SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with R

Japan: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

For Japan we have 712 SWIFT/BIC codes. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making payments across borders and for payments in a foreign currency.

Choose the bank from the list to see its head office code and its other codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Further down we explain how codes from Japan are built, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Japan

Have the recipient send you the account details directly from their banking app. A wrong code can cause a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update our list from time to time. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use our data as a starting point; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are an independent comparison service.

Fraudsters often send payment requests with new bank details. A valid BIC tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine: criminals use real codes too.

Banks in Japan beginning with the letter :letter

Here you see a selection: only banks in Japan whose name begins with :letter. The totals mentioned here cover all 586 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

If a bank does not appear under :letter, try another letter – the registered name can differ from the name people use. Try the full list for Japan when you are not sure how the name is spelled.

Which bank in Japan has the most codes?

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The tops the list for Japan when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The uses BOTKJPJTXXX and that code covers most payments.

The number of codes says something about how it organises its payments than about its size. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, BOTKJPJTXXX is fine for a payment to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The.

International payments to Japan and the BIC

Japan is outside the SEPA area. International transfers to Japan usually travel through the SWIFT network.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Ask the recipient exactly which details their bank requires for payments from abroad; banks often publish instructions for this. SWIFT payments sometimes go via correspondent banks.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) and conversion costs

The currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). When you pay money in a different currency, it gets converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Often it is cheaper if you send JPY directly via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate. Exchange rates change during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

What a transfer to Japan really costs

The price of a payment to Japan is made up of several parts. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists transfer services next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient.

How SWIFT codes from Japan are built

Bank identifier codes use one international format: eight characters plus an optional three-character extension. It starts with four letters for the bank, followed by two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

You can recognise a bank code from Japan by letters five and six. When the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country – worth double-checking.

The long version adds a branch code – XXX stands for the head office. Use a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Transfer times to Japan

How quickly a payment reaches Japan depends on a few things: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Public holidays in either country add extra days to the journey.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Money transfer services often show tracking online so you can follow the payment.

Incoming international payments in Japan

A sender in another country needs several details from you. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Your bank’s code is in our list but always compare it with your own bank details. You can add your bank’s name and city, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account is often lower than the amount sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs.