Living in Japan and supporting family, paying tuition, or settling an invoice back home shouldn’t feel like a second job. Yet every month we hear the same questions: “Which app is cheapest for JPY to NPR?” “Why was my transfer blocked?” “Is SmileRemit faster than Wise to the Philippines?”
This living FAQ answers the 20 questions we receive daily—updated February 2026 with live fee schedules and FX margins from Wise, SmileRemit, JpRemit, BrastelRemit, CityRemit, JapanRemit, and KyodaiRemit. Bookmark it, share it, and cut your remittance costs today.
[Compare today’s rates and fees for your exact amount in 30 seconds → RatesRemit's Comparison Tool]
1. Quick Snapshot: Cheapest Provider by Corridor (Feb 2026)
| Corridor | Best for ≤¥50 k | Best for ≥¥200 k | Typical Delivery | Cash Pick-up Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPY → NPR | SmileRemit | JpRemit | 5 min–4 h | JpRemit & Kyodai |
| JPY → INR | Wise | Wise | 20 min–2 h | — |
| JPY → LKR | BrastelRemit | CityRemit | 1–6 h | BrastelRemit |
| JPY → BDT | JapanRemit | JapanRemit | 2–12 h | JapanRemit |
| JPY → PHP | Wise | KyodaiRemit | 10 min–1 h | Kyodai & Brastel |
Rates bounce daily—always re-check before you hit “send”.
2. Registration & KYC: What Documents Will I Need?
All seven providers ask for:
- Zairyū card (both sides)
- My-number card or notification card + passport
- Selfie (Wise & SmileRemit automate this inside the app)
Pro-tip: Upload documents during weekday mornings (Japan time); AI verification queues are shortest 09:00–11:00 JST, cutting approval from 24 h to <2 h.
3. Fees or FX Margin: Which Hurts More?
Rule of thumb:
- Fixed fee hits small transfers hardest.
- FX margin hits large transfers hardest.
Example: Sending ¥20,000 to Sri Lanka
- Wise: fee ¥190 + mid-market FX → receiver gets LKR 38,450
- BrastelRemit: zero fee but FX margin 1.3 % → receiver gets LKR 37,980
Winner: Wise (extra LKR 470 ≈ ¥240).
Example: Sending ¥500,000 to Nepal
- SmileRemit: fee ¥490 but FX margin 0.25 % → NPR 344,500
- Wise: fee ¥2,750 + mid-market → NPR 341,900
Winner: SmileRemit (extra NPR 2,600 ≈ ¥3,000).
Moral: Compare total received, not just the fee line.
4. How Fast Is “Real Time” Really?
- Wise & SmileRemit use IMPS/InstaPay in India & the Philippines: 80 % of transfers arrive <20 min when sent between 09:00–17:00 local time.
- JapanRemit & JpRemit batch at 11:00 and 15:00 JST; miss the cut-off and you wait until the next day.
- Weekends: Only KyodaiRemit and BrastelRemit offer Saturday payouts to Nepal and Bangladesh (cash pick-up only).
5. Bank Account vs. Cash Pick-up: Which Should I Choose?
Cash pick-up is king when:
- Your recipient has no bank account (common in rural Nepal & Bangladesh).
- The local bank is on holiday (Sri Lanka’s Poya days).
- You need instant access—earthquake relief, medical bill.
Cost gap example (¥30 k to Nepal):
- Bank deposit (JpRemit): fee ¥390
- Cash pick-up (Kyodai): fee ¥690
Difference: ¥300—worth it for urgency, skip it for routine support.
6. Tax & Legal Limits: How Much Can I Send?
Japan has no outbound remittance cap, but:
- Single transfer >¥1 million triggers automatic reporting under the Foreign Exchange Law—provider will ask for purpose of remittance (tuition, family support, investment, etc.).
- India: Gifts >₹50 lakh/year to a resident may trigger Indian tax; let your recipient declare as “family maintenance” to avoid headaches.
