Konnichiwa! Instant transfers have landed in Japan.

At TransferWise, we always put our customers first. That means really listening to feedback on how we can do better. Really.

So when you told us transfers should be quicker — we made it happen.

In the past, you’d have to wait 24 hours or more to receive money into your JPY account. But now, recipients can receive JPY in less than 60 seconds. That’s over 1400x quicker than before. Or 5km travelled on a Shinkansen!

It’s our mission to make money transfers instant, convenient, transparent and eventually free. So we’re thrilled to be one step further for those sending money to Japan — faster than purchasing a bullet train ticket.

How to make your transfer to Japanese yen instant

Send JPY in two easy steps.

1. Set up a transfer like normal.
   💡Tip: Enter your recipient’s name exactly as it appears on the recipient’s bank account. It’s usually written in カタカナ Katakana. A mismatch may cause a delay or rejection of your transfer.

2. Pay for your transfer with an instant payment method.

The speed of your payment method depends on the currency you’re sending from.

Send money from	Instant payment methods
BRL, CAD, HKD, NZD, SGD, USD	Cards
GBP	Bank transfer, cards
AUD	POLi, cards
EUR	SEPA instant enabled banks, SOFORT, cards

If you’re sending from another currency and pay using a card or your existing TransferWise balance, your JPY transfer will be instant.

Most recipient banks in Japan should receive your transfer instantly, though a small number of banks with older systems could still take up to a day. The speed of your transfer would depend on your payment method. As soon as we receive your money, we will send JPY instantly to your recipient.

What’s next?

Right now, 25% of our total transfers are instant. So our mission is not yet complete. But we’re working hard to bring instant transfers to every corner of the world. Keep your eyes peeled for more currency routes speeding up in the coming months.