Banking and Postal Services

Everyday Banking Services

Both banks and post offices provide banking services. Deciding whether to open a regular savings account (futsūyokin 普通預金) or a postal savings account (yūbin chōkin 郵便貯金) depends on the services you require. Since post office accounts can be used nationwide, they are convenient if you will need to withdraw or deposit money while traveling in other parts of Japan. The two largest banks in Okinawa, Ryukyu Ginko (琉球銀行) and Okinawa Ginko (沖縄銀行), do not have many branches outside of Okinawa. However, traditional bank accounts are often required for direct deposit or direct bill pay. Opening both types of accounts may be a good idea depending on your needs.

Opening an Account
There are various kinds of accounts available, but for most people, a general savings account (futsū yokin kōza 普通預金口座) is best for daily transactions and bill payments. When opening an account, identification such as a passport or foreign registration card is necessary. A personal seal (inkan 印鑑) might also be required, although some banks allow foreign residents to use their signature instead.

In order to open an account, one must fill out a new savings account application form and request a personal identification mumber (kādo anshōbangō カード暗証番号).

After opening an account, customers receive a bankbook (tsūchō 通帳). Cash cards are sent to the account holder's address approximately two weeks after the account is opened.

Deposits
For deposits at the service window, fill out a deposit slip (nyūkinhyō 入金票) and present your bankbook or cash card. For deposits at an ATM:

• Insert your bankbook or card.
• If you used your card, the machine will ask you to enter your PIN. Usually you do not have to enter your PIN if you use your bankbook.
• Select the "deposit" button (お預け入れ orご入金).
• Put your money in the slot. The machine will count the money.
• Select the “confirm” button（確認）if the amount is correct, or 訂正to correct it.

Withdrawals
For withdrawals at the service counter, a bankbook, an Inkan and a withdrawal slip (harai modoshi seikyūsho 払戻請求書) are necessary. For withdrawals at an ATM:

• Insert your card or bankbook.
• Enter your personal identification number.
• Enter the amount of withdrawal, correcting if necessary (teisei 訂正).
• Confirm the amount (kakunin 確認).
• Sometimes machines ask if you want a receipt for the transaction. Press 不要 for no and　要 for yes.

About Cash Machines (ATMs)
Bank and postal ATMs are generally in service during business hours Monday - Friday. Some locations may also have extended hours on evenings and weekends. However, these ATMs will charge a service fee ((tesūryō 手数料) of around ¥100 if you use them outside of business hours. Withdrawal-only ATMs, often located in supermarkets and department stores, may be open longer hours, but will also charge a service fee.

It is also good to withdraw money in advance of holidays, especially New Years and Golden Week. Banks and their ATMs will be closed, but you can still use ATMs at department stores and grocery stores.

You will be charged a fee when you use your bank's card in another bank's machine, transfer funds (furikae or furikomi), or use an ATM after hours.

Some ATM vocabulary:
Ten Thousand (man 万), Thousand (sen 千)
Withdrawal (o-hikidashi お引き出し)
Deposit (o-azukeire お預け入れ or gonyūkin ご入金)
Show Balance (zandaka-shōkai 残高照会)
Update Bankbook (tsūchou kinyū 通帳記入)
Transfer of Funds (o-furikae お振替)
Direct Transfer (o-furikomi お振込)
In Operation (o-toriatsukaichuu お取り扱い中)
Out of Order (shiyou chūshi 使用中止)
Insert Bankbook (tsūchō sōnyūguchi 通帳挿入口)
Insert Money Here For Deposit (shihei sōnyūguchi 紙幣挿入口)
Slot For Return Bills (shiheimodori henkyakuguchi 紙幣戻り返却口)
Slot Start Button (kaishi 開始)
Confirmation Button (kakunin 確認)
Correction Button (teisei 訂正)
Cancellation Button (torikeshi 取り消し)

Bill Pay
Living in Japan, you will likely have to pay rent (yachin 家賃), water (suido 水道), electricity (denki 電気), gas (gasu ガス), and phone (denwa 電話) bills. You can pay most bills by bringing the invoice to a bank or convenience store and paying in cash, or by automatic bank payment (jidō kōza furikae 自動口座振替). Some service providers and landlords also send a bill collector door-to-door.

