Revolut Japan and Multi-Currency Alternatives

Revolut Japan gives residents an FX-and-spending-card account with monthly allowances, while OFX, Currencies Direct, Western Union, and MoneyGram cover larger transfers and cash-pickup corridors.¹²³⁴⁵ The right fit depends on transfer size, payout method, and whether the recipient holds a bank account.

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, Western Union Japan, OFX, Currencies Direct, and MoneyGram official sites.

Overview

Revolut Japan combines currency holding, exchange, international transfers, and a Visa spending card in one app.¹ It operates through REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, Inc., a registered funds transfer provider, not as a full domestic bank for payroll and bill debit.¹⁶

The alternatives in this article fill different needs. OFX and Currencies Direct handle bank-to-bank transfers with quoted rates and timing tools, while Western Union and MoneyGram offer cash pickup where a bank account cannot receive funds.³⁴²⁵

Who this comparison is for

This comparison is for heavier multi-currency users in Japan, including frequent travelers, remote earners paid in foreign currency, and residents sending regular family support.¹³² Occasional small senders with a single corridor may find a single transfer app sufficient without the broker and pickup detail here.

Revolut Japan in Practice

Revolut Japan is an integrated FX-and-spending-card model with freemium tiers. The free plan covers ordinary use within allowances, while paid plans remove caps that heavier users hit first.⁶

Account setup and Japan registration

Revolut serves Japan through REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, Inc., registered as a Type 2 Funds Transfer Service Provider (Kanto Finance Bureau No. 00060) and member of the Japan Payment Service Association.¹⁶ The 資金移動業者 (shikin idō gyōsha, "funds transfer service provider") category is the non-bank remittance registration, distinct from a banking license.¹²

The same entity acts as a bank agent for Minna Bank, Ltd. for yen-denominated ordinary and savings deposits (Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Gindai) 538).¹⁶ Submitting a My Number is mandatory before sending or receiving international transfers and before overseas ATM withdrawals (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN).¹

Only balances added by direct debit, bank transfer, or receipt from other Revolut customers can be used for transfers and ATM withdrawals (as of 2026-09-07).¹ Card top-ups are spending-only, so a card-funded balance cannot later be withdrawn or remitted.

Revolut Japan does not claim a domestic payroll, 振込 (furikomi, "domestic bank transfer"), or automatic-debit role on its official pages.¹ Resident guides describe the same limit, noting salary receipt and bill debit still need a Japanese bank account (as of 2026-09-07).⁷

Plans, exchange limits, and weekend terms

Japan lists three plans: Standard at ¥0, Premium at ¥980 per month or ¥9,800 per year, and Metal at ¥1,980 per month or ¥19,800 per year (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN).⁶ The table below summarizes the allowances that matter for multi-currency use.

Plan	Monthly fee	Free FX allowance	Weekend exchange add-on	As of
Standard	¥0	¥300,000 per month	1 percent	2026-09-076
Premium	¥980 or ¥9,800 per year	Unlimited	No add-on	2026-09-076
Metal	¥1,980 or ¥19,800 per year	Unlimited	No add-on	2026-09-076

Currency exchange outside forex market hours means Friday 17:00 to Sunday 18:00 US Eastern time (as of 2026-09-07).⁶ Standard exchanges in that window carry the 1 percent add-on, while Premium and Metal carry none.

The account holds 35+ currencies with fees shown in app (as of 2026-09-07).¹ Send coverage is stated as 200+ countries and regions (as of 2026-09-07).¹

Revolut lists international transfers as Free on all three plans, with intermediary fees possibly applying (as of 2026-09-07).⁶ The delivered amount can therefore fall below the sent amount after a SWIFT intermediary deduction.

Time larger exchanges for weekdays on Standard

Weekend and over-allowance fees stack on Standard, so weekday exchanges within the monthly allowance keep the stated rate intact.⁶

Spending card and ATM use

Card payments carry 0 percent overseas administration fees on all three Japan plans (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN).⁶ This applies to card spending, not to cash withdrawals or transfers.

Plan	Free ATM allowance per month	Above-allowance fee	As of
Standard	¥25,000	2 percent per transaction	2026-09-076
Premium	¥50,000	2 percent per transaction	2026-09-076
Metal	¥100,000	2 percent per transaction	2026-09-076

The ATM operator may add its own fee even within the free allowance (as of 2026-09-07).⁶ My Number submission is required before overseas ATM withdrawals.¹

Large Transfers Through OFX and Currencies Direct

Broker-style providers quote a customer rate against an interbank reference and move funds bank to bank. They suit planned or larger transfers where timing and a locked rate matter more than instant card spending.³⁴ Japan-resident eligibility for these global providers must be confirmed before planning around them, since one secondary source reports OFX is currently unable to serve long-term Japan residents (limitation: secondary source).⁸

How broker pricing differs from app FX

OFX covers 170+ countries across 50+ currencies with customer rates described as bank-beating and low or no transfer fees (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with OFX).³ The margin sits inside the quoted customer rate rather than as a separate FX line.

