Sending Money from Japan to China: Cheapest Options

Sending money from Japan to China does not have to be expensive. In this guide, we compare banks, online remittance services, cash pickup, and wallet transfers like Alipay and WeChat, and show simple strategies to cut your total cost and avoid hidden fees.

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Table of Contents

Overview of Japan to China money transfers

Japan and China have a strong flow of money: students supporting family, workers sending part of their salary, and small businesses paying suppliers. But fees and exchange rates can easily take 5–10% of what you send if you choose the wrong method.

According to data collected by the World Bank in early 2025, the average total cost of sending money from Japan to China across many providers is close to 9% of the amount sent. However, the cheapest digital providers for bank transfers can be under 1% in some cases.

The good news: if you are willing to compare a few services and understand how fees really work, you can usually find a much cheaper option.

If you are new to banking in Japan, it can also help to read our guide on best banks in Japan for foreigners.

How to compare costs when sending money to China

Before we look at specific services, it is important to know what “cheapest” really means. When you compare providers from Japan to China, look at four things:

1. Transfer fee

This is the visible fee (for example, “750 JPY per transfer”).
Many Japanese banks and some remittance counters charge a flat fee that can be high for small transfers.

2. Exchange rate margin

Most services do not use the real mid-market rate you see on Google. They give you a slightly worse JPY–CNY rate and keep the difference as profit.

Comparison sites and the World Bank corridor data show that this margin can be anywhere from under 1% with specialist services to several percent with traditional banks.

3. Receiving fees in China

Some Chinese banks charge an incoming fee for international transfers or for certain currencies. Wallets like Alipay and WeChat Pay may have different rules.

When you send to Alipay or WeChat using a service like Xoom or Western Union, the recipient usually does not pay a separate receiving fee, but the sending costs already include margin and fees.

4. Speed and convenience

Cheaper is not always better if your family needs money today. Some methods deliver in minutes, others take 1–5 business days.

Also consider:

Do you need to visit a bank branch?
Can you use an app or website?
Does the recipient prefer cash, a bank account, or a mobile wallet?

If you often move money in and out of Japan, you may also want to check our overview on International money transfer.

Quick comparison of main options

Here is a simple overview of the most common ways to send money from Japan to China and how they usually compare on cost and convenience.

Option type	Typical providers from Japan	Approx. total cost range (fees + FX)	Speed	Receive method in China	Best for
Online money transfer services (bank to bank)	Wise, Instarem, SBI Remit (bank deposit), some others	Often around 0.3–3% depending on amount and method	Minutes to 1–2 days	Bank account in CNY, sometimes USD	Regular remittances, salary, larger amounts where cost matters
Japanese banks’ international transfers	Major banks, some online bank services, older Japan Post routes	Often 5–10% or more after FX margins and bank fees	1–5 business days	Chinese bank account	Large one-off transfers where you need to use your main bank or for business payments
Japan Post Bank (Yucho) international remittance	Legacy service now terminated at branches; new arrangements under review	Historically similar to bank transfers (higher cost)	A few days	Bank account	People who used Yucho before must now switch to new services or other providers
Cash pickup and hybrid services	Western Union, MoneyGram, Seven Bank Western Union partnership	About 2–6% total cost for cash pickup, depending on route and channel	Minutes to same day	Cash pickup, sometimes Alipay or bank	Urgent help, family without bank accounts, rural areas
E-wallet and mobile wallet transfers	Xoom (PayPal), PayPal account-to-account, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay MoneyExpress partners	Usually competitive but not always the absolute cheapest; often 1–5%	Minutes to hours	Alipay wallet, WeChat wallet, Chinese bank	Everyday support for people who mainly use mobile wallets
Smiles and other mobile remittance apps	Smiles Mobile Remittance, SBI Remit apps, some smaller fintechs	Can be low cost and very convenient; usually in line with other online services	Minutes to 1 day	Bank or cash pickup depending on corridor	Workers who prefer app-only, late-night transfers, convenience store deposits

Note: Cost ranges are approximate and based on comparison tools and remittance price data as of 2025. Always check the live rate before you send.