If you choose to pay in cash, most providers will send you a notice (shirase 知らせ) of the amount you owe, followed later by an invoice (seikyūsho 請求書). After receiving the invoice, take it to a convenience store or bank to pay the bill.

If you want to use automatic payment, you must have a savings account. Automatic payment is very convenient since it eliminates the need to pay bills in person, and helps to avoid missing payment deadlines. To set up automatic bill pay for water and rent, talk to your landlord or realtor. For electric and gas, bring an invoice, ID, and your inkan to the bank where you have an account. Phone bills can be arranged at the time you apply for your line (or cell phone).

If there is not enough money in your account at the time of automatic payment, the company will usually send out a notice stating that it tried unsuccessfully to take money from your account, and that it will make a second attempt later. You may need to pay directly at the bank in cases of insufficient funds or overdue bills.

Loans and Credit Cards

Bank Loans
It is difficult but possible to get a bank loan in Japan as a foreigner. You must be working in Japan, and you will need to bring such documents as your passport, Alien Registration Card, and proof of employment (consult your bank to find out what is necessary). You must also find a guarantor (hoshōnin 保証人). The bank may ask to see a permanent residence permit (eijūkyokasho 永住許可書). Some banks offer loans to foreigners more readily than others. You may have better luck at Ryukyu Ginko or Kaiho Ginko than at Okinawa Ginko, for example. The availability of loans may affect your choice of bank. Many Japanese have several bank accounts because some offer better loan arrangements than others.

Credit Cards
Japan is still a cash-based society and credit cards are not used as widely as they are in other countries. It is nevertheless possible to obtain a Japanese credit card. You can obtain application forms at the bank where you have an account. You must bring your passport and alien registration card, and information about your workplace. Owning a Japanese credit card will be very useful if you decide to use a callback system for international phone calls. You may also want a Japanese credit card if you plan to shop online, particularly on Japanese sites. Paying foreign credit card bills while overseas can be a hassle. Another advantage of having a Japanese credit card is that you can use it to take out money from bank machines. This can be useful in case of an emergency. Outside of postal ATMs, very few cash machines in Japan will allow you to withdraw money using a foreign credit card.

Sending Money Overseas

GoLloyds Remittance
GoLloyds is offered by Lloyds TSB Japan (a UK-based bank). You must send at least ¥150,000 every time you send money. The money will be deposited by Lloyds in a foreign bank account that you specify. Lloyds charges ¥2,000 for its part in handling your money, your bank in Japan will charge a small fee (around ¥500) to transfer the money to Lloyds, and the bank where you are sending the money may also charge a fee, for a total of ¥3,000-¥4,000. This is similar to other remittance services, but GoLloyds offers very competitive exchange rates, so on the whole it may be the cheapest option. The money should arrive in the bank account that you specify one business day after you transfer the money to Lloyds.

To use GoLloyds, visit their website, download and print out the application, and send it to the Lloyds TSB office in Tokyo. They will send you a reply letter with instructions on making transfers to them from your bank's ATM. The instructions are written in English and Japanese, so you can simply show them to a bank employee if you aren't able to operate the ATM yourself.

Bank Remittance Checks (Sōkin Kogitte 送金小切手)
Bank remittances vary from bank to bank. This method is safe but slow, and requires the cooperation of a friend or relative in the country you are sending the money to if you want to deposit the money in your own account. At the Japanese bank, yen or foreign currency is written up as a check, which you can mail to anyone you like. It may take 4-5 days for the bank to prepare the check. Whoever you send the money to can then cash the check at a bank you specify, and dispose of it as you instruct them to. On the Japanese side, you may be charged fees around ¥2,500-¥5,000. There may be further fees at the bank where the check is cashed.

