Send money from the UK to Japan
Transfer British Pounds to Japanese Yen without the bank markup. X Rate Capital prices GBP→JPY off the live interbank market, settles same-day on Japanese business days over Zengin, and puts a named specialist on every transfer.
Sending the other way? Send money from Japan to the UK.
More routes: UK transfers · Japan transfers
What people use us for in Japan
Buying property in Japan
Deposits, staged payments and completion on a Japanese purchase — rate locked when you commit, funds landing over Zengin on the day they're due.
Relocating to Japan
Move savings, salary and pension income from the UK without losing 3–4% to your bank each time. There's no limit on moving money out of the UK, though your bank will run standard source-of-funds checks on larger amounts.
Family & living costs
Regular or one-off support for family in Japan, settling same-day on Japanese business days, with scheduled transfers and a full audit trail.
Paying Japanese suppliers
Pay suppliers, contractors or staff in Japanese Yen with batch payments, forward cover on your margin, and transparent GBP/JPY pricing.
Where the savings actually come from.
A high-street bank pricing GBP/JPY builds its margin into the rate before any fee appears on the statement. We quote against the live mid-market and settle over Zengin, so what you compare is the rate itself.
- Exchange rateMid-market plus a transparent marginWide spread, often hidden
- Settlement speedSame-day to T+2 typical3 to 5 business days
- Account managerNamed human, by phoneBranch queue or call centre
- Forwards / hedgingUp to 24 months, structuredLimited or unavailable
- Mass paymentsBulk batches, multi-currencyOne-by-one entry
- Crypto on/off rampRegulated, OTC deskNot supported
- Multi-currency holding65+ currencies, no forced conversionLimited
- ReportingAudit-grade, on demandStatements only
Built for the people who move money.
Most UK-to-Japan transfers we handle are property, business investment, study, and income following long-term residents — so the desk already knows the paperwork, the cut-offs and where this route usually stalls.
Global payments
Send and receive payments to over 190 countries effortlessly, with competitive rates and guaranteed reliability.
Local currency accounts
Manage 65+ currencies in one account, making global transactions simple and hassle-free.
Fast & secure
Move money quickly and securely with advanced encryption, ensuring every transaction is seamless.
Three steps to seamless global transfers.
Set-up takes minutes. Once you are approved, GBP/JPY transfers settle same-day on Japanese business days, with a named dealer for anything time-sensitive.
Open your account
Sign up and verify your identity once. We will ask what you are moving and roughly how often, so the desk can set up your UK funding and your Japan beneficiary before the first trade.
Fund over Faster Payments (or CHAPS for larger sums)
Send British Pounds to your account using Faster Payments (or CHAPS for larger sums). There's no limit on moving money out of the UK, though your bank will run standard source-of-funds checks on larger amounts.
Settle into Japan
We book GBP/JPY at the live rate and pay out over Zengin — same-day on Japanese business days. Yen settles over the Zengin network on Japanese business days.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a transfer from the UK to Japan take?+
Funds reach the beneficiary over Zengin, typically same-day on Japanese business days once your money has cleared with us and the beneficiary is verified. Yen settles over the Zengin network on Japanese business days. Receiving banks ask for the beneficiary name in katakana to match the account exactly, so a mismatch is the usual cause of a delay. Your named specialist confirms exact timing before you book.
What do I need to know about sending money out of the UK?+
There's no limit on moving money out of the UK, though your bank will run standard source-of-funds checks on larger amounts. On the receiving side: Yen settles over the Zengin network on Japanese business days. Receiving banks ask for the beneficiary name in katakana to match the account exactly, so a mismatch is the usual cause of a delay.
Can I set up regular transfers from the UK to Japan?+
Yes — schedule recurring transfers to a saved beneficiary so salary, pension, rent or family support goes out automatically. Each one prices off the live GBP/JPY market rather than a fixed retail rate, and settles over Zengin.
What information do you need about the Japanese beneficiary?+
Account name, account number and the local routing detail for Zengin, plus the reason for the payment. Yen settles over the Zengin network on Japanese business days. Getting the beneficiary name to match the account exactly is the single most common cause of a delayed transfer.
How do I get the best GBP/JPY exchange rate?+
High-street banks typically build 2–4% into the GBP/JPY rate they quote, and the cost is inside the rate rather than shown as a fee. X Rate Capital prices off live interbank with a small margin disclosed before you confirm. Use the calculator above for an indicative rate, then speak to the desk for a live quote.
Is X Rate Capital regulated?+
Yes. Payment services are delivered through FCA-authorised partners — Sciopay Ltd (FRN 927951) and Equals Connect Limited (FRN 671508). Client funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts with tier-1 UK banks.
Get a quote
Tell us what you're moving and a specialist will come back with a live rate and next steps — usually within one business hour.