Compare Savings Accounts in Japan

Savings accounts in Japan are tracked across high-street banks, building societies and digital challengers, with all eligible deposits covered by Japan's Deposit Insurance Corporation up to ¥10,000,000 per institution. Compare introductory bonus rate expiry dates carefully — many top-rate accounts revert to a lower standard rate after 12 months, and the switch requires action to retain the rate.

21 live savings accounts offers tracked across 14 Japanese providers, with rates from 0.02% AER. Data current as of 23 October 2026 and updated daily from the Giraffy database.

Live offers

21 live offers compared from 14 providers, from 0.02% AER. Updated daily.

Resona Online Savings Resona Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Savings
  • Access / Term: Branch/Net
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 10,000

MUFG Direct Savings Account MUFG Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Savings
  • Access / Term: Branch/Net
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 10,000

SMBC Direct Savings SMBC

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Savings
  • Access / Term: Branch/Net
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 10,000

SMBC Trust Prestia Savings SMBC Trust Prestia

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Foreign/JPY Savings
  • Access / Term: Net/Branch
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 100,000

Japan Post Bank Savings Account Japan Post Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Tsujo Chokin
  • Access / Term: Branch/ATM
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

Seven Bank Savings Account Seven Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: ATM/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

Sony Bank Savings Account Sony Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

Mizuho Online Savings Mizuho Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Savings
  • Access / Term: Branch/Net
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 10,000

SBI Sumishin Net Bank Savings SBI Sumishin Net Bank

0.02% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.02% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

Shinsei Bank PowerFlex Savings Shinsei Bank

0.10% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.1% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 1

Rakuten Bank Savings Account Rakuten Bank

0.18% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.18% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

Aozora Bank BANK Savings Aozora Bank

0.20% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.2% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

au Jibun Bank Savings Account au Jibun Bank

0.20% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.2% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

PayPay Bank Savings Account PayPay Bank

0.30% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.3% p.a.
  • Account Type: Online Savings
  • Access / Term: App/Net
  • Balance Limits: No minimum

MUFG Super Teiki Deposit MUFG Bank

0.30% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.3% p.a.
  • Account Type: Fixed Deposit
  • Access / Term: Fixed 3-mo
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 1,000,000

Resona Time Deposit Resona Bank

0.30% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.3% p.a.
  • Account Type: Time Deposit
  • Access / Term: Fixed Term
  • Balance Limits: Min JPY 1,000,000

au Jibun Bank Futsu Yokin au Jibun Bank

0.31% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.31% base; up to 0.65%
  • Account Type: Ordinary deposit
  • Access / Term: Instant access
  • Balance Limits: See jibunbank.co.jp

Rakuten Bank Futsu Yokin Rakuten Bank

0.64% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.30-0.64%
  • Account Type: Ordinary deposit
  • Access / Term: Instant access
  • Balance Limits: See rakuten-bank.co.jp

Aozora BANK Futsu Yokin Aozora Bank

0.75% AER

  • Interest Rate: 0.75%
  • Account Type: Ordinary deposit
  • Access / Term: Instant access
  • Balance Limits: Top rate on first JPY 1M

PayPay Bank Bonus Savings PayPay Bank

1% AER

  • Interest Rate: 1.0% p.a.
  • Account Type: Bonus Savings
  • Access / Term: App
  • Balance Limits: PayPay usage bonus

au Jibun Bank Plan au Jibun Bank

¥5000 /month

  • Provider: au Jibun Bank

What are savings accounts in Japan?

Savings accounts in Japan are interest-bearing ordinary deposits (futsu yokin) and higher-yielding variants that keep money accessible while earning some return. After decades of ultra-low rates, savers now benefit from renewed competition, with online banks and linked accounts paying meaningfully more than the near-zero rates on traditional passbook accounts.

