As you prepare to leave Japan, you need to consider how to manage your Japanese yen (JPY) currency. Since the yen-to-USD exchange rate is not favorable at the moment, it would be best to keep your money in Yen until the rates improve.
The main options for handling your Yen include:
- Multi-currency FinTech services
- Investment accounts
- Popular FinTech service for international money transfers
- Wise is licensed and regulated as a money transmitter, not a bank.
- US link: wise.com/us/
- Revolut offers multi-currency accounts and international transfers.
- Revolut US manages its funds with Sutton Bank, an FDIC-insured bank.
- It also provides a debit card for easy spending and ATM withdrawals.
- Fees are transparent and competitive
- Be aware that it is not ideal for large transactions (More than $5k)
- Before transferring money, consider their Revolut Plans (subscriptions tiers). It might be worth it to pay for a subscription if you are going to transfer a lot of money.
- Referral link: revolut.com/referral/?referral-code=genjikw45
- US Link: revolut.com/us-en/
I recommend creating your Wise and Revolut using your US addresses. You would guarantee that you are creating US versions of their accounts by inputting US addresses and using their US-specific URLs.
Reasons:
- Currently, Wise's and Revolut's Japanese branches do not support Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- You must update these addresses anyway once you move out of Japan.
Tip: Use a VPN to make the default option the US version.
- Schwab offers a Global Account with no foreign transaction fees and unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide.
- It is ideal for large transactions, frequent international travel, and investment.
- This method will take time, but it will be safer. Charles Schwab is a well-known and reputable financial institution with more regulatory oversight than Revolut or Wise.
- Ref: Schwab Global Account - Global Trading - Charles Schwab
What I would recommend - using both Wise and Revolut
- Both are backed by banks, BUT they are not banks themselves, so keeping all your money is not ideal.
- Spiting your money between Wise and Revolut would be safer.
- I am confident both companies will protect your money, but other FinTechs have locked people out of their accounts for an extended period of time before. This means you will eventually get your money back, but it will take time...
- Create a Wise account.
- Create a Revolut account.
- Read Multi-currency Account: What Is It and How Does It Work? - NerdWallet
- Contact your current US banks if they offer multi-currency accounts.
- Look into the Charles Schwab Global Account.
- Read Leaving Japan: What You Need to Do Before You Move - Tokyo Cheapo