Opening a Bank Account
Open a Japanese bank account for salary, rent, and bills. You'll usually need a residence card and a registered address; some banks ask for 6+ months of stay.
1 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-14
Open a Japanese bank account for salary, rent, and bills. You'll usually need a residence card and a registered address; some banks ask for 6+ months of stay.
Where: Banks (private). The Japanese Bankers Association explains the basics. · When: Any time after you have a residence card and a registered address.
Steps
- 1Choose a bank (megabank, local bank, or Japan Post Bank) and visit a branch or apply online.
- 2Show your residence card and ID, and fill in the account application.
- 3Receive your passbook and cash card (the cash card often arrives later by post).
What to bring
- Residence card
- Another ID (passport, My Number Card, etc.) if asked
- Personal seal (some banks still ask for one)
- Phone number and proof of address