What is the easiest and cheapest way to get money from a US checking account into one in Japan?

Question

I will be going to Japan for an extended period of time and I don't want to keep going to an ATM at the post office there to get cash from my Washington Mutual checking account in America. I will be setting up a bank account in Japan with a Japanese bank, and I am hoping to be able to transfer funds from my WAMU account to the one in Japan. If you have any solutions they would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Ok, first of all you have to have a bank account opened first.

You won't be able to do this until after you get your Alien Registration Card. That'll take about 3 weeks to process. Then you can open a bank account.

Your best bet is to have your family transfer some money into the account after you have opened the account in Japan. You'll need to give your family the bank account number and there is also another special code that the bank will need.

When it comes to transfering money, my experience is that it costs about $50 for a transfer.

I am in Japan and just transfered money last month.

Answer 2

Does Washington Mutual let you do bank transfers online?

If so, you can just do it on a PC in Japan ... but I imagine it will cost you something like 30 dollars to transfer $$$ from your WM account to your account in Japan.

Where are you going to live in Japan? I lived there for 6 years -- in Nagano prefecture.

Answer 3

When you get to Japan, open an account at Shinsei Bank. They allow foreign currency deposits, including checks. If are here to work, your employer may have a preferred bank, but you can open more than one.

Answer 4

Just so you know, checks are ONLY used in business in Japan. Personal checks are unheard of.

The easiest and safest way is to do a wire transfer. Once you are there and have an account setup, initiate it from US side.

If you try to write your US checks in Japan, in order to transfer money, you'll face all kinds of delays and fees. I would not recommend it.

Bring your initial cash in traveller's check. IT cashes quite easily.

Answer 5

change into some size of T/C (traveller's cheque), $100, $500 etc,and bring them.

I wonder whether foreigner can open an account at bank immediately, especially after 911.
Maybe it depends.

Search questions with a word "account".
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quedisplay.html

PS:If you want use debit-cash card in Japan, PLUS or Cirrus mark is necessary in the back of your bank card.

ATM locator
VISA/PLUS
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Master/Cirrus
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html