You need a Japanese bank account to get paid and to pay rent, but not every bank will open one for a newcomer. Some high-street banks ask you to have lived in Japan for six months first, while Japan Post Bank and several online banks open accounts much earlier. This guide covers which banks are newcomer-friendly, the documents you need (residence card, usually a Japanese phone number, sometimes a personal seal), the six-month rule, and how your salary and rent move through the account.
The newcomer problem in Japan is residency length. Under Japanese rules, a non-national is generally treated as a non-resident until they have either worked in Japan or lived here for six or more months, and some high-street banks apply this directly. Sony Bank is the clearest newcomer option: its official English site states there is no minimum stay in Japan required to open, in English, through its Open Account app, with no seal needed. Rakuten Bank opens to residents with a valid residence card and a Japanese mobile number. Japan Post Bank (Yucho) is widely used by newcomers, but its English account-opening page was unavailable at our last check, so confirm its current rule directly. Of the megabanks, MUFG states it treats non-nationals as non-residents unless they are working in Japan or resident for six or more months; SMBC and Mizuho are commonly reported to do the same, but we could not confirm it on their official English pages, so confirm directly with the bank. You will need your residence card, usually a Japanese phone number, and sometimes a personal seal (hanko).
The split is between newcomer-friendly options (Japan Post Bank and the online banks) and the megabanks, which more often apply the six-month rule. Every bank below requires a valid residence card with your current Japanese address.
| Bank | Newcomer-friendly? | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Japan Post Bank (Yucho)](https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en_index.html) | Commonly used; confirm directly | Residence card with current address | Widely used by newcomers, but its English account-opening page was unavailable at our last check (2026-06-23). Confirm current eligibility and any residence rule directly at a post office or with the bank |
| [Sony Bank](https://moneykit.net/en/) | Yes (confirmed) | Residence card with valid address | Its official English site states no minimum stay in Japan is required; open in English via the Open Account app, no seal needed (moneykit.net/en) |
| [Rakuten Bank](https://www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/english/account/opening/) | Yes, online | Residence card (or special permanent resident certificate); a Japanese mobile number; living in Japan | Application steps are in English, but services and support are Japanese-only once your application is registered |
| [SBI Shinsei Bank](https://www.sbishinseibank.co.jp/english/e_speakers/identity_verification.html) | Partly | Residence card; if no "Date of Permission" on the card, a residence certificate (juminhyo) showing six months in Japan | English banking platform, app and phone support. Where it cannot confirm six months from the card, it asks for documents that show it |
| [MUFG Bank](https://www.bk.mufg.jp/global/productsandservices/p_banking/pb_account.html) | Six-month rule | Residence card; personal seal; My Number documents; proof of working in Japan, or six months' residence | Treats non-nationals as non-residents unless working in Japan (not part-time or temporary) or resident six-plus months. Non-residents face limits on internet banking, cards and other products |
| [SMBC](https://www.smbc.co.jp/kojin/) | Confirm directly | Residence card; personal seal; My Number documents | Commonly reported to expect six months' residence or proof of work, in line with MUFG, but we could not confirm this on SMBC's official English page (it did not render to our check). Confirm directly with the bank |
| [Mizuho Bank](https://www.mizuhobank.co.jp/index.html) | Confirm directly | Residence card; personal seal; My Number documents | Commonly reported to expect six months' residence or proof of employment, in line with MUFG, but we could not confirm this on Mizuho's official English page (it did not render to our check). Confirm directly with the bank |
If you want an account in your first weeks, start with Japan Post Bank or an online bank. If you would rather use a megabank, expect to wait until you have either started work or reached six months, and to bring a personal seal.
Across providers, expect to bring:
The route depends on the bank:
Note that "English support" usually means the application and some channels, not the whole bank. Rakuten Bank, for example, says its services are Japanese-only once your application is registered, while SBI Shinsei advertises English across its platform, app and phone support.
Once your account is open:
Two government items sit underneath your bank account, and both are covered in sibling guides:
Yes. Online banks such as Sony Bank (which states no minimum stay is required) and Rakuten Bank open accounts to residents with a valid residence card, without the six-month wait some high-street banks apply. Japan Post Bank is also widely used by newcomers; confirm its current rule directly. You will generally need your residence card, your current registered address and usually a Japanese phone number.
Under Japanese law a non-national is generally treated as a non-resident until they have worked in Japan or lived here for six or more months. Some banks, including the megabanks, apply this when you try to open an account. MUFG states it directly; SBI Shinsei asks for proof of six months where it cannot confirm this from your card.
Not always. The megabanks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho) list a personal seal as required, but Japan Post Bank and the online banks generally let you open an account without one. Starting with a newcomer-friendly bank lets you skip the hanko for now.
Most working holidaymakers open an online bank such as Sony Bank first, as it states there is no minimum stay required, or Japan Post Bank, which is widely used by newcomers (confirm its current rule directly). You can add a megabank account later if you want one, once you are working or have reached six months.
Usually yes. Rakuten Bank states you need a mobile number you use in Japan, and most banks and banking apps expect a contactable Japanese number for verification. Sort a SIM before you apply.
The megabanks list My Number documents among what to bring. Newcomer-friendly options can often be opened before your My Number arrives, but your employer will ask for it for tax, so get it sorted either way. See the tax guide.
Verified on 23 June 2026 by the WHE research team. Sources: digital.go.jp · isa.go.jp. How we verify →