Complete Guide to Revolut in Japan: Sign Up, Save Money & Travel Smart
Revolut is a UK-based digital finance app used by over 70 million people worldwide. Since launching in Japan in 2020, it has become an essential tool for anyone who travels abroad, shops on international websites, or sends money overseas. With a single app, you can exchange currencies, send money internationally, pay with a Visa debit card, and withdraw local currency from ATMs around the world — all at significantly lower costs than traditional banks.
This guide covers everything you need to know about using Revolut in Japan: how to sign up, the three membership plans, how to top up, key features, and money-saving tips.
👇 Click the button below to sign up for Revolut via referral link
Table of Contents
- What Is Revolut?
- Three Membership Plans Compared
- How to Sign Up (5 Minutes)
- How to Top Up Your Account
- Key Features Explained
- Travel Guide: Using Revolut Abroad
- Latest Features
- Revolut vs Wise: Which Should You Use?
- Important Cautions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary
What Is Revolut?
Founded in London in 2015, Revolut is operated in Japan by REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN Co., Ltd., a registered Type II Funds Transfer Service Provider (Kanto Finance Bureau No. 00060) and a member of the Japan Payment Service Association.
Three Membership Plans Compared
| Feature | Standard (Free) | Premium (¥980/mo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free | ¥980 or ¥9,800/yr | ¥1,980 or ¥19,800/yr |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Free currency exchange | ¥300,000/mo | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Excess exchange fee | 0.5% | — | — |
| Weekend exchange fee | 1% | Free | Free |
| Free overseas ATM withdrawal | ¥25,000/mo | ¥50,000/mo | ¥100,000/mo |
| ATM excess fee | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Free domestic bank transfers | 1/mo | 3/mo | 5/mo |
| Excess transfer fee | ¥220/tx | ¥220/tx | ¥220/tx |
| Cashback | — | — | 1% (max ¥5,000/mo) |
| Card issuance | Physical card shipping ¥500 | Free | Stainless steel metal card free |
| Disposable virtual cards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Card customization | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| Annual partner perks | — | ~¥49,500 worth | ~¥133,640 worth |
How to Sign Up (5 Minutes)
Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Resident of Japan
- Japanese mobile phone number (SMS-capable)
- Personal use only (not for business)
- First-time Revolut account
Documents Needed
One of the following for identity verification: My Number Card, driver’s license, or residence card (在留カード). A My Number document is also required for compliance.
Registration Steps
- Download the “Revolut” app from App Store or Google Play
- Open the app, tap “Sign up,” and enter your Japanese phone number
- Enter the 6-digit SMS code and set your passcode
- Fill in your personal details: country, email, name, address, date of birth, occupation
- Complete KYC: photograph your ID + take a selfie for verification
- Once approved, your virtual card is ready immediately. Physical cards arrive in about 7 days after ordering
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👇 Click the button below to sign up for Revolut via referral link
How to Top Up Your Account
| Top-up Method | Fee | ATM / Transfer Eligible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Free (Revolut side) | ✅ Yes | Recommended! Max ¥1M per transfer |
| Quick Bank Charge (Minna no Ginko) | Free | ✅ Yes | Instant |
| Japan-issued Visa debit card | Free | ❌ Spending only | Free to charge but cannot withdraw |
| Mastercard (debit/credit) | Free | ❌ Spending only | — |
| Visa credit/prepaid card | 1.7% | ❌ Spending only | Costly |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Depends on linked card | Depends on source | Available since Sep 2024 |
Key Features Explained
💱 Currency Exchange
Revolut uses near-interbank (real market) rates — much better than banks or airport exchange counters. Supports 35+ currencies with one-tap exchange in the app.
🏧 Overseas ATM Withdrawals
With your Revolut physical card (Visa), you can withdraw local currency from any Visa/Plus ATM worldwide. Only bank-transfer-topped-up funds can be withdrawn (card top-ups cannot). When the ATM asks whether to convert to JPY, always choose “Without Conversion” (local currency) to avoid the ATM operator’s inflated rate.
💸 International Transfers
Send money to 90+ countries with ¥0 transfer fees on the Revolut side. However, as it uses SWIFT, intermediary banks may charge ¥2,000-7,500. Domestic bank transfers have monthly free quotas by plan.
💳 Visa Debit Card
- Physical card: Plastic (Standard/Premium) or stainless steel (Metal). Visa contactless enabled
- Virtual cards: Instantly issued in-app, add to Apple Pay / Google Pay. Up to 20 cards
- Disposable virtual cards: Card number auto-expires after one use. Perfect for unfamiliar overseas websites
0% foreign transaction fee — compared to the typical 1.6-2.2% charged by regular credit cards.
