SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with F

Japan: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

On this page you find codes for 586 banks in Japan – 712 codes altogether. A BIC tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank should receive the money.

Search for the recipient’s bank below and open its page to see all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. Further down you can read how a code from Japan is put together, how to send money there at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Japan

When you are waiting for a payment from another country on an account in Japan, give the sender all details at once. In practice that means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your postal address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page. You can add your bank’s name and city as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account is often less than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank. For business payments, agree how the fees are split.

Japan and the Japanese Yen

Japan uses the Japanese Yen, code JPY. When you pay money in a different currency, the amount gets converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives. Compare how much JPY the recipient gets with several providers before choosing one. Rates for JPY change during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Sending money to Japan for less

If you transfer money to Japan via your bank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: put the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Japan with different providers, so you can pick the cheapest route.

About our data and how to check a code

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees.

This list is compiled from publicly available sources that we update periodically. Institutions merge, change names and change codes. For any payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Be wary of invoices with a new account, especially when they come by email. Always verify changed details through a separate channel on a number you know.

Banks in Japan beginning with the letter :letter

Here you see a selection: only institutions in Japan whose name begins with :letter. The counts in the introduction always cover all banks in Japan.

Many institutions are listed under their legal name rather than the name on their app or website, so the letter can differ from what you expect. Try the full list for Japan if you do not know how the name is spelled.

Which bank in Japan has the most codes?

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The tops the list of Japan banks in SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The has BOTKJPJTXXX and that code covers most payments.

How many codes a bank has tells you more about how it organises its payments than about its size. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code BOTKJPJTXXX works for transfers to this bank.

How SWIFT codes from Japan are built

Bank identifier codes follow one international format: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

You can spot a bank code from Japan by letters five and six. A code with other letters in that position come from another country.

The long version ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. In most cases the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Paying a bank in Japan from abroad

Since Japan does not belong to SEPA, an international payment normally goes through SWIFT. This means you always need the SWIFT/BIC code of the recipient’s bank.

Not every country uses IBAN numbers – where there is none, the local account number is enough. The recipient’s bank often has a list of required details for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a payment can pass through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

How long does a transfer to Japan take?

An international transfer to Japan usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank for a trace. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.