Cheapest online services for Japan to China bank transfers

For most people who want to send money from a Japanese bank account to a Chinese bank account, specialist online remittance services are usually the cheapest option.

Comparison websites that track the Japan–China corridor regularly list Wise and Instarem among the lowest-cost options for bank transfers, depending on the day and amount.

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Wise is designed to use the real mid-market exchange rate and show you the fee clearly before you send. For Japan to China:

You send JPY from your Japanese bank account or card.
Your recipient gets CNY into their bank account in China.
You see the rate and total cost before you confirm.

Pros:

Transparent fees and typically good exchange rates.
Easy to compare with other providers in their app or on comparison sites.
Good for medium and larger transfers where a small difference in rate matters.

Cons:

Both sender and recipient usually need standard bank accounts.
Some limits and extra checks for very large amounts (anti-money-laundering rules).

If you are still choosing where to open your everyday account in Japan, our guide to opening a bank account in Japan for foreigners can also help.

Instarem

Instarem often appears as the cheapest provider for JPY to CNY bank transfers in recent comparison data, especially for mid-sized amounts.

Key points:

Focuses on international remittances with competitive promotion rates.
Simple app to send from your Japanese bank account.
May offer bonus or loyalty points on transfers.

Watch out for:

Promotional rates may change, so always review the live price.
Transfer limits can depend on your verification level.

SBI Remit

SBI Remit is a large Japanese remittance company that offers online transfers, convenience store deposits, and bank transfers to many countries, including China.

Why people like SBI Remit:

You can register once and then send online or via their “reserve account” system.
Good support in multiple languages.
Works well for people who are already SBI customers or who want a purely Japanese provider.

Things to keep in mind:

Fees and FX margins may be a bit higher than the very cheapest global players, but still often lower than traditional banks.
You must complete identity checks and provide personal information according to Japanese law.

If you plan to stay long term in Japan, also think about how your remittances fit into your overall savings and retirement plan. Our article on Japan pension refund and retirement planning for foreigners can give you a bigger picture.

Seven Bank and ATM-based online services

Seven Bank (the bank behind 7-Eleven ATMs) offers international money transfer services in partnership with Western Union and other partners.

With Seven Bank:

You open a Seven Bank account and sign up for the International Money Transfer Service.
You can send online, via app, or directly at a Seven Bank ATM.
Transfers can go to Chinese bank accounts or be collected via Western Union in cash.

Fees from Japan for overseas transfers through Seven Bank vary by amount but are usually lower when you send to bank accounts than for cash pickup.

Seven Bank is especially convenient if:

You often use 7-Eleven ATMs anyway.
You like to deposit cash (for example, salary from part-time jobs) and then remit.
You want a mix of online transfers and in-person help.

Note that Seven Bank, like other providers, requires you to register your Individual Number (My Number) when using international remittance services, in line with Japanese tax and reporting rules.

For more on everyday banking tools, you can also check our guide to cashless payments and e-money in Japan.

Bank transfers from Japanese banks to Chinese banks

You can always send money from your main Japanese bank (such as MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho, or others) directly to a bank in China. However, this is usually not the cheapest option.

Key characteristics of bank transfers:

High fixed fees: Many banks charge several thousand yen per overseas transfer.
Extra intermediary bank fees: Middle banks and receiving banks in China can deduct their own fees.
Less competitive FX rates: The exchange rate margin can add several percent on top of the visible fee.
Longer processing time: Often 1–5 business days.

When bank transfers may still make sense:

Very large one-off transfers where your company or school requires bank-to-bank.
Payments to Chinese businesses that only accept SWIFT transfers.
When you feel safer using a big bank you already know.