🔒 Security Features
- Instantly freeze/unfreeze cards from the app
- Toggle ATM withdrawal, online payments, contactless, and magnetic stripe individually
- Real-time push notifications for every transaction
- Biometric (fingerprint/face) login
- Disposable virtual cards to eliminate card number leaks
Travel Guide: Using Revolut Abroad
Before You Leave
- Sign up for Revolut, complete verification, and order your physical card (at least 10 days before departure)
- Top up via bank transfer (required for ATM withdrawals abroad)
- Exchange JPY to your destination currency on a weekday to lock in a good rate
- Confirm ATM withdrawal is enabled in your app settings
At Your Destination
- Withdraw a small amount of local cash at the airport ATM
- Choose “local currency” at the ATM — refuse DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion)
- Use Revolut’s contactless payment or Apple Pay for everyday purchases
- If you run low, top up from your Japanese online bank and withdraw again instantly
Cost Comparison
| Payment Method | Exchange Rate | Foreign Fee | Approx. Cost on ¥100,000 Spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut (weekday exchange) | Near interbank rate | 0% | ~¥0–200 |
| Regular credit card | Card network rate | 1.6–2.2% | ~¥1,600–2,200 |
| Airport / street exchange | Markup included | 2–5% | ~¥2,000–5,000 |
Latest Features
👨👩👧 Kids & Teens (Ages 6–17)
Available in Japan since March 2025. A sub-account under the parent’s Revolut account, designed to teach children financial literacy through hands-on experience.
- Parents can monitor spending in real time
- Automated weekly allowance transfers
- Set spending limits, instantly freeze/unfreeze the child’s card
- “Challenges” feature: kids earn allowance by completing tasks
- Ages 13+ can use virtual cards and peer-to-peer transfers
Max linked kids accounts: Standard 1, Premium 2, Metal 5.
🤝 Joint Account (Launched January 2026)
Two Revolut users can now share a joint account to manage money together — perfect for couples, roommates, or parent-adult child pairs.
- Both members contribute funds and spend from the shared balance
- Real-time spending visibility for full transparency
- Dedicated virtual cards for the joint account
- Multi-currency support — ideal for splitting travel expenses abroad
- No additional fees
Revolut vs Wise: Which Should You Use?
| Comparison | Revolut | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Free tier available | Free (card issuance ¥1,200) |
| Exchange rate | Near interbank rate | True interbank rate |
| Exchange fee | Free on weekdays (¥300K/mo) | 0.35–1% (varies by currency) |
| Foreign spending fee | 0% | Rate difference is the cost |
| Int’l transfer fee | ¥0 (intermediary bank fees possible) | Calculated per amount (transparent) |
| Transfer method | SWIFT | Own network (faster & cheaper) |
| ATM withdrawal | ¥25,000/mo free | ¥30,000/mo free (2x/mo) |
| Unique strengths | Kids accounts, joint accounts, precious metals, disposable cards | Multi-currency bank details (receive in 10 currencies) |
Important Cautions
Standard plan users pay 1-1.5% on exchanges during weekends (Sat ~7am – Mon ~8am Japan time). Pre-exchange on weekdays to avoid this.
Only bank-transfer funds are eligible for ATM withdrawals and outbound transfers.
Revolut is a funds transfer operator, not a bank. It is not covered by Japan’s deposit insurance system (payoff). Don’t store large amounts long-term.
Revolut does not support automatic deductions (口座振替) or salary direct deposits in Japan.
When transferring to a Japanese bank, the recipient will see “REVOLUT TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN カブシキガイシャ” — not your personal name. This may cause issues with some recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can non-Japanese nationals sign up?
Q: Can I receive international transfers?
Q: Is there any points/cashback program?
Q: Can I use Revolut for everyday purchases in Japan?
Q: Can I cancel a paid plan?
Q: Is Revolut safe?
Summary
Revolut is a powerful financial tool for anyone living in Japan, especially useful for:
- ✈️ Traveling abroad — 0% foreign fees + favorable ATM rates
- 🛒 International online shopping — disposable virtual cards for safety, better rates than credit cards
- 💸 Sending money overseas — ¥0 transfer fees to family and friends
- 👨👩👧 Family finance — kids accounts for financial education, joint accounts for shared expenses
- 📊 Currency management — exchange when rates are favorable and hold foreign currency for future use
The free Standard plan covers most users’ needs. Sign up and start exploring today.
👇 Click the button below to sign up for Revolut via referral link
👇 Click the button below to sign up for Wise via referral link
