Open a Bank Account

Applying after you are registered as a resident makes screening smoother. Japan Post Bank will not open an account if your period of stay expires within 3 months of the application date, and asks you to come back with a renewed residence card

Banks may ask for extra documents if you arrived recently. Rakuten Bank requires, when less than 6 months have passed since your residence card was issued, either identification showing you have been in Japan for over 6 months or a health insurance qualification certificate showing you work at an office in Japan

Japan Post Bank publishes guidance for foreign customers, and its account-opening app supports Japanese, English, Chinese (simplified) and Vietnamese. Holders of Student or Technical Intern Training status must also show a student or employee ID, and the bank may contact the school or employer to confirm. If you cannot follow the explanation in Japanese, they may ask you to bring someone who can

Having a bank account before starting a job makes salary transfers and utility bill payments much easier

When you leave Japan for good, close the account (Japan Post Bank's guidance). Transferring or selling an account for someone else to use is a criminal offence