SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with W

Bank SWIFT codes for Japan

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 586 institutions in Japan. You need such a code mainly for international transfers.

Every bank is listed with its own page with its main code and if there are any, branch codes. The sections below covers the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing.

SWIFT codes in Japan: banks under :letter

This filter narrows the list down to banks from Japan that begin with :letter. The counts in the introduction always cover all banks in Japan.

Some banks appear under their official name, so the letter can differ from what you expect. The full overview for Japan remains one click away if you cannot find the bank here.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Japan

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. A wrong code can cause delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees.

We gather bank codes from public sources and update them from time to time. Institutions merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. For any payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Scammers often use fake invoices with changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Always confirm a change of bank details through a separate channel on a number you know.

Paying a bank in Japan from abroad

For Japan you will almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code – Japan is not a SEPA country. Without the BIC, most banks cannot process the transfer at all.

Not all countries use IBAN numbers. The recipient’s bank often provides instructions for incoming international payments – follow them exactly. International transfers can pass through one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Sending money to Japan for less

If you send money to Japan via your bank, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. You pay a transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialist money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate. Before you send money to Japan, take a minute to compare the total cost on GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

The structure of a Japan SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long. It starts with four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

In every code from Japan, characters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of Japan – that is the quickest way to spot one. Codes with other letters in that position belong to another country, even if the bank name looks familiar.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the head office. In most cases the head office code is fine unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

How long does a transfer to Japan take?

How quickly 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 extra days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, the sender should contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR. Keep the payment confirmation until the money has arrived.

What a sender needs to pay you in Japan

When you are waiting for money from abroad in Japan, send the payer a complete set of details. Share your name as registered with the bank, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well.

The amount you receive can be less than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

The Japanese Yen (JPY) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in Japan are typically held in JPY, the local currency. When you pay money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Often it is cheaper if you send JPY directly through a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Exchange rates change all the time, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

Most SWIFT codes in Japan: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The

In our directory, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The has the most SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Japan. Its main office has BOTKJPJTXXX.

The number of codes tells you something about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. Making a payment to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The? Go with BOTKJPJTXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.