SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with E

Finding a SWIFT code in Japan

Our directory lists 586 banks and financial institutions in Japan and 712 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get an international payment.

Look for the recipient’s bank below and open its page to see the full list of codes and the details a transfer needs. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes before you send money.

Banks in Japan starting with :letter

Here you see a filtered list: only institutions in Japan with a name starting with :letter. The totals mentioned above still cover all banks in Japan.

Many institutions appear under their official name. Try the full list for Japan when you do not know how the name is spelled.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. If the code you have differs from our list, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

The directory on GoldexPay is based on public sources and is updated regularly. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use this list as a reference, not as the final word: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and has no link to the banks in this list.

Fraudsters often use fake invoices carrying new bank details. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Which bank in Japan has the most codes?

In our data, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Japan. Its main office uses BOTKJPJTXXX.

A large number of codes usually means separate codes for branches, departments or services. Paying someone at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The? Use BOTKJPJTXXX except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

What a transfer to Japan really costs

The price of a payment to Japan has more than one component. There is a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: set the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank. Before your next transfer to Japan, take a minute to compare the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Japan

To receive an international payment into a Japan account, the sender has to have not just the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page. You can include your bank’s name and city.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. On invoices, state how the fees are split.

Transfer times to Japan

How fast money arrives in Japan depends on several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Public holidays in either country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services usually show tracking online.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Japan

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long. Characters one to four stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two give the location.

For banks in Japan, letters five and six are the ISO country code of Japan – that is the quickest way to spot one. If the country letters do not match Japan, you are looking at a bank in another country.

An 11-character code adds three characters for a branch, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it.

Sending JPY to Japan

Bank accounts in Japan are typically held in JPY – the Japanese Yen. A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into JPY on its way to the recipient – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who does the conversion affects the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. Often it is cheaper if you send JPY straight away through a transfer service with a good rate. With bigger transfers, even a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

International payments to Japan and the BIC

To pay into Japan you usually need a SWIFT/BIC code – Japan is not a SEPA country. Without it, most banks will not process the payment.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN. The receiving bank usually provides instructions for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. On the way to Japan, a transfer can go through intermediary banks that take a fee.