🇬🇧 Japan to UK Transfer Comparison — ¥100,000
| Service | Recipient gets (GBP) | Fee | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Wise | ~£51.20 | ~¥500–700 | Instant–2 hrs | Best rate + speed |
| Revolut | ~£50.80 | Free (under limit) | 1–2 days | Regular senders |
| OFX | ~£50.20 | ¥0 (rate markup) | 1–2 days | Large transfers |
| Western Union | ~£50.10 | Varies | Minutes | Emergencies |
| Japanese Bank | ~£48.70 | ¥3,000–5,000 | 3–5 days | Avoid for regular use |
📋 What Your Recipient Needs (UK)
🏦 For UK bank transfer (Faster Payments)
- Full name (as on account)
- Sort code (6-digit code — e.g., 20-00-00 for Barclays)
- Account number (8 digits)
- Bank name
Common sort codes: Barclays 20-00-00 · HSBC 40-00-09 · Lloyds 30-00-00 · NatWest 60-00-01 · Monzo 04-00-03 · Starling 60-83-71
UK Faster Payments — arrives in minutes
Wise uses the UK Faster Payments system (FPS) for GBP transfers. This means money sent from Japan via Wise typically arrives in the UK within minutes — not days. This is significantly faster than a traditional SWIFT wire, which takes 2–5 business days.
🏆 Best Service by Situation
| Your situation | Best service | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall rate + speed | Wise | Real rate + UK FPS (minutes) |
| Regular monthly under ¥750K | Revolut (weekdays) | Free within monthly limit |
| Recipient on Monzo or Starling | Wise | FPS delivers instantly to digital banks |
| Large transfer £5,000+ | Wise or OFX | Best rates for larger amounts |
🏆 Wise — best for Japan to UK
✓ Real mid-market JPY/GBP rate
✓ UK FPS delivery in minutes
✓ Works with Monzo, Starling, all UK banks
✓ UK local bank details for receiving GBP
✓ Transparent fee — see exact cost before sending
✗ No cash delivery option
⚠️ UK-Specific Tips
🇬🇧
UK residents: Japan income is taxable in UK
UK tax residents are taxed on worldwide income. If you're considered a UK tax resident while working in Japan, you should declare Japanese income to HMRC. The Japan-UK tax treaty prevents double taxation. Consult a UK tax advisor familiar with expats.
⚠️
Revolut weekend warning — applies to JPY/GBP too
Revolut adds a 1% markup on all weekend transfers — Saturday and Sunday. On a ¥300,000 transfer, that's ¥3,000 extra. Always transfer on weekdays to avoid this.
🏦
CHAPS for same-day large transfers
For urgent large transfers (£10,000+), UK banks use CHAPS (same-day settlement). Wise supports this for large amounts. CHAPS fee is typically £25–35 charged by the recipient's UK bank — check before sending.
🇬🇧 Japan → UK
Send money to the UK — arrives in minutes via FPS
Wise uses UK Faster Payments. Real JPY/GBP rate. Works with Monzo, Starling, and all UK banks.