Compare Personal Loans in Japan

Live offers

20 live offers compared from 20 providers, from 1.50 年率（%）. Updated daily.

What is personal finance in Japan?

Personal finance here refers to consumer credit — unsecured personal loans and revolving cash lines (card loans, or kado ron) used for general spending, emergencies or consolidating other debts. Japan has a mature consumer-lending sector split between bank card loans and dedicated consumer-finance lenders, all operating under strict interest-rate and lending-limit rules introduced to curb over-borrowing.

How the Japanese market works

Bank card loans from MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, Rakuten Bank and Japan Post Bank offer the lowest rates and larger limits, subject to fuller screening. Consumer-finance specialists — Promise, Acom, SMBC Mobit and Lake — compete on speed and accessibility, often approving small loans within a day and offering interest-free introductory periods for new borrowers. Both channels provide revolving lines you draw on as needed.

Benefits

Fast access — consumer lenders can approve and fund small loans same-day, useful for emergencies.

Interest-free intro periods — several specialists waive interest for an initial period (often 30 days) on first-time borrowing.

Flexible revolving credit — draw only what you need and repay flexibly, with interest charged on the outstanding balance.

How to choose

Compare the annual rate first — bank card loans are cheaper, while consumer lenders trade higher rates for speed and easier approval. Check the credit limit offered, whether an interest-free period applies, repayment flexibility, and total interest over your expected borrowing period. Borrow within the statutory total-lending cap and only what you can comfortably repay; revolving credit is convenient but costs add up if balances persist.

Leading providers in Japan

MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, Rakuten Bank and Japan Post Bank lead the lower-rate bank card-loan segment. Promise, Acom, SMBC Mobit and Lake are the major consumer-finance specialists, known for quick online approval, discreet service and introductory interest-free offers for new customers.

What it costs

Annual interest ranges from roughly 1.5% on the sharpest secured or premium bank facilities up to around 18% on consumer card loans, with most unsecured card loans clustering toward the upper end. The legal maximum rate under the Interest Rate Restriction Act caps charges (around 15% to 20% depending on the principal). Your rate and limit depend on income, existing debts and credit-bureau history.

Protections and regulation

Consumer lending is governed by the Money Lending Business Act and the Interest Rate Restriction Act, supervised by the Financial Services Agency (FSA). Key protections include the total-volume control (soryo kisei) capping unsecured borrowing at roughly one-third of annual income, mandatory affordability checks, and interest-rate ceilings. Borrowers who overpaid interest historically also have overpayment-refund rights.

Common questions

Bank loan or consumer lender? Banks cost less but screen more thoroughly and slowly; consumer lenders are faster and easier but charge more. Choose by urgency and how much interest you can accept.

How much can I borrow? Unsecured lending is generally capped at about one-third of your annual income across all lenders under total-volume control rules.

Personal Loans in Japan — FAQ