1
総合口座sōgō kōzaJapan Post Bank's standard combined ordinary-plus-time-deposit account1
外貨預金gaika yokinForeign-currency deposit2
給与受取kyūyo uketoriSalary receipt by direct deposit4
未利用口座管理手数料miriyō kōza kanri tesūryōDormant-account management fee charged by some banks5
休眠預金等kyūmin yokin-tōDormant deposits under the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act6

Japan Post Bank: Cash Access and Salary Deposit​

Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行, Yūcho Ginkō, "Japan Post Bank") is the nationwide counter-and-post-office network most residents open first and keep longest.1 Its combined network totals 23,494 service locations (as of 2025-03-31; confirm current figures with Japan Post Bank).7

Why it anchors the stack​

Japan Post Bank asks each customer to hold one account per person, so the Yucho account is a single anchor rather than a set of spares.1 Opening is available at post-office and bank counters with a multilingual application form, and foreign applicants present their 在留カード (zairyū kādo, "residence card") plus a seal.1

Japan Post Bank allows only one personal account per customer

A second personal account cannot be opened while one exists, though business-use accounts are a separate consultation.1 Plan the rest of the stack at other banks instead of asking Yucho for a spare.

Salary and pension receipt is a standard supported use, which makes Yucho the natural payroll account while later accounts handle wires and cards.8 The bank's own opening page cites about 24,300 Japan Post ATMs (as of 2024-09-30; confirm current figures with Japan Post Bank).1

Limits of a Yucho-only setup​

Counter and Japan Post Direct international remittance ended in August 2025, and the replacement is the web-based Yucho international service launched in July 2025 for personal customers only.9 Outbound transfers are capped below ¥1 million per transaction, up to ¥2 million per day and ¥5 million per month (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with Japan Post Bank).9

Using that service requires My Number notification, registered across all of the customer's Japan Post Bank accounts.9 Card options are limited to the JP BANK card lineup and the Yucho debit rather than a bank-issued credit card in the account bundle (as of 2026-09-06).8

SBI Shinsei or Sony Bank: Wires and Foreign Currency​

This slot covers the international leg: sending money abroad and holding foreign currency. Residents pick SBI Shinsei Bank, Sony Bank, or in some cases both, without either bank being ranked above the other.

SBI Shinsei Bank role​

SBI Shinsei Bank's former GoRemit overseas service ended on October 20, 2025, and the bank now introduces an SBI Remit international service instead.10

GoRemit ended in October 2025, so older guides mislead

Guides that still describe a bank-native GoRemit English wire UI are out of date.10 The current path is the SBI Remit service, capped at ¥1 million per transfer and requiring a separate SBI Remit application (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with SBI Shinsei Bank).10

Domestic costs are modest. The bank charges no monthly account-management fee (as of 2026-07-22; confirm current figures with SBI Shinsei Bank).2 Other-bank transfers by internet banking are free a set number of times monthly by program stage, from 1 per month at Standard to 10 at Platinum and Diamond (as of 2026-07-22).2

Partner-convenience-store ATM withdrawals are free at least 5 times monthly, with higher stages unlimited (as of 2026-09-06).11 Inbound foreign-currency receipt carries an administrative fee such as ¥2,000 for yen receipts or USD 13.00 (as of 2026-07-22; confirm current figures with SBI Shinsei Bank).2

Counter outward foreign-currency transfers to other domestic banks cost ¥9,000 per transfer (as of 2026-07-22).2

Sony Bank role​

Sony Bank is an online-oriented bank built around multi-currency deposits, with a Visa debit linked directly to the account (Sony Bank WALLET) and a Club S preferential program covering foreign-exchange costs and transfer fees.12 The holding-currency side of the stack is its natural role: keep foreign currency on deposit and spend from it by card, rather than routing every transfer through a wire service.12

Sony Bank operates with minimal physical branches, so a stopped wire or dispute cannot be resolved by walking into a nearby branch.12 Residents who value a counter conversation for high-value transfers keep that expectation on the Yucho or megabank side of the stack.

Picking one or holding both​

Residents who remit rarely can cover the international leg with one of the two banks. Residents who both receive foreign currency and send abroad sometimes keep both, using one for receipt and one for sending.

The deciding question is directional: which way does your money mostly move. Sending-heavy flows point to the SBI Remit path with its ¥1 million per-transfer cap (as of 2026-09-06),10 while holding-heavy flows point to the multi-currency deposit side.12

Rakuten Bank: Card Access and Points Ecosystem​

Rakuten Bank fills the card-approval and ecosystem slot. It passed 18 million deposit accounts (as of 2026-03-12; confirm current figures with Rakuten Group).13

The bundled-card path​

Rakuten Bank offers a cash card with an integrated Rakuten Card credit function, applied for together with its own new-member campaign.14 Practitioner sources describe this bundled application as a workaround some foreign residents use after standalone credit-card rejections, though the bank publishes no approval-rate figures.

The application itself is online, free, and requires no seal.14 Rejected applicants lose little more than time, which is part of why this slot sits third in the stack rather than first.

Ecosystem fit and its limits​

Transfers between Rakuten Bank accounts are free, while transfers to other banks cost ¥145 where no free count applies (as of the 2021-10-01 schedule, current 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with Rakuten Bank).3 The Happy Program grants up to 3 free other-bank transfers and up to 7 free ATM uses monthly at the top Super VIP stage (as of 2026-09-06).4

Stages run from Basic through Advanced, Premium, and VIP to Super VIP, keyed to balances from ¥100,000 to ¥3,000,000 or transaction counts from 5 to 30 (as of 2026-09-06).4 Designating the account for 給与受取 (kyūyo uketori, "salary receipt by direct deposit") makes other-bank transfers free 3 times the following month at every stage (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with Rakuten Bank).4

Route salary to Rakuten Bank when transfer volume is high

Salary receipt unlocks 3 free other-bank transfers the next month regardless of stage.4 Residents who pay rent and cards from this account use those free transfers before touching the paid ¥145 ones (as of 2026-09-06).

Like other online-only banks, Rakuten Bank has no meaningful physical branch network for in-person dispute handling.14 Keep the Yucho account for anything that might need a counter.

Optional Megabank: Mortgage and Corporate Relationship​

The fourth slot is optional. MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho cover mortgage lending, corporate banking, and in-person high-value operations that smaller and online-only banks do not match at branch counters. Most residents never need this slot for daily banking.

What only a megabank covers​

The realistic trigger is a mortgage application, especially with permanent residency, or a corporate-banking relationship for a business owner. Mortgage-prerequisite detail belongs to the housing pillar's Mortgages for Foreign Residents; this article states only the relationship role.

A megabank account opened years before a mortgage application also builds the transaction history some loan desks ask about. That history argument cuts both ways, since an idle account can attract the dormancy fees described below.

Why most residents skip it for daily banking​

Megabank counters commonly mean longer queues and heavier documentation than the other three slots, a friction resident guides report consistently though no bank publishes it as policy. Confirm documentation with the specific branch before visiting. Online banks and Japan Post Bank open faster for the same daily-banking needs.

An idle megabank account can charge you every year

MUFG Bank debits a ¥1,320 annual dormant-account management fee on ordinary accounts opened on or after July 1, 2021 that go unused for 2 years or more (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with MUFG Bank).5 Paper passbook use on accounts opened on or after April 2022 adds ¥550 per year (as of 2026-09-06).5 Close what you do not use.

Cost of Keeping Multiple Accounts​

Three of the four slots cost nothing to hold. The exception is an unused megabank account, which is the only slot that can bill you for inactivity.

Monthly fees and minimums​

Japan Post Bank, SBI Shinsei Bank, and Rakuten Bank publish no monthly account-maintenance fee on standard personal accounts (as of 2026-09-06; confirm current figures with each bank).123 Costs in the stack come from per-use transfer and ATM fees above the free counts, not from holding the accounts.

ItemAmountAs ofNotes
SBI Shinsei account-management feeFree2026-07-222No monthly charge
Rakuten other-bank transfer without free count¥1452021-10-01 schedule3Happy Program grants up to 3 free per month
Rakuten Happy Program free ATM uses, top stage7 per month2026-09-064Super VIP stage
MUFG dormant-account management fee¥1,320 per year2026-09-065Accounts opened July 2021 or later, unused 2 plus years
MUFG paper-passbook fee¥550 per year2026-09-065Accounts opened April 2022 or later

The figures above follow each bank's published schedule taken together as of September 2026; confirm current figures with each bank before relying on a threshold. Per-use fees above the free counts are the real maintenance cost of the stack.

Inactivity fees and dormant-account handling​

Bank-level dormancy fees and the statutory dormant-deposit framework are two different mechanisms. MUFG's ¥1,320 annual fee (as of 2026-09-06) is a bank contract term that shrinks the balance.5

休眠預金等 (kyūmin yokin-tō, "dormant deposits under the Dormant Deposits Utilization Act") covers deposits untouched for 10 years or more, limited to post-January-2009 movements.6 Those balances transfer to public-interest use but remain withdrawable at the original institution at any time with no deadline.6 Foreign-currency deposits and certain purpose-bound savings are excluded from that framework.6

Consolidating Accounts Before You Leave Japan​

Departure reverses the stack: settle domestic obligations first, move the money out, then close the accounts. The sequence below keeps autopays alive until the final wire clears.