Telegraphic Transfer (Denshin Sōkin 電信送金)
Japanese banks can also send money directly to an account you specify. The Japanese bank will take a commission of ¥4,000-¥5,000 (or more depending on the connections between banks), and you will have to change money at the bank's exchange rate. Your bank, or other intermediary banks may charge additional fees. Telegraphic transfers should get your money to the recipient account quite quickly. If you have a Japanese bank account, applying for online banking may give you access to a slightly less expensive way to send funds overseas (around ¥3,000 per transfer, depending on the destination country).

International Postal Money Order (Kokusai Yūbin Kawase 国際郵便為替)
The post office can make up checks that can be cashed at foreign post offices. You must exchange yen for the appropriate foreign currency. This method takes approximately 10-14 days. (However, it has been known to take up to six weeks for some countries). The maximum amount for one money order is ¥500,000. However, you can send as many money orders as you want. Each money order costs ¥2,500, and further charges may be deducted from the money you send.

Postal Services

Branch Post Offices:

Post offices and stamp vendors are marked by the sign 〒.

Domestic Mail

Letters (Tegami 手紙) and Postcards (Hagaki はがき)
Postage is ¥80 for a standard domestic letter (up to 25g) and ¥50 for a standard domestic postcard.

Parcels (Kozutsumi 小包)
You can send packages of up to 30kg. The postal rate is slightly lower if you are sending printed material (e.g. books, magazines, newsletters, calendars, ect.) If you want this rate, tell the postal worker your package is a sasshi-kozutsumi (冊子小包).

Registered Mail (Kakitome 書留)
With registered mail, you can track the progress of your letter or parcel. It is also possible to send cash through this service. To send cash, you must also purchase a cash registration envelop (genkin kakitome fūtō 現金書留封筒) from the post office for ¥20.

International Mail

Sending letters, parcels, and registered mail internationally is nearly the same as sending them domestically. Rates vary based on the destination, and as with domestic mail there is a discount for packages containing only printed matter. However, when sending something overseas, you must chose between several different ways of posting the letter or parcel. They are listed here in order of speed.

EMS
EMS is the speediest way to send packages and documents abroad. EMS can be sent to over 120 countries and areas world-wide. Computerized tracking is also available for 40 countries and regions for a fee, as is insurance. Delivery speed differs between regions, but generally it takes only 2-4 days. You will need to fill out a special EMS envelope or label for your letter or package. These are available at the post office.

Airmail (Kōkūbin 航空便)
Airmail is the standard way to send overseas mail. Delivery speed depends on mail conditions in the destination country, but mail will generally arrive in 3-6 days. To send something by airmail, simply write "Airmail" on the packaging, or ask the post office staff for an airmail sticker.

Economy Air (SAL)
Economy Air is a method by which parcels and printed matter are air transported abroad using open space on airplanes. This less expensive that airmail and faster than surface mail. Delivery generally takes 6-13 days. To use this service, write "SAL" on the packaging, or ask the post office staff for an SAL sticker.

Surface Mail (Senbin 船便)
Surface mail is significantly cheaper than other methods. However, surface mail takes 1-3 months to reach its destination. Write “surface” on the packaging to send something with this method.

Stamps, Envelopes, and Packing

Stamps are for sale at post offices, convenience stores, and other stores bearing the 〒 symbol. Boxes and padded envelopes are available at post offices for a charge, but other goods such as envelopes and writing paper are not. These items are available at department and stationary stores and some convenience stores.

Urasoe Postal Codes (Yūbin Bangō 郵便番号)

• Ahacha (安波茶) 901-2100
• Jicchaku (勢理客) 901-2122
• Iso (伊祖) 901-2132
• Takushi (沢岻) 901-2112
• Irijima (西洲) 901-2123
• Tōyama (当山) 901-2104
• Uchima (内間) 901-2121
• Nakama (仲間) 901-2103
• Ōhira (大平) 901-2113
• Nakanishi (仲西) 901-2125
• Kyōzuka (経塚) 901-2111
• Nishihara (西原) 901-2101
• Gusukuma (城間) 901-2133
• Maeda (前田) 901-2102
• Kowan (小湾) 901-2124
• Makiminato (牧港) 901-2131
• Minatogawa (港川) 901-2134
• Miyagi (宮城) 901-2126
• Yafuso (屋富祖) 901-2127
• Not listed above 901-2100