SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with G

Japan: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

Our directory lists 586 banks and other institutions in Japan and 712 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making payments across borders, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Pick the bank below to view the head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Below the list you can read how codes from Japan are built, how to send money to Japan at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

How long does a transfer to Japan take?

How quickly a payment reaches Japan is determined by a few things: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Public holidays in either country can add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If the money is late, ask the sender to contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Money transfer services often provide tracking in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Banks in Japan beginning with the letter :letter

This page shows only banks in Japan beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The figures for Japan on this page apply to every bank we list, not just the ones under :letter.

Bank not listed? Its official name might begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. Use the full list for Japan if you are not sure the exact name.

What a transfer to Japan really costs

When you transfer money to Japan with your bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost item. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. Before your next transfer to Japan, it is worth comparing the total cost via GoldexPay.

How reliable is this list?

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code may lead to delays, a returned payment or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Treat our data as a reference. GoldexPay is a comparison site.

Watch out for invoices with a new account – a common fraud method. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account.

How SWIFT codes from Japan are built

SWIFT/BIC codes follow one international format: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

In every code from Japan, characters five and six show the ISO country code of Japan – that is the quickest way to spot one. Codes with a different country code come from another country, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The optional last three characters identify a specific branch; XXX means the head office. In most cases the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Which bank in Japan has the most codes?

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The leads our list of Japan banks when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. Its main office uses BOTKJPJTXXX and that code covers most payments.

A large number of codes often reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code BOTKJPJTXXX works for a payment to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The.

Receiving money in Japan from abroad

When you expect a payment from another country on an account in Japan, give the sender a complete set of details. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Find your bank in the list on this page. Certain banks may also ask for the name and address of your bank.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

Why a transfer to Japan needs a SWIFT code

For Japan you will almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code – Japan is not a SEPA country. Without the BIC, your bank cannot send the transfer.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Ask the recipient which details their bank needs for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks.

Sending JPY to Japan

Bank accounts in Japan are typically held in JPY. When you pay money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point.

Who converts the money matters. Check what JPY the recipient gets with several services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. On larger amounts, a seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.