Japan Post Bank (Yucho) update

Japan Post Bank historically had an international remittance service through its branches and post offices. However, as of 29 August 2025, Japan Post Bank has officially terminated the old international remittance service at branches and post offices and is transitioning to new arrangements.

This means:

If you used to send money to China via Japan Post counters, you now need to switch to a different method or check their new service details (currently mainly in Japanese).
For many foreign residents, this is a good time to compare modern online remittance services instead of relying on Yucho.

If you are thinking about long-term plans or moving out of Japan later, also read our guide on taking money out of Japan when you leave.

Cash pickup services like Western Union and MoneyGram

If your family or friends in China need to receive cash, or if they do not have easy access to a bank account, cash pickup services can be very useful.

Western Union

Western Union lets you send money from Japan online, through agents, or via partners like Seven Bank, and the recipient can:

Pick up cash at Western Union locations in China.
Receive the money into some bank accounts.
In some cases, receive funds into Alipay accounts.

Recent comparison data shows that for cash pickup, Western Union is often among the cheaper options on the Japan–China route, with an average cost around the mid-2% range for certain amounts, which is lower than many traditional bank transfers but still higher than the cheapest bank-to-bank online services.

MoneyGram and similar services

MoneyGram and some other global remittance brands also operate in Japan, mainly through agent locations. Their fees and exchange rate margins are often in the mid- to high-single-digit percentage range for Japan–China transfers.

Use a cash pickup service if:

The recipient needs money urgently and cannot wait for a bank transfer.
There is no convenient bank nearby.
The amount is not very large, so the absolute cost is still acceptable.

If the recipient has access to a bank or mobile wallet, a cheap online service is usually better in the long run.

Sending to Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay from Japan

In China, many people use mobile payment apps every day. Being able to send money directly to Alipay or WeChat Pay is very convenient for them.

Xoom and PayPal

PayPal and its service Xoom allow you to send money from abroad to China. Xoom supports:

Deposits to many major Chinese banks.
Transfers to Alipay and WeChat mobile wallets in China.
Fast delivery, often within minutes to wallets and within about 30 minutes to many banks during processing hours.

Costs:

You pay a fee and an exchange rate margin that varies by payment method (card vs bank) and amount.
It is often competitive but not always the very cheapest compared with Wise or Instarem, especially for larger bank transfers.

Western Union to Alipay

Western Union also supports transfers to Alipay in China for many sender countries. For Japan, you may be able to send online or via a partner, and the recipient receives money in their Alipay wallet almost instantly.

UnionPay MoneyExpress

UnionPay’s MoneyExpress is a cross-border remittance service that connects many countries, including Japan, with receivers in China. It can send money to UnionPay cards or bank accounts linked to UnionPay.

You will usually access UnionPay’s remittance through partner banks or apps rather than directly.

These wallet and card-based options are great when:

Your family mainly lives on Alipay or WeChat Pay.
They rarely use traditional bank accounts.
You send smaller, frequent amounts for daily living costs.

How much can you actually save?

Let’s say you want to send 100,000 JPY to your family in China.

If you use a traditional bank transfer or an expensive provider with a total cost around 9% (similar to the corridor average), your family may only receive the equivalent of about 91,000 JPY in CNY after all fees and rate margins.
If you use a cheaper online service with a total cost closer to 3%, they may receive the equivalent of about 97,000 JPY in CNY.

The difference is roughly 6,000 JPY on this single transfer (because 6% of 100,000 JPY is 6,000 JPY).

If you send money every month, this difference can become tens of thousands of yen per year.

This is why it is worth spending a few minutes to compare providers. Tools like Monito, Exiap, and other comparison sites allow you to see real-time cheapest options for Japan–China transfers.

Legal requirements and documents in Japan

When you use banks or registered remittance services in Japan, you must follow Japanese financial regulations.

