Sending part of your hard-earned yen to family back home should be simple, not stressful. Yet every month thousands of foreign residents in Japan over-pay on remittance fees, lose money to hidden mark-ups, or wait days for transfers to reach Kathmandu, Kochi, or Cebu. This 2024 guide walks you through exactly what you’ll pay—and how to pay less—when you send money from Japan to Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or the Philippines using only the seven legally active providers: Wise, SmileRemit, JpRemit, BrastelRemit, CityRemit, JapanRemit, and KyodaiRemit.
Why Fees Vary So Much on the Japan→South-Asia Corridor
Three cost layers decide how many Nepali rupees, Indian rupees, Sri Lankan rupees, Bangladeshi taka, or Philippine pesos finally land in your recipient’s wallet:
- Up-front transfer fee – the number you see first.
- Exchange-rate margin – the invisible slice taken by setting their own JPY→NPR/INR/LKR/BDT/PHP rate.
- Receiving-bank or cash-pick-up fee – often 200–600 JPY equivalent deducted overseas.
Providers mix these layers differently. A “zero-fee” transfer can still cost you 3–5 % once the exchange rate is marked down. The secret is to compare the final amount received, not just the headline charge. That’s exactly what RatesRemit's Comparison Tool does in real time.
2024 Fee Snapshot: JPY 50,000 Transfer to Each Country
Below we show the typical all-in cost (fee + exchange-rate loss) for sending JPY 50,000 online or at a kiosk in May 2024. Numbers are averaged across five working days; individual transfers can swing ±1 %.
| Provider | Nepal (NPR) | India (INR) | Sri Lanka (LKR) | Bangladesh (BDT) | Philippines (PHP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | 590 JPY | 590 JPY | 590 JPY | 590 JPY | 590 JPY |
| SmileRemit | 880 JPY | 750 JPY | 1,050 JPY | 1,050 JPY | 880 JPY |
| JpRemit | 1,200 JPY | 1,000 JPY | 1,500 JPY | 1,500 JPY | 1,200 JPY |
| BrastelRemit | 0 JPY* | 0 JPY* | 0 JPY* | 0 JPY* | 0 JPY* |
| CityRemit | 500 JPY | 500 JPY | 700 JPY | 700 JPY | 500 JPY |
| JapanRemit | 399 JPY | 399 JPY | 399 JPY | 399 JPY | 399 JPY |
| KyodaiRemit | 880 JPY | 750 JPY | 1,000 JPY | 1,000 JPY | 880 JPY |
*BrastelRemit advertises “zero fees” but adds a 1.6–2.0 % margin inside its FX rate—equal to ~800–1,000 JPY on 50,000 JPY.
Hidden Cost Traps to Watch in 2024
1. Weekend FX Mark-ups
Wise uses the mid-market rate even on weekends, but most others freeze or worsen rates from Friday 18:00 to Monday 09:00. If you send JPY→INR on Sunday, you can lose an extra 0.8 % with SmileRemit or JpRemit.
2. “Express” 10-Minute Transfers
BrastelRemit and KyodaiRemit offer instant cash in the Philippines for an extra 300–500 JPY. Unless it’s an emergency, the standard 2-hour option is free and arrives the same banking day.
3. Double Dipping on Large Amounts
JapanRemit caps its flat fee at 899 JPY regardless of amount, making it attractive above JPY 150,000. Conversely, Wise’s 0.99 % variable fee becomes expensive on large scholarships or house-purchase transfers—compare carefully.
4. Receiving-Bank Landing Fees
Sri Lankan banks routinely deduct 400–600 LKR (≈180–270 JPY) from the incoming sum. CityRemit and JapanRemit absorb this cost if the transfer is above JPY 100,000; others don’t.
Step-by-Step: How to Cut Your Fees by 30 % This Month
-
Check the live comparison
Open RatesRemit's Comparison Tool, enter JPY amount, pick NPR/INR/LKR/BDT/PHP, and sort by “Amount Received”. -
Time it right
Send Tuesday–Thursday 09:00–15:00 JST when FX margins are tightest. -
Use limit orders for large sums
Wise lets you target a desired INR or PHP rate; when the market hits it, your transfer auto-executes, saving you from weekday mark-ups. -
Bundle family transfers
Instead of three separate JPY 30,000 remittances to India, pool once at JPY 90,000 and split the single JapanRemit 399 JPY fee three ways. -
Pay by cheap funding methods
- Wise: Japan Post Bank furikomi (free)
- SmileRemit & KyodaiRemit: 7-Eleven ATM cash (no card fee)
- BrastelRemit: prepaid Brastel card earns 0.5 % cashback, offsetting FX margin.
