SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with U

Finding a SWIFT code in Japan

In Japan our database holds 712 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 586 banks. Each code points to a bank or one of its branches.

Look for the recipient’s bank below and open its page for all codes we have. Further down we explain how codes from Japan are built, how to send money there at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

The largest SWIFT network in Japan: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The

Among the 586 institutions we list, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan. Its main office uses BOTKJPJTXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Many codes often means that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not a branch code is given, BOTKJPJTXXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

When does money sent to Japan arrive?

An international transfer to Japan typically takes one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Public holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Money transfer services often show a status in their app.

Paying a bank in Japan from abroad

For Japan you almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code, because the country is outside the SEPA area. Without the BIC, most banks will not process the transfer.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a local account number instead of an IBAN and sometimes a local routing or branch code. Ask the recipient which details their bank requires for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. On the way to Japan, a transfer can go through intermediary banks that take a fee.

The cheapest way to send money to Japan

The price of a transfer to Japan has more than one component. You pay the 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 biggest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: put the offered rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before you send money to Japan, it is worth to compare the total cost on 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 person paying you has to have more than the BIC. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

The code of your bank appears in our list. You can add the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

How SWIFT codes from Japan are built

Bank identifier codes use the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. It starts with four letters for the bank, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

In every code from Japan, letters five and six show the two-letter ISO code of Japan – that is the quickest way to spot one. When the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

The long version adds three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code only if the recipient explicitly gives you one.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) and conversion costs

Japan uses the Japanese Yen. If you send money in a different currency, the amount 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, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check what JPY the recipient gets with several services. Rates for JPY move during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

SWIFT codes in Japan: banks under :letter

This filter limits the list to banks from Japan that begin with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The totals on this page apply to all 586 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

Cannot find the bank? Its official name might begin with another word. Try the full list for Japan when you do not know how the name is spelled.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable place for the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. A wrong code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

This list is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Before any payment of any size, check the code with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers, not a bank.

Watch out for payment requests with a new account. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.