What to close and what to keep to the end​

Settle salary, autopays, and any tax or pension debits first, send the final outbound wire, and close accounts last. Keeping one domestic account open until final bills clear avoids failed autopays after closure.

Close the mortgage-linked and foreign-currency accounts once their balances read zero and no further debits can post. The payroll or autopay account stays open to the end, even when it is not the account you use most.

Closure mechanics​

Long-untouched balances are a counter procedure with passbook or cash card plus identity documents, and generally take longer than an ordinary withdrawal.6 Per-bank closure steps for each of the four banks differ, so confirm documents and timing with each bank before flying.

Confirm each bank's closure path before your final month

Remote closure from abroad is harder than closing before departure, and long-dormant withdrawals already require a counter visit domestically.6 Put closure appointments on the calendar alongside the moving-out notice.

Good to know​

One bank rarely covers cash, wires, and card approval at once​

Treating the first account as the forever account is the costliest assumption in this article. Japan Post Bank anchors cash access and payroll but moved international sending to a capped web service under ¥1 million per transfer (as of 2026-09-06),9 while card approval and foreign-currency holding sit more naturally at Rakuten Bank and Sony Bank.1214

New-arrival screening follows you to the second account​

Opening two or three accounts in arrival week can mean hitting the same screening twice. Strictness is a per-branch practice rather than a one-time gate, so each additional application can repeat the documentation and residency-period questions.

Staging later openings after payroll starts reduces repeat friction. Confirm requirements with each branch before applying.

Dormant balances do not close themselves​

Leaving a megabank account idle can mean a ¥1,320 annual debit (as of 2026-09-06),5 while statutory dormant deposits untouched for 10 or more years transfer to public-interest use yet remain withdrawable.6 Neither mechanism closes the account. Close what you do not use instead of assuming silence ends it.

Closing from abroad is harder than closing before you fly​

Flying out with accounts still open and trying to close remotely is the departure version of the same mistake. Counter procedures with identity documents apply even domestically for long-untouched balances,6 and per-bank remote-closure rules are stricter. Finish closures before departure week.

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. 株式会社ゆうちょ銀行 (Japan Post Bank). 「口座を開く」. https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/kaisetu/kat_index.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  2. 株式会社SBI新生銀行 (SBI Shinsei Bank). 「主なサービス・手数料のご案内（個人のお客さま用）」, 2026-07-22現在. https://www.sbishinseibank.co.jp/procedure/fee_list.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  3. 楽天銀行株式会社 (Rakuten Bank). 「振込手数料・支払手数料：手数料一覧（個人口座）」, 2021-10-01以降現在まで（税込）. https://www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/charge/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  4. 楽天銀行株式会社 (Rakuten Bank). 「ハッピープログラム」. https://www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/happyprogram/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. 株式会社三菱UFJ銀行 (MUFG Bank). 「その他手数料」. https://www.bk.mufg.jp/tesuuryou/sonota.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  6. 金融庁 (Financial Services Agency). 「長い間、お取引のない預金等はありませんか？」 (dormant-deposit Q&A). https://www.fsa.go.jp/policy/kyuminyokin/kyuminyokin.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  7. 株式会社ゆうちょ銀行 (Japan Post Bank). 「統合報告書・ディスクロージャー誌（資料編）2025」. https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/ir/financial/pdf/2025_document.pdf ↩

  8. 株式会社ゆうちょ銀行 (Japan Post Bank). Top page (product lineup: JP BANK card, debit, loan reference). https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/ ↩ ↩2

  9. 株式会社ゆうちょ銀行 (Japan Post Bank). 「国際送金」. https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/kojin/sokin/kokusou/kj_sk_ks_index.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  10. 株式会社SBI新生銀行 (SBI Shinsei Bank). 「海外送金サービス」. https://www.sbishinseibank.co.jp/service/overseas_remittance/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  11. 株式会社SBI新生銀行 (SBI Shinsei Bank). Top page (account-opening flow, Step-up Program and campaign reference). https://www.sbishinseibank.co.jp/ ↩

  12. ソニー銀行株式会社 (Sony Bank). Official site top (existence and service lineup reference only; line-item content unconfirmed, see Open issues). https://www.sonybank.jp/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  13. 楽天グループ株式会社 (Rakuten Group, Inc.) press release. 「楽天銀行、預金口座数が1,800万口座を突破」. https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/news/press/2026/0313_01.html ↩

  14. 楽天銀行株式会社 (Rakuten Bank). Top page (account-opening flow, no-seal application, service lineup reference). https://www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4