Sending money home is one of the most routine and important things Filipinos in Japan do. Whether it is monthly support for family, payment for a house being built, school fees, or emergency help, remittance is part of life here. The question is always the same: how do you send the most money home while paying as little as possible in fees and getting a decent exchange rate?
This guide covers the main options available in Japan, what each one costs in practice, and what to watch for so you do not lose money on fees or a bad rate.
What to Look at Beyond the Fee
Most people focus on the transfer fee when comparing remittance options. That is a mistake, or at least an incomplete approach. The fee is only part of what you pay.
The bigger cost is often hidden inside the exchange rate. Every service that converts your yen to pesos sets its own rate. The difference between a competitive rate and a poor one can easily add up to more than the transfer fee itself, especially on larger amounts.
Before sending, always check:
The mid-market rate: This is the real exchange rate between JPY and PHP at that moment. You can check it on Google, XE.com, or Wise’s website. This is the rate with no markup added.
The rate being offered: The rate your remittance service gives you will almost always be lower (meaning you get fewer pesos) than the mid-market rate. The gap between the two is the hidden cost.
The total pesos received: Many services now show you exactly how many pesos the recipient will receive before you confirm the transfer. Use this number, not the headline fee, to compare options.
A service charging zero fees but offering a poor exchange rate is often more expensive than a service charging a flat 500 yen fee with a competitive rate.
Option 1: Bank Wire Transfer
Every major Japanese bank can send international wire transfers to the Philippines. Japan Post Bank, MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho, Resona, and others all offer this service.
How it works: You go to the bank branch or, at some banks, initiate the transfer online or through the ATM. You provide the recipient’s bank name, branch, account number, and SWIFT code. The money arrives in the recipient’s Philippine bank account, usually within one to three business days.
Cost: Bank wire transfers are generally the most expensive option. Fees typically range from 2,500 yen to 4,000 yen per transfer, and the exchange rate applied is often significantly worse than the mid-market rate. On top of that, the receiving bank in the Philippines may charge its own receiving fee of around 200 to 500 pesos.
When it makes sense: For large transfers, typically over 300,000 yen, where the flat fee becomes a smaller percentage of the total amount. Bank transfers are also the most straightforward option for recipients who want funds deposited directly into a Philippine bank account with no additional steps.
Japan Post Bank: Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) is worth a specific mention because it has a dedicated international remittance service and is widely accessible across Japan including rural areas where other options may be limited. Transfers to the Philippines typically take two to four business days. The fee is around 2,500 yen per transfer.
Option 2: Dedicated Remittance Services
This is where most Filipinos in Japan do their padala. Dedicated remittance companies specialize in international money transfers and tend to offer better rates and lower fees than banks.
Western Union One of the oldest and most widely recognized names in remittance. Western Union has agent locations across Japan including at convenience stores and dedicated counters. Recipients in the Philippines can receive cash at Western Union agent locations or bank deposits.
Fees vary depending on the amount and delivery method. Exchange rates are competitive but not always the best available. Check the rate on the day you send.
Remitly An app-based remittance service that has grown significantly in popularity among Filipinos in Japan. Remitly offers two speed options: Express (usually within hours) and Economy (one to three business days, lower fee). The Economy option often gives a better rate.
Recipients can receive to a Philippine bank account or via cash pickup at partner locations. Remitly is known for transparent fee and rate disclosure before you confirm, which makes comparison easy. First-time users often get a promotional rate or fee waiver.
Wise (formerly TransferWise) Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and charges a small transparent percentage fee. For many transfers, this works out cheaper overall than services with lower headline fees but worse rates. Transfers go bank to bank. Wise does not offer cash pickup.
Wise requires registration and identity verification before your first transfer. Once set up, subsequent transfers are straightforward through the app or website.
Instarem A Singapore-based money transfer service with competitive rates for JPY to PHP transfers. Works similarly to Wise, app-based with bank-to-bank transfers. Worth comparing on large amounts.
SBI Remit (SBIレミット) SBI Remit is one of the most popular remittance services among Filipinos in Japan. It is linked with SBI Shinsei Bank but operates as its own service. Transfers to the Philippines are available to major Philippine banks and to cash pickup locations through partner networks. Rates are competitive and fees are lower than most traditional bank transfers.
SBI Remit also has a dedicated Filipino customer service line, which is a practical advantage when something goes wrong or you have a question.
iRemit iRemit is a Philippine-owned remittance company with a strong presence in Japan. They have physical counters in several Japanese cities and an online platform. Rates are competitive and the company has longstanding relationships with Philippine banks. Cash pickup is available through their partner network in the Philippines.
Kabayan Remittance A remittance service focused specifically on Filipinos in Japan. Competitive rates, Japanese-based operations, and Filipino-speaking customer support. Available online and through agent locations.
Option 3: Convenience Store Remittance
Several convenience store chains in Japan have partnered with remittance services, making it possible to send money from a 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson terminal without going to a bank or dedicated remittance counter.
7-Eleven (Seven Bank) Seven Bank operates international remittance from 7-Eleven ATMs across Japan. Available 24 hours. You register online, then initiate or complete transfers at the ATM. Recipients in the Philippines can receive to a bank account or cash pickup.
