Business bank account in Japan for a Japanese or foreign company

Kabushiki kaisha, godo kaisha or registered branch

A business bank account in Japan is opened in yen in the name of a kabushiki kaisha, a godo kaisha or a registered branch, after the bank reviews the registry extract, premises and directors and the company's actual business. Foreign investors mostly set up a kabushiki kaisha, a lighter godo kaisha or a registered branch, whereas a representative office cannot carry out commercial activity and rarely obtains an operating account.

Foreign investors mostly set up a kabushiki kaisha, a lighter godo kaisha or a registered branch of a foreign company. A representative office cannot carry out commercial activity and rarely obtains an operating account.

Registry extract, company seal and corporate number

The bank asks for the certified extract from the Legal Affairs Bureau register, the company seal registration certificate and the thirteen-digit corporate number. These documents generally need to be only a few months old.

Business account in Japan: a real office rather than a virtual address

Japanese banks check the registered address and are wary of virtual offices, often linked to fraud. A commercial lease, photos of the premises or a visit may be requested, especially for a newly incorporated company.

Non-resident representative directors, a frequent obstacle

Since 2015 a Japanese company can be incorporated without a representative director living in Japan. In practice many banks still hesitate when every director lives abroad and no local contact can be reached.

Share capital and the business manager visa since October 2025

For the business manager visa, the reform effective in October 2025 raised the required capital to 30 million yen with stricter employment conditions. The capital often has to pass through a personal account before the company account is opened.

Beneficial owners and the declaration to the bank for a company account in Japan

Japanese anti-money laundering law requires identifying the person who actually controls the company, usually a shareholder above 25 percent. The bank asks for a written declaration, identity documents and sometimes the chart up to foreign ultimate owners.

Onboarding interviews at MUFG Bank for a foreign subsidiary

A subsidiary of a foreign group approaching MUFG Bank usually presents its business plan, expected Japanese customers and parent company. It can take several weeks, and support from the parent’s relationship bank often helps.

Inward investment and foreign exchange filings

Some inward investments fall under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, with a post-investment report or prior notification in sensitive sectors. The bank may ask for proof of these filings when capital is paid in.

Qualified invoices and supplier payments

Since October 2023 the qualified invoice system determines whether consumption tax can be deducted. Supplier payments go by furikomi, often at month end, and large customers expect an account at a recognised Japanese bank.

Card acceptance, terminals and QR code payments

To accept payments in store or online, the company signs with an acquirer or payment provider that settles into its Japanese account. QR code payments such as PayPay have become widespread and also require a local account.

Documents to prepare for a business bank account in Japan

Build a complete file before the first approach: certified registry extract, company seal registration certificate, corporate number, articles of association and identity documents for the directors. Add the lease or any proof of premises and a clear description of the business. Japanese banks examine each item closely, and an incomplete file slows the process considerably. Sort the documents by theme and check that none is missing before you book an appointment, because a second visit delays the review.

Also prepare a concrete description of the business model: expected customers, suppliers, the countries money will come from and foreseeable volumes. The bank wants to understand why the company needs a local account and how it will be used. A consistent business plan, even a short one, reassures more than a general statement about growing in Japan. A business bank account in Japan is justified by real flows, so prepare concrete examples of contracts or invoices that you can present.

If some documents are written in another language, plan a faithful translation, because the institution works in Japanese. Check the date of each document, since registry extracts must remain recent. Keep a set of copies that is consistent across all items, especially for the spelling of names and addresses. Remember to ask which documents must be originals and which can be sent as copies, which varies from one institution to another.

Steps to get a corporate bank account in Japan

In practice the process starts with choosing the institution and booking an appointment. Depending on the bank, the interview may take place at a branch or with a department dedicated to companies. Present the chosen structure, whether a kabushiki kaisha, a godo kaisha or a branch, and the role of each director. Keep a dated record of every exchange with the bank, especially requests for documents and the answers you supplied.

The bank then reviews the file: registry, address, beneficial owner and the nature of the business. Follow-up questions are common, and timing varies with the institution and the complexity of the group. Answer precisely, and in writing where possible, to avoid different readings by different contacts. If several directors are involved, state who signs, who views the accounts and who receives the access codes, to avoid later blockages.

After the decision, check the account terms: online services, payment tools, transfer fees and access for the directors. Test a first receipt and a first small payment before large transactions. If the capital is paid in by transfer, keep proof of each movement to answer later checks. State the main currency of the flows from the start, since most operations on a business account in Japan are made in yen.

Common mistakes with a company account in Japan

The most common mistake is to assume that a registered company automatically obtains an account. Registration is not enough: the bank examines the address, the activity and the people who control the business. A virtual address, an office without real presence or the lack of a local contact can lead to a refusal or to extra requests. A clear explanation written before the bank asks for it shows seriousness and often shortens the verification exchanges.

A second mistake is to neglect consistency between documents. The company name, address, amount of capital and description of the business must be identical everywhere. Gaps between the registry, the lease and the business plan trigger checks, and the bank may suspend the file until it receives a satisfactory explanation. Also keep proof of the initial contribution and of payment of the incorporation costs, which the bank may request to trace the origin of funds.

Finally, many directors forget the formalities linked to foreign investment and capital contributions. Depending on the sector, a report or notification may be needed, and the bank may ask for proof. Find out before wiring funds, and consult a local professional if your situation falls outside the ordinary. In that case it is better to prepare the discussion with a local professional who knows the formalities and can present your file properly.

Questions to ask the bank before opening a company account

Ask the bank which conditions it applies when directors live abroad: a local contact, a remote interview or extra supporting documents. Practices differ from one institution to another, and the answer can point you to the bank best suited to your structure, whether a local lender or the branch of a foreign group. A company account in Japan also implies regular bookkeeping; the gaps noticed by the bank are often linked to poorly documented entries.

Also ask about the services the business will use: supplier payments by furikomi, collection from customers, links with payment providers and online banking access. Request the fee schedule and the processing cut-off times, because these details weigh on the daily cash flow of a young company. If the answer seems vague, request it in writing: a rule applied consistently is more reliable than a verbal agreement.

Banks pass on tax information under international rules such as CRS and FATCA, and the company remains subject to its own accounting and tax obligations. Have a local adviser confirm invoicing, consumption tax and the filings that apply to you. Finally, check the current rules with the bank and the competent authority, because practices and formalities change regularly.