OFX states no enforced maximum transfer amount (as of 2026-09-07).³ Payout timing is typically 1 to 2 business days after OFX receives sender funds, varying by destination country (as of 2026-09-07).³ Tokyo Cheapo reports OFX is currently unable to offer services to long-term residents of Japan while assisting clients residing elsewhere, so Japan-based senders must confirm eligibility directly (limitation: secondary source).⁸

Currencies Direct covers 120+ countries in 40+ currencies with no transfer fees on most transfers (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with Currencies Direct).⁴ Its rate consists of a base or reference rate plus a variable margin, which is its return for the exchange.⁴

Provider	Stated coverage	Fee model	Typical timing	As of
OFX	170+ countries, 50+ currencies	Customer-rate margin; low or no transfer fees	1–2 business days	2026-09-073
Currencies Direct	120+ countries, 40+ currencies	Base rate plus variable margin; no fees on most transfers	Varies; agreed rate is fixed at confirmation	2026-09-074

Broker quotes lock while app rates float

Currencies Direct fixes the agreed rate at confirmation, and OFX locks the customer rate when transfer details are confirmed, which helps when moving a known amount on a known date.⁴³

When a large-transfer route earns its extra steps

A broker route earns its extra onboarding when the transfer is large, scheduled, or repeated. Forward contracts, limit orders, and rate alerts let senders target or fix a rate rather than accept the minute-by-minute app rate.⁴³

OFX onboarding includes identity verification with contact details and possible photo ID and proof of address, plus a verification call before the first transfer.³ Currencies Direct registration is free online or by phone with possible ID or address documentation.⁴

Both firms offer phone-based specialist support, with OFX stating 24/7 availability and Currencies Direct using an account-manager model.³⁴ Senders who want to discuss timing or corridor specifics can use that channel before committing funds. Japan-based senders confirm account eligibility for their residency status first, since the fetched OFX and Currencies Direct pages are global pages without Japan-specific onboarding terms.³⁴⁸

Cash Pickup Through Western Union and MoneyGram

Cash pickup serves recipients who cannot receive to a bank account. The sender pays from Japan by bank transfer or convenience-store payment, and the recipient collects cash at an agent location abroad.²

How cash pickup works from Japan

Western Union Japan KK offers its online service as a Type II Funds Transfer Service Provider (Kanto Finance Bureau No. 00039).² Send channels include an online profile, the mobile app, and in-person agent locations.²

Payment options from Japan include bank transfer and convenience-store (konbini) payment.² Registration needs one ID: the 在留カード (zairyū kādo, "residence card") for foreign migrants, or a driver license, My Number card, or Japanese passport for Japanese nationals.²

Payout choice includes bank account, agent-location cash pickup, and mobile wallet, with availability varying by receiver country (as of 2026-09-07; confirm current figures with Western Union Japan).² The per-transfer send limit is up to ¥1 million to selected countries (as of 2026-09-07).²

MoneyGram Japan offers send and receive coverage in Japan with cash pickup through partner networks.⁵ Its Japan page names SBI Remit, JRF, and enRemit in the Japan pickup context (as of 2026-09-07).⁵ Outbound-from-Japan pricing and per-corridor payout lists require the send-time estimator, since the fetched Japan page centers on receiving and agent location lookup.⁵

Confirm payout method before funding the transfer

Bank, pickup, and wallet availability differ by destination, so a corridor that supports bank payout may not support pickup and vice versa.²⁵

Corridors where pickup matters most

Pickup matters where the recipient lacks a bank account or prefers cash collection. The content-plan scope names the Philippines, Vietnam, and similar family-remittance corridors for this reason.²⁵

Western Union moves money from Japan to over 200 countries and territories (as of 2026-09-07).² Tokyo Cheapo notes the service has operated in Japan since 2010 and that agent-center pickup helps where the recipient has no bank account, while exchange costs still apply (limitation: secondary source).⁸

Pickup availability, fees, FX rates, and taxes vary by brand, channel, and location.² Always check the estimator for the specific destination rather than assuming one corridor matches another.

How the Options Compare

The table below compares the five routes on rate basis, fees, coverage, payout, size fit, and Japan-side limits. Figures carry as-of dates because plan allowances and corridor terms change on provider schedules.