How the Japanese market works

Online and digital-first banks lead on rate. au Jibun Bank, Rakuten Bank, PayPay Bank and Aozora Bank offer elevated interest on ordinary deposits, often boosted when you link a securities account or meet activity conditions — for example, Rakuten Bank's higher rate for those linking Rakuten Securities, or au Jibun Bank's tiers tied to au services. Megabanks MUFG, SMBC and Resona, plus premium arms like SMBC Trust Prestia, offer stability and full-service banking at lower rates.

Benefits

Instant access — funds stay liquid and withdrawable at any time, unlike locked fixed deposits.

Higher online rates — digital banks and linked-account bonuses pay several times the rate of traditional passbook accounts.

Deposit insurance — balances are protected by DICJ up to ¥10 million of principal plus interest per bank.

How to choose

Compare the effective interest rate, including any bonus for linking a brokerage account or meeting activity conditions — the headline rate may require setup. Check ATM and transfer fee refunds, the app quality, and whether the account integrates with services you use (Rakuten, au, PayPay ecosystems). Keep balances at any single bank within the ¥10 million insured ceiling, and consider splitting money across a savings account for access and a fixed deposit for a higher locked rate.

Leading providers in Japan

au Jibun Bank, Rakuten Bank, PayPay Bank and Aozora Bank lead on savings rates, especially with linked-account bonuses. MUFG Bank, SMBC and Resona Bank offer the reassurance of megabank stability and branches, and SMBC Trust Prestia targets multi-currency and higher-balance savers with premium services.

What it costs

Holding a savings account is free. Interest rates in the market span roughly 0.02% on basic passbook accounts up to around 1.0% on the best online or linked-account deals, with the highest tiers usually requiring a securities-account link or activity conditions. Interest is subject to the standard withholding tax on deposit interest. The main out-of-pocket costs are ATM and transfer fees where not refunded by your account tier.

Protections and regulation

Banks are licensed and supervised by the Financial Services Agency (FSA), and ordinary deposits are covered by the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan (DICJ) up to ¥10 million of principal plus interest per depositor per bank. This makes savings accounts a very safe home for cash, provided you stay within the insured limit at each institution.

Common questions

How do I get the highest rate? The top online rates usually require linking a securities account or meeting activity conditions — for example, connecting Rakuten Securities to Rakuten Bank — so check the qualifying steps.

Savings account or fixed deposit? Savings accounts keep money accessible at a lower rate; fixed deposits pay more but lock funds for a term. Many savers use both.

Savings Accounts in Japan — FAQ

What is the highest savings rate in Japan right now?

Giraffy tracks 21 savings accounts across 14 providers in Japan. Sort by highest rate and filter by account type (easy access vs. fixed) to find the best deal for your timeline.

Is my money safe in a savings account?

Yes — the Deposit Insurance Corporation (DIC) protects up to ¥10,000,000 per bank. Always confirm your institution is FSA-regulated before depositing. If your balance exceeds the protection limit, spread funds across multiple separately-licensed banks.

What does p.a. mean on a savings account?

p.a. (per annum) is the standardised rate that accounts for how often interest is compounded over a year. It's the fairest number to compare across accounts — always compare like-for-like using p.a. rather than the gross or monthly rate.

What is the difference between easy access and fixed-rate savings?

Easy access accounts let you withdraw your money at any time — rates are variable and may change. Fixed-rate bonds or term deposits lock your money away for a set period (usually 1–5 years) at a guaranteed rate, which is typically higher. Choose fixed if you don't need the funds before the term ends.

Do I pay tax on savings interest?

Tax on savings interest varies by country and income level. Check your country's tax authority guidance or speak to a financial adviser if your interest income is significant.

Can I open multiple savings accounts at different banks?

Yes — and it can be a smart strategy. Spreading savings across banks maximises your deposit protection (¥10,000,000 under the DIC per institution) and lets you earn the best rate at each bank. Just keep track of all accounts to avoid losing money to dormancy fees.

How quickly can I access my money in an easy access savings account?

Most easy access accounts transfer funds to a linked current account within one working day, and many process withdrawals the same day. Some accounts restrict the number of free withdrawals per month — check the terms before you open one if flexibility matters to you.