FamilyMart (Famiport Terminal) Some remittance services allow you to initiate a transfer online and pay cash at the Famiport terminal inside FamilyMart. This is useful for people who prefer paying cash rather than linking a bank account.
Convenience store remittance is particularly valuable in rural areas of Japan where dedicated remittance counters may not be nearby.
Option 4: GCash Padala (GCash x Partner Services)
GCash, the dominant mobile wallet in the Philippines, has partnerships with several Japan-based remittance services that allow you to send money from Japan directly into a recipient’s GCash wallet.
This is increasingly popular because GCash recipients in the Philippines can use the funds immediately for bills, online shopping, bank transfers, and cash withdrawal at partner locations, without needing a traditional bank account.
Services that support GCash Padala from Japan include SBI Remit and others. Check the current list of partners on the GCash Padala page as this changes over time.
If your family in the Philippines is already active GCash users, sending to GCash is one of the fastest and most flexible options available.
How to Compare Before You Send
With this many options, the practical approach is to check two or three services before each transfer, particularly for larger amounts where the difference adds up.
A simple comparison process:
- Note the mid-market JPY/PHP rate on Google or XE.com.
- Enter your transfer amount on Wise’s website. Wise shows the mid-market rate and a transparent fee, so the pesos received figure is a useful benchmark.
- Check the same amount on your preferred service (SBI Remit, iRemit, Remitly, etc.) and note the pesos received.
- The difference tells you which option costs more in real terms.
On a 50,000 yen transfer the difference between services can range from 200 pesos to over 1,000 pesos. On 200,000 yen, that difference scales significantly. Over a year of monthly transfers, choosing the wrong service consistently can cost you tens of thousands of pesos.
Timing and Exchange Rate Fluctuations
The JPY/PHP exchange rate moves daily and sometimes significantly. There is no reliable way to predict short-term currency movements, so trying to time your transfers around the rate is rarely worth the stress.
What does make a difference is avoiding transfers during extreme rate fluctuations. If the yen has weakened unusually, waiting a few days before a non-urgent transfer costs nothing and may recover some value.
Some services allow you to set up recurring transfers or rate alerts. If you send a fixed amount monthly, a recurring transfer setup with a service like Wise or Remitly locks in convenience and removes the need to remember each month.
Documents and Registration Requirements
All legitimate remittance services in Japan require identity verification before you can send money. This is required under Japan’s Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds (犯罪による収益の移転防止に関する法律).
What you will typically need to register:
- Residence card (在留カード)
- Passport
- Japanese bank account or registered payment method (for app-based services)
- Phone number for verification
First-time registration usually takes a few minutes online. Some services require you to verify your identity by submitting a photo of your residence card through the app.
There are limits on how much you can transfer without additional verification. Limits vary by service but are generally set at several million yen per year for verified users. If you are sending large amounts regularly, confirm the annual limit of your chosen service before you need it.
Receiving Options in the Philippines
Most services offer the recipient multiple ways to receive the money:
Bank deposit: Funds go directly to the recipient’s account at a Philippine bank (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, UnionBank, LandBank, etc.). Usually takes one to two business days after the transfer is processed in Japan.
Cash pickup: Recipient goes to a partner location (Palawan Pawnshop, LBC, Cebuana Lhuillier, Western Union agents, and others) with valid ID and a reference number to collect cash. Available in most areas of the Philippines including provinces.
GCash or other e-wallets: Funds go directly into the recipient’s GCash, Maya, or other registered e-wallet. Usually instant or within a few hours.
Door-to-door delivery: Some services, particularly iRemit and LBC, offer home delivery of cash in certain areas of the Philippines. Useful for recipients in rural areas without easy access to a payout location.
Tips for Sending Safely
Always use registered and licensed services. In Japan, money transfer businesses must be registered with the Financial Services Agency (FSA). Using unregistered informal channels (such as individuals who collect cash in Japan and pay out in the Philippines) is illegal and carries serious financial risk. If the informal courier disappears or is caught, your money is gone.
Keep your transfer receipts. Whether it is a paper receipt, an app notification, or an email confirmation, keep records of every transfer. You will need these if there is ever a dispute or if the money does not arrive.
Double-check the recipient’s details. A wrong account number or name mismatch can delay or fail a bank transfer. Confirm the details with your recipient before you send, especially for first-time transfers to a new account.
Be careful with shared accounts. If multiple family members in the Philippines have access to the account you are sending to, make sure everyone understands when to expect the transfer and how much is coming. This prevents confusion and avoids funds being spent before the intended recipient sees them.
Useful Resources
- Wise (rate comparison tool and transfers): wise.com
- XE Currency (check mid-market rate): xe.com
- SBI Remit: sbiremit.com
- iRemit Japan: iremit.co.jp
- Remitly: remitly.com
- GCash Padala: gcash.com/padala
- Seven Bank International Remittance: sevenbank.co.jp
- Financial Services Agency Japan (verify licensed remittance services): fsa.go.jp
- FilipinosInJapan.com Money Directory: FilipinosInJapan.com/directory/money
