Kyodai Remittance Japan: Fees and exchange rates

We’ll take a look at the costs and exchange rates you need to know about if you want to use Kyodai Remittance Japan, and also touch on an alternative, Wise. Wise offers low cost international payments which uses the real mid-market exchange rate - a cheap and convenient option to send money abroad from Japan.

Kyodai Remittance: A cost example

Before we go into details, let’s take a cost example: Sending 100,000 JPY (including a transfer fee) to a bank account in Indonesia

	Kyodai Remittance¹	Wise ²
Fee	1,480 JPY	113 JPY + 0.58%
Exchange rate	Exchange rate with a possible markup (1 IDR = 0.0074 JPY)	Mid-market rate - the same rate that you find on Google (1 IDR = 0.00733036 JPY)
Actual cost	1,480 JPY + possible markup within the exchange rate offered	689 JPY
Your recipient receives	13,371,167IDR	13,547,907 IDR Send money

(November 23 2020 at 15:59 (EET))

This example shows why it’s important to look at both the upfront transfer fees, and the exchange rates offered by different service providers. The upfront costs of using Wise are lower than Kyodai - and you’ll also notice a difference in the exchange rate applied for the transfer. That probably means that Kyodai Remittance uses their own exchange rates.

While Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with no markup, many other providers add an extra charge into the exchange rate they pass on to customers. This isn’t transparent, and pushes up prices. More on this just below.

Send money with the real rate💡

Understand Kyodai Remittance’s exchange rate - compare with the ‘real’ rate

To really understand the Kyodai Remittance rate you need to know a bit about the mid-market exchange rate. That’s the rate set by the currency markets, and the one you’ll find on Google or using a reputable currency converter tool.

However, this isn’t usually the rate you’ll get when sending money overseas as a retail customer. Typically banks and service providers tag an extra fee onto the exchange rate in the form of a markup.

To see this in action you’ll need to compare the exchange rate you’re offered by a currency service against the mid-market rate. If there’s a difference it probably means the provider has added a markup or margin to the rate you’ll get. This is clear from the cost example above.

It’s also worth noting that the exchange rate you find online for Kyodai Remittance Japan is not necessarily the rate you’ll get for your transfer. Here’s the small print:³

“The rates are for reference only. Please note that at the time of the remittance process the rate can change.”

To avoid the uncertainty, and get the mid-market rate with no hidden fees, you may want to consider an alternative like Wise.

Check the real rate right now📈

Kyodai Remittance fees

Kyodai Remittance transfer fees vary by country, amount being sent, and the way you want your payment to be received.

Here’s a selection of the Kyodai Remittance fees to popular destination countries, to give an idea of the charges.⁴ For more details, you can check out Kyodai Remittance calculator.

• China

Range	Kyodai Remittance fees
Up to 100,000 JPY	700 JPY
100,001 to 300,000 JPY	1,000 JPY
300,001 to 550,000 JPY	2,000 JPY
550,001 to 1,000,000 JPY	3,000 JPY

• India

Range	Kyodai Remittance fees
Up to 30,000 JPY	880 JPY
30,001 to the limit	1,480 JPY
Using WesternUnion	---
Up to 10,000 JPY	460 JPY
10,001 to 50,000 JPY	600 JPY
50,001 to 250,000 JPY	1,000 JPY
250,001 JPY up to the limit	1,450 JPY

• Indonesia

Range	Kyodai Remittance fees
Up to 50,000 JPY	880 JPY
50,001 to 250,000 JPY	1,480 JPY
250,001 JPY up to the limit	1,980 JPY

• Thailand

Range	Kyodai Remittance fees
Any amount	2,000 JPY

💡A cheap and transparent alternative: Wise

Sending money without ‘hidden fees’ in exchange rates

With Wise , you can send money to 80+ countries using the mid-market exchange rate without any markup.

To send money with Wise,

1. Create a free account
2. Choose an amount to send
3. Add recipient’s bank details
4. Verify your identity
5. Pay for your transfer by bank transfer or debit/credit card

And that is it! You can track your transfer in your account and your recipient will also be notified when a transfer reaches them.

See if you can save🚀

Receiving money for free, like a local does

You can also receive money for free to a Wise multi-currency account from the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and many European countries, just as if you had a local bank account in those countries. Hold your money in 50+ different currencies, and switch it using the mid-market rate whenever you want to!

Learn more📖

How to send money with Kyodai Remittance

After registering online, by mail or at a branch, you can send money with Kyodai Remittance. Transfers can be set up online, at a branch or at Japan Post Bank ATM with the Kyodai Remittance card or Japan Post Bank card. Depending on where you’re sending to, recipients may be able to receive money by cash pickup or directly to their bank account.

Here’s what you need to do.⁵

First, register online, at a branch or by a physical mail

ID documents you need to register with Kyodai Remittance
Foreign customers - a valid residence card Japanese customers require any of the following: Current Japanese driving license My Number card Passport + second document showing address

And send money either at a branch, with a Kyodai Remittance card, by bank deposit or with a Japan Post Bank card;

In branch

Simply visit one of Kyodai’s branches and the staff will guide you through the remittance process. Remember to take your ID document along.⁶

Kyodai Remittance card

Using any Japan Post Bank ATM you can insert your Kyodai Remittance card and make a deposit in notes. There is an additional fee for this service of up to 430 JPY + after hours fees of 100 JPY if relevant.⁷

Send money by bank deposit

If you and your recipient are both registered with Kyodai you can also call, email or use the Kyodai app to arrange your deposit, and pay by bank transfer.⁸

Send money with your Japan Post Bank card

Using either a Japan Post Bank ATM or counter service you can send money overseas for a fee. Costs vary from 125 JPY to 440 JPY in addition to the normal Kyodai Remittance fees.⁹

Sending money overseas doesn’t have to be difficult. But finding the best service for your needs will take a little research. As international transfer services structure their fees in a range of different ways you’ll need to look at both the upfront costs and the exchange rates on offer when you choose the right service for you. Make sure you take a look at the low cost, simple online transfers from Wise to see if you can save.

Check the cost of Wise🔎

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Sources

1. Kyodai Remittance Calculator (November 23 2020 at 15:59 (EET))
2. Wise (November 23 2020 at 15:59 (EET))
3. Kyodai Remittance Rate Index
4. Kyodai Remittance Fees
5. Kyodai Remittance Send Money
6. Kyodai Remittance Branches
7. Send By Kyodai Remittance Card
8. Send By Denshin Furikomi
9. Send By Japan Post Bank Card