Real-World Scenarios: What You Actually Save
Scenario A: Factory Worker in Shizuoka sends JPY 80,000 home to Nepal every month
- Old way: JpRemit kiosk, 1,500 JPY fee + 1.3 % FX margin → 2,540 JPY total cost.
- 2024 switch: Wise online, 792 JPY fee + 0 % margin → 792 JPY cost.
- Annual savings: JPY 20,976 (≈ NPR 18,800) – enough for a buffalo calf for the family farm.
Scenario B: IT Engineer in Tokyo pays Bangalore mortgage JPY 300,000 quarterly
- Old way: Bank wire, 4,000 JPY flat + 2.5 % margin → 11,500 JPY.
- 2024 switch: JapanRemit online, 899 JPY flat + 0.7 % margin → 2,999 JPY.
- Annual savings: JPY 34,004 (≈ INR 20,000) – one extra EMI knocked off the loan.
Scenario C: Caregiver in Osaka remits JPY 20,000 weekly to Dhaka for parents’ groceries
- Old way: KyodaiRemit cash pick-up, 1,000 JPY fee.
- 2024 switch: CityRemit bank deposit, 500 JPY fee.
- Annual savings: JPY 26,000 (≈ BDT 19,000) – a year of rice and lentils covered.
Provider Deep Dive: Pros & Cons in 2024
Wise
- Best for: Transparent mid-market rate, licensed fund transfer provider in Japan.
- Caveat: Requires online banking; no cash pay-in.
- Speed: 60 % of INR transfers arrive in 20 seconds, 95 % within 4 hours.
SmileRemit
- Best for: 7-Eleven/Itochu counter payments if you don’t have a Japanese bank.
- Caveat: FX margin creeps up on weekends.
- Speed: Nepal & Philippines same-day; India next morning.
JpRemit
- Best for: Face-to-face Japanese support in 30 prefectures.
- Caveat: Highest flat fees; slower to Sri Lanka (T+2).
- Speed: Bangladesh within 3 hours via Dutch-Bangla Bank.
BrastelRemit
- Best for: Instant cash to 4,000+ locations in the Philippines.
- Caveat: FX margin hidden; must buy Brastel card first.
- Speed: 10 minutes for PHP; 24 hours for NPR.
CityRemit
- Best for: Flat fee undercuts most on midsize transfers (30k–150k JPY).
- Caveat: Limited weekend customer service.
- Speed: India & Bangladesh same-day; Sri Lanka T+1.
JapanRemit
- Best for: Large transfers (≥JPY 150k) with capped fee.
- Caveat: Online interface only in Japanese.
- Speed: Nepal & Philippines within 2 hours; India 4 hours.
KyodaiRemit
- Best for: Multilingual chat support (English, Tagalog, Nepali).
- Caveat: Higher fees on small amounts.
- Speed: Bangladesh & Sri Lanka within 1 hour during business day.
5 Quick FAQs Foreign Residents Ask Us
Q1. Do I need a MyNumber card to send above JPY 1 million?
Yes, all providers must verify your MyNumber for single transfers ≥1 million JPY or cumulative annual outgoing ≥2 million JPY. Upload a clear photo once; future large transfers are smooth.
Q2. Which app lets me lock an INR rate for 48 hours?
Wise offers a guaranteed rate for 48 hours on INR, NPR, and BDT if you fund within that window—handy when the rupee is volatile.
Q3. Can I use credit card for emergency remittance?
Only BrastelRemit and KyodaiRemit accept Japanese credit cards, but they treat it as a cash advance (extra 3 % plus card interest). Stick to bank transfer or debit.
Q4. Is there a way to avoid the 600 LKR landing fee in Sri Lanka?
CityRemit and JapanRemit absorb it on transfers ≥JPY 100,000. Otherwise, send to a People's Bank account—landing fees are waived for senior-citizen recipients.
Q5. Which provider refunds fees if the transfer fails?
Wise and JapanRemit auto-refund the full fee plus principal within 2 business days if the receiving bank rejects the funds. Others deduct 50 % of the fee for “processing”.
Your Next Move: Compare, Then Click Send
Don’t let another yen disappear into opaque margins. Paste your numbers into RatesRemit's Comparison Tool