Guide · Payments
Paying for Renovations & Vendor Work
in Japan From Overseas
Need a repair, renovation, or other work done on your Japanese property while you live abroad? Here is exactly how payment works — and how we keep your costs down by not routing large vendor bills through a credit card.
Key Takeaways
- Every job has two parts: the actual vendor cost (paid to the contractor) and our service fee (5% + consumption tax).
- Large vendor costs are paid by international transfer — Wise recommended, or your bank — not by card, because card processing would add about 4% to the full amount.
- You send funds to our Japanese bank account; we pay the contractor directly and give you the receipt in your dashboard.
- Our service fee and small fixed items can be paid by card, or bundled into the same transfer to keep it to one payment.
- Bank details are sent to you individually after you approve the quote — never advance payment to an account you were not given directly by us.
Every job has two parts
When we coordinate work on your property, your bill is made of two very different things — and each is paid the way that costs you the least.
Actual vendor cost
The money that goes straight to the Japanese contractor (renovation, repairs, cleaning, etc.). Paid by bank / Wise transfer so no card fee is added to it.
Our service fee
Japan YES's coordination fee — 5% of the vendor invoice + consumption tax. Small enough to pay by card, or add it to the same transfer.
Why large vendor costs are not put on your card
Card processing adds roughly 4% to the full amount charged. On a ¥1,000,000 renovation that is about ¥40,000 of pure fees on money that just passes through to the contractor. Paying the vendor cost by transfer (Wise is usually under 1%) keeps that money in your pocket.
How payment works, step by step
1. Approve the quote
We research vendors, gather quotes, and send you the vendor cost plus our fee in English. Nothing moves until you approve.
2. Transfer the vendor cost
You send the actual cost to our Japanese bank account by international transfer — Wise recommended, or your own bank. We send you the transfer details individually after approval.
3. We pay the contractor
Once funds arrive, we pay the Japanese contractor directly and coordinate the work in Japanese on your behalf.
4. Receipt in your dashboard
We upload the vendor receipt and an itemized invoice, clearly separating the actual cost from our service fee.
5. Pay the service fee
Our 5% fee (plus consumption tax) can be paid by card, or included in the same transfer to keep it to a single payment.
Paying by Wise (recommended)
Wise is the cheapest and simplest way for most overseas owners to send Japanese yen. Opening a free account takes about 10 minutes. When you send, you enter our Japanese bank details (provided to you after you approve the quote), and the money arrives as a normal domestic yen transfer — usually within a day.
- Low fee — typically well under 1% to send yen, versus about 4% by card.
- You keep control: pay in your own currency, Wise converts at the mid-market rate.
- One transfer can cover the vendor cost and our service fee together.
Prefer your own bank?
You do not have to use Wise. Any international transfer to our Japanese bank account works — your own bank, Revolut, OFX, or similar. Traditional bank wires usually cost more in fixed fees, but if that is easiest for you, it is completely fine. Whichever method you choose, the transfer fee is on the sender's side.
A note on account details
For your security, we send our bank details to you directly after you approve a quote — they are never posted publicly. Please only send funds to an account you received from us by email or in your dashboard. If anything looks off, email info@jpyespm.jp to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just pay for a renovation with my credit card?
Card processing adds roughly 4% to whatever is charged. On a ¥1,000,000 renovation that is about ¥40,000 of pure fees on money that simply passes through to the contractor. To keep your total cost down, actual vendor costs are paid by low-cost international transfer instead of card.
Do I need a Wise account?
To pay with Wise, yes — a free Wise account takes about 10 minutes to open. But Wise is only a recommendation because it is cheap and fast; you can also use your own bank or another provider. You do not need to hold funds in Wise.
How much does an international transfer cost?
With Wise, sending Japanese yen typically costs well under 1% — far less than the ~4% card fee. The transfer fee is on your side. A bank wire also works but usually costs more in fixed fees.
Who do I pay — Japan YES or the contractor?
You pay Japan YES. We pay the Japanese contractor directly from Japan and give you the receipt. Most contractors only accept domestic bank transfer and will not deal with overseas payment — which is exactly why this service exists.
Can I pay the service fee by card?
Yes. The service fee and small fixed items are small enough that card is fine (you will see a Pay Now button). Or include the fee in the same transfer to keep it to a single payment.
Is consumption tax charged on the vendor cost?
No. The actual vendor cost is a reimbursement (立替) passed through at cost. Consumption tax applies only to our service fee.
Need work done on your Japanese property?
Tell us what you need. We will research vendors, gather quotes in Japanese, and handle payment and coordination end to end — you just approve and pay.