Dimension	Revolut Japan	OFX	Currencies Direct	Western Union Japan	MoneyGram Japan
Rate basis	Competitive in-app rates (as of 2026-09-07)16	Customer rate vs interbank reference (as of 2026-09-07)3	Base rate plus variable margin (as of 2026-09-07)4	FX margin plus transfer fee, varies by channel (as of 2026-09-07)2	Confirm at send time (as of 2026-09-07)5
Stated transfer fee	¥0 Revolut-side; intermediary fees may apply (as of 2026-09-07)6	Low or no transfer fees (as of 2026-09-07)3	No fees on most transfers (as of 2026-09-07)4	Varies; first-online-transfer ¥0 note for select regions (as of 2026-09-07)2	Confirm at send time (as of 2026-09-07)5
Coverage	200+ countries/regions; 35+ currencies held (as of 2026-09-07)1	170+ countries; 50+ currencies (as of 2026-09-07)3	120+ countries; 40+ currencies (as of 2026-09-07)4	200+ countries/territories (as of 2026-09-07)2	Japan send/receive; partner pickup network (as of 2026-09-07)5
Payout	Revolut-to-Revolut plus bank transfer via SWIFT1	Bank account payout3	Bank transfer payout4	Bank, cash pickup, mobile wallet per corridor2	Cash pickup via partners per corridor5
Size fit	Within monthly allowances; ¥300,000 Standard FX cap (as of 2026-09-07)6	No enforced maximum (as of 2026-09-07)3	Large and regular transfers with manager support4	Up to ¥1M per transfer, selected countries (as of 2026-09-07)2	Per-corridor limits; confirm at send time5
Japan limit	My Number required; no domestic payroll claim1	Bank-transfer funding3	Bank-transfer or debit-card funding4	Residence-card registration; konbini pay option2	Agent locator model5

Comparison table

The table above is the comparison. Use it to match transfer size against allowances and payout method against recipient needs. No row is ranked above another; each fits a different condition.¹³⁴²⁵

Corridor recommendations

The chart below maps recipient conditions to the route type that fits, as described with citations in each section.¹³²

For bank-to-bank transfers in major currencies where the recipient holds an account, app FX within allowances or broker bank payout both apply.¹⁶³ The choice turns on amount relative to the ¥300,000 Standard FX allowance and whether rate-timing tools are needed (as of 2026-09-07).⁶⁴

For large planned transfers, broker quoting with forward or limit tools applies where fixing or targeting a rate matters, subject to confirming Japan-resident eligibility first.³⁴⁸ Verification calls and documentation add lead time, so start onboarding before the transfer date.

For recipients without a bank account in the Philippines, Vietnam, or similar corridors, cash-pickup routes apply; confirm the specific destination payout option before sending.²⁵ Per-corridor limits and wallet availability change, so the estimator at send time controls.

Good to know

Weekend exchanges carry a surcharge on Standard

Standard exchanges outside market hours (Friday 17:00 to Sunday 18:00 US Eastern) add 1 percent, while Premium and Metal add nothing (as of 2026-09-07).⁶ Moving a larger conversion to a weekday keeps the stated rate within the free allowance.

Card-funded balances cannot be withdrawn or remitted

Only direct-debit, bank-transfer, or Revolut-received funds work for ATM withdrawals and transfers; card top-ups are spending-only (as of 2026-09-07).¹ Topping up by card before a planned remittance leaves funds that cannot complete that remittance.

The stated transfer fee is not always the full cost

Revolut lists transfers as Free but notes intermediary fees may apply, and Western Union notes it earns from FX with fees varying by channel.⁶¹² Compare by delivered amount to the recipient, not by the fee line alone.

A Japanese bank account is still needed alongside Revolut

Revolut Japan claims no domestic payroll, furikomi, or direct-debit function, and resident guides report the same gap.¹⁷ Salary receipt, rent auto-debit, and utility transfers still run through a Japanese bank account.

Pickup must be confirmed per destination country

Bank, pickup, and wallet availability plus the ¥1 million per-transfer figure are conditioned to selected countries (as of 2026-09-07).² MoneyGram corridor specifics likewise require the send-time estimator rather than generalizing from one corridor.⁵

See also

• Japan's Banking System: The Five Bank Tiers Explained
• Japan Post Bank for Foreigners: Opening a Yucho Account
• Online Bank Alternatives for Foreign Residents
• Bank Account Opening Documents in Japan
• Sony Bank's Multi-Currency Account
• Shinsei GoRemit and Bank-Wire Alternatives

References

Footnotes

1. REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, Inc. "Revolut Japan homepage (EN-JP)." https://www.revolut.com/en-JP/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³

2. Western Union Japan KK. "Western Union: Send and Receive Money in Japan." https://www.westernunion.com/jp/en/home.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶

3. OFX (OzForex Limited). "Send Money Online | International Money Transfers." https://www.ofx.com/en-au/send-money/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³

4. Currencies Direct. "Currencies Direct homepage (EN-GB)." https://www.currenciesdirect.com/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰

5. MoneyGram. "Send and Receive Money in Japan." https://www.moneygram.com/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶

6. REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, Inc. "Compare Revolut Plans | Revolut Japan." https://www.revolut.com/en-JP/our-pricing-plans/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³

7. Japan Living Life. "Using Revolut in Japan as a Foreign Resident: Full Guide." https://japanlivinglife.com/articles/revolut-japan-foreigners-guide ↩ ↩²

8. Tokyo Cheapo (Chris Kirkland). "How to Transfer Money to Japan: Remittance Services, Banks and More." https://tokyocheapo.com/business/financial/transfer-money-to-japan/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