Common requirements include:

Valid ID: Residence card, passport, or similar ID.
My Number: Many providers (such as Seven Bank) require your Individual Number for international transfers, to meet tax reporting rules.
Proof of address: Sometimes requested during registration.
Purpose of transfer: You may be asked if the money is for living costs, tuition, savings, business, etc.
Limits: Providers may have daily or annual limits, especially before full verification.

Always register with a legal, licensed provider. Illegal “underground” money transfer schemes can lead to frozen accounts or serious legal trouble.

If you have questions about how your international transfers relate to income tax in Japan, our separate post on double taxation and tax treaties for residents in Japan will be helpful.

Step-by-step: finding the cheapest option for your situation

Here is a process you can follow every time you send money:

Clarify what you need
- How much JPY are you sending?
- How often will you send?
- Does the recipient prefer a bank account, cash, or Alipay/WeChat?
List 3–4 realistic options
- One or two online remittance services (e.g., Wise, Instarem, SBI Remit).
- Your main Japanese bank.
- A wallet or cash pickup service if needed (Western Union, Xoom, etc.).
Check the live total cost
- Enter the same amount into each provider’s calculator.
- Note:
  - Transfer fee
  - Exchange rate and final amount in CNY
  - Estimated arrival time
Check any extra receiving fees
- Ask your recipient if their Chinese bank charges a receiving fee.
- For wallets, confirm if there are any top-up or withdrawal costs.
Decide based on total value
- If a service is much cheaper and still fast enough, use it.
- If you need money today, balance speed and cost.
Save your preferred setup
- Once you find a cheap and reliable option, save the recipient details and app.
- Next time, sending will be much faster.

FAQs about sending money from Japan to China

Is Wise always the cheapest way to send money from Japan to China?

No single provider is always the cheapest. Wise is often among the cheapest for JPY–CNY bank transfers, but fees and exchange rates change daily, and sometimes another specialist like Instarem, SBI Remit, or a promotion from another service can be slightly cheaper.

Always compare at least two services before each large transfer.

Can I send money to Alipay or WeChat directly from Japan?

Yes. Services like Xoom (a PayPal company) and Western Union support transfers that arrive in Alipay or WeChat wallets for recipients in China.

You will usually:

Create an account in Japan.
Select China and choose Alipay or WeChat Pay as the receive option.
Enter your recipient’s wallet details and confirm the payment.

Are online remittance services safe?

Licensed services like Wise, SBI Remit, Seven Bank’s money transfer service, and others are regulated either in Japan or in their home countries and must follow strong security and anti-money-laundering rules.

To stay safe:

Use only well-known, regulated brands.
Enable two-factor authentication.
Never share your password or one-time codes.

What is the maximum amount I can send from Japan to China?

Limits depend on:

The provider (bank vs remittance company).
Your verification level.
Japanese foreign exchange rules and anti-money-laundering policies.

Some banks and services set daily or annual maximums for individuals. For large transfers (for example, buying property), talk directly with your bank or provider to plan the transfer and required documents.

Can I send money in USD instead of CNY?

In some cases, yes. You may be able to send JPY from Japan and have it converted to USD, which then arrives in a Chinese foreign-currency account. However, this can create extra fees and complications, and many families do not have foreign-currency accounts in China.

For most personal remittances, sending directly in CNY is simpler and usually cheaper.

What if I am leaving Japan permanently?

If you plan to leave Japan and move your savings to China (or another country), you might combine:

Several low-cost online transfers over time, and
A larger bank transfer arranged in advance.

Final tips

Use online comparison tools before you send, especially for amounts above 50,000 JPY.
Avoid blindly using your main bank for remittances; it is convenient but often expensive.
Consider the recipient’s habits – if they live in mobile wallets, sending to Alipay or WeChat may be the most practical choice.
Keep records of your transfers for future tax or visa paperwork.

With a small amount of research, you can turn an expensive 8–10% transfer into a much cheaper 1–3% one and make sure more of your hard-earned yen reaches your loved ones in China.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.

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