There are several ways of sending money to foreign countries from banks and post offices in Japan. Exchange rates are set each morning and usually remain unchanged for the whole day.

At the bank or ATM

Banker's draft

A banker’s draft is like a personal check that can be purchased from the bank and sent overseas by registered mail. Handling fees are around 4,000 yen, and the registered mail will take from 6 to 14 days to arrive.

Telegraphic transfer

With telegraphic transfer, money is transferred electronically from one bank account to another within two working days. Handling fees are around 4,000 yen. You will often be given a choice of prices. If you pay the lower price, intermediary banks overseas will probably levy additional charges. If you pay the higher price, no deductions will be made en route. Be prepared to fill in a lengthy application form at the bank, and wait while the transaction is processed.

GoLloyds

If you register in advance with GoLloyds, you can send money abroad by doing a domestic transfer. The handling fee is 2,000 yen per remittance, and the overseas intermediary bank will also levy a charge. For more information, including the intermediary banks’ charges, see https://www.golloyds.com/index/en.

Moneybookers

If you set up your account in advance and register your bank accounts in both countries, you can transfer money from your bank account in Japan to your bank account back home via Moneybookers. In order to send money from Japan, you will need to set up your Moneybookers account with your Japanese home address. To upload funds to your Moneybookers account, you can either use a pre-registered credit card or do a domestic Japanese transfer.

A Moneybookers transfer can take several days and the exchanges rates may not be clearly stated (depending on what currencies are involved) but the transfer charges are minimal. See http://www.moneybookers.com.

At the post office

There are two main ways of sending money abroad at a post office.

International postal money order

An international postal money order is a piece of paper that you buy with cash and then send by registered mail. The recipient can then cash the money order at a local post office. There are limits on the amount of each money order, but if you want to send more than the limit, you can just buy two or more.

Sending money electronically

To send money electronically to the payee’s account in a foreign country, you just pay the amount and the 2,500 yen handling fee at the post office. In-payment money orders, to giro accounts, take 4–6 days, and telegraphic remittances, to bank accounts, take 2–4 days.