Furikomi: How to Make a Bank Transfer in Japan (ATM & Online)

Sooner or later in Japan you'll need to furikomi (振込) — make a bank transfer. Rent, a deposit, paying back a friend, settling an invoice: a huge amount of money in Japan still moves by direct bank-to-bank transfer rather than card. The good news is the process is very standardized. This guide shows you how to do it at an ATM and via online banking, what the on-screen kanji mean, the typical fees, and how not to send money into the void.

First, the words: furikomi vs furikae

Two similar terms trip people up:

• Furikomi (振込) — a transfer to someone else's account (a different person or company). This is what you do to pay rent or send money to a friend. This guide is about furikomi.
• Furikae (振替) — usually a transfer between your own accounts, or an automatic direct debit set up to pull recurring bills (utilities, etc.) from your account. Different button, usually a lower or zero fee.

On an ATM or banking screen you'll see buttons like 振込 (furikomi / "Transfer"), 振替 (furikae), 預入 (deposit), 引出 (withdraw), and 残高照会 (balance inquiry). For sending money to someone, you want 振込.

What you need before you start

To send a furikomi you need the recipient's bank details. Ask them for:

1. Bank name (銀行名) and branch name (支店名) — or the branch number
2. Account type — 普通 (futsu = ordinary/savings) or 当座 (toza = current/checking); most personal accounts are 普通
3. Account number (口座番号) — usually 7 digits
4. Account holder name (口座名義) — in katakana, exactly as registered. This matters: transfers are often matched on the katakana name, and a mismatch can cause the transfer to fail or bounce back.

Double-check the katakana account name. Japanese banks frequently verify the name, and even a small spelling difference (or using kanji where katakana is expected) can get a transfer rejected. Confirm it character-by-character with the recipient.