Banking in Japan
Megabank depth, a growing online-bank layer — and a high bar for foreigners
Japanese banking is dominated by three megabanks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho): broad and reliable, but with slow, in-person, document-heavy and Japanese-language onboarding. A growing online-bank layer (Rakuten Bank, GMO Aozora Net Bank) offers faster digital onboarding and lower fees for resident SMEs. Across the board, account opening for foreign founders and non-residents is notoriously hard — expect to need a residence card (zairyū card), a registered company seal (inkan) and Japanese-language paperwork.
Find my Japan account →Top business accounts — Japan
| Bank | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free · 62% | None · 62% | 5 days · 56% | 59/100 · C | ||
| Free · 60% | None · 60% | 7 days | 57/100 · C | ||
| ¥2,200 | None | 21 days | 43/100 · C | ||
| ¥2,200 | None | 21 days | 43/100 · C | ||
| ¥2,200 | None | 22 days | 41/100 · C |
Who regulates banking in Japan
Japanese residents & companies
Widest access across the megabanks and online banks; megabank onboarding is in-person and can take weeks, while online banks (Rakuten, GMO Aozora) onboard resident SMEs digitally in days.
Non-residents / foreign founders (notably hard)
Account opening is genuinely difficult: banks typically expect a Japanese-registered company, a resident representative, a residence card (zairyū card) and Japanese-language documentation. Establish residency and incorporate first, and always verify current eligibility with the provider.
Entity types (KK, GK, Sole Proprietor)
Kabushiki Kaisha (KK), Godo Kaisha (GK) and sole proprietors are all bankable; the company registration (tōkibo tōhon) and a registered company seal (inkan) with its seal certificate are core requirements.
Best business banks — Japan
See all →- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Fast to open (~5 days).
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
Best online banks (digital onboarding)
See all →- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Matches: digital.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Matches: digital.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
Megabanks for corporates
See all →- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Fast to open (~5 days).
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
- ✓Directly serves your need: business acct.
Japan banking — frequently asked
Can a foreigner open a Japanese business account?
It is genuinely difficult. Banks generally expect a Japanese-registered company (KK or GK), a resident representative with a residence card (zairyū card), and Japanese-language documentation. The practical route is to establish residency and incorporate in Japan first, then approach an online bank (Rakuten, GMO Aozora) for faster onboarding or a megabank for broader services. Always verify current eligibility with the provider before applying.
What is the inkan / company seal requirement?
Japanese business is built around the registered company seal (inkan / hanko). To open a corporate account you typically need the registered company seal plus its official seal certificate (inkan shōmeisho), alongside the company registration certificate (tōkibo tōhon). These are core documents banks ask for, and they must usually be presented in Japanese.
Megabank vs online bank — which is right for my business?
A megabank (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho) gives the broadest access, branch service, treasury and trade finance, but onboarding is slow, in-person and Japanese-language-heavy. An online bank (Rakuten Bank, GMO Aozora Net Bank) onboards resident SMEs digitally in days with lower fees and APIs, but a narrower product range and JPY-centric, Japanese-language service. Many Japanese SMEs use a megabank for credit/trade and an online bank for day-to-day, low-fee transfers.