- Nepal & Bangladesh: Central banks occasionally cap what a single citizen can receive annually; confirm with your provider before sending large sums.
7. Troubleshooting: Why Was My Transfer Delayed?
Top 3 rejection reasons in 2026:
- Name mismatch—your Zairyū card shows “SMITH JOHN” but you typed “John Smith”.
- Old recipient bank branch code—Bangladeshi banks re-shuffle routing codes every quarter.
- Kana spelling—Japanese banks require exact katakana; even one ッ vs ツ can bounce the transfer.
Fix: Double-check inside the provider’s recipient validator (Wise & SmileRemit flag errors before you pay).
8. Student Discounts & Loyalty Programs
- Wise: “Study Abroad” coupon pack—three free transfers under ¥100 k (code WISEJP26).
- KyodaiRemit: 1 yen off FX margin after 10 transfers in 12 months—saves ~¥1,000 on every ¥100 k.
- CityRemit: Zero fee on birthdays—upload driver’s license to prove the date.
9. Step-by-Step: Sending Your First Transfer
Example corridor: Tokyo → Manila, PHP bank deposit via Wise.
- Download Wise (iOS/Android) or open wise.com.
- Sign up with email → choose Personal → enter Japan address.
- Upload ID & My-number—approval in 5 min (morning slot).
- Tap “Send money” → Philippines → PHP → “Bank account”.
- Enter recipient: name, address, SWIFT/BIC or 13-digit bank account (Wise auto-checks).
- Enter amount: ¥50,000 → see exact PHP 19,760 delivered, fee ¥390, arrival <10 min.
- Pay: choose FPX internet banking (cheapest) or convenience store (extra ¥150).
- Track: real-time updates in app + e-mail to recipient with deposit confirmation.
Total time: 4 min setup + 10 min arrival = 14 min door-to-door.
10. Hacks to Lock the Best Rate
- Set rate alerts inside SmileRemit & Wise; transfer when JPY→INR hits 0.62 or better.
- Batch monthly instead of weekly—one large transfer almost always beats five small ones.
- Use credit-card top-up only for emergencies; the 3 % cash-advance fee negates any FX gain.
11. Earthquake, Typhoon, or Election Day?
Natural disasters and sudden bank holidays can freeze local payouts. Providers with cash pick-up networks (Kyodai, Brastel, JpRemit) resume faster because they bypass clogged inter-bank systems. Keep at least two providers verified so you can pivot the same day.
12. Frequently Asked Questions (Short Answers)
Q: Can I send from a Japan Post Bank account?
A: Yes—Wise, SmileRemit, and JapanRemit accept Yucho direct debit; note the ¥165 withdrawal fee Yucho adds.
Q: Are promo codes stackable?
A: No—only one code per transfer, but you can alternate codes across months.
Q: Do I need to report remittance on Japanese tax return?
A: Only if you claim the foreign tax credit or remit investment income; routine family support is not taxable.
Q: Which app has Tagalog / Sinhala / Nepali chat support?
A: KyodaiRemit (Tagalog 24 h), BrastelRemit (Sinhala business hours), JpRemit (Nepali evenings).
Q: Can I cancel a transfer?
A: Yes, if status shows “Pending”; once “Completed” you must request recall (fee ¥2,000–¥5,000 and no guarantee).
13. Checklist Before Every Transfer
☐ Compare total received amount, not just fees
☐ Verify recipient details with the built-in checker
☐ Confirm local holiday calendar (India’s 2nd & 4th Saturdays, Nepal’s Dashain, etc.)
☐ Screen-capture the transaction ID and send to recipient
☐ Save the promo code for next month
14. Your Next Move
Stop overpaying. In the 5 minutes it took you to read this, banks added another ¥500 in hidden margin somewhere. Paste your amount, corridor, and speed into our engine and see the exact yen-to-rupee, -taka, -peso gap in real time.
[Compare live rates for Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & the Philippines now → RatesRemit's Comparison Tool]
Safe, speedy, and supportive transfers from Japan to South Asia start here.