Brokers With JPY Accounts
Brokers with JPY accounts make managing your trading portfolio in Japanese Yen hassle-free. Due to Japan’s massive international economy, the Yen is the third most traded currency worldwide after the U.S. Dollar and Euro, making up 19% of the daily forex market turnover. This page will explain how JPY accounts work, including their benefits. We also list the best brokers with JPY accounts below.
Brokers With JPY Accounts
These are the 4 best brokers that offer accounts with JPY as the base currency:
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to over 170 markets across 40 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
- FOREX.com - Founded in 2001, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
- Kraken - Kraken is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with a proprietary trading terminal and a list of 220+ tradeable crypto tokens. Up to 1:5 leverage is available with stable rollover fees on spot crypto trading and up to 1:50 on futures. The exchange also supports crypto staking and has an interactive NFT marketplace.
- Zacks Trade - Zacks Trade is a FINRA-regulated US broker offering trading on stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds and more through a proprietary terminal. The broker is geared toward active traders and offers very affordable fees on most assets as well as an app and a vast amount of market data.
Brokers With JPY Accounts Comparison
| Broker | Minimum Deposit | Instruments | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $0 | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| FOREX.com | $100 | Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Crypto | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Kraken | $10 | Cryptos | AlgoTrader, Quantower |
| Zacks Trade | $250 | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Warrants, IPOs | Zacks Trade Pro (Desktop), Zacks Trader (Web), and Handy Trader (App) |
Interactive Brokers
"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Interactive Brokers Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Regulator | SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | $100 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF |
Pros
- There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
- While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
- IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
Cons
- IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
- You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
- Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
FOREX.com
"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
FOREX.com Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Crypto |
| Regulator | NFA, CFTC |
| Platforms | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN |
Pros
- With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
- The in-house Web Trader continues to stand out as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring day traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
- FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
Cons
- Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
- There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
Kraken
"Kraken will suit traders looking for a diverse list of cryptos including Bitcoin and a good security track record."
Kraken Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Cryptos |
| Regulator | FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA |
| Platforms | AlgoTrader, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | Variable |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF |
Pros
- 50x leverage on futures trading
- Crypto staking
- Mobile investing
Cons
- Does not support many newer altcoins
- Low leverage on spot trading
- Slow verification times
Zacks Trade
"Zacks Trade will suit active day traders with experience using advanced trading software. Fees and margin rates are low while the market research is excellent."
Zacks Trade Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Warrants, IPOs |
| Regulator | FINRA, SEC |
| Platforms | Zacks Trade Pro (Desktop), Zacks Trader (Web), and Handy Trader (App) |
| Minimum Deposit | $250 |
| Minimum Trade | $3 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, PLN, CZK, HUF |
Pros
- While Zacks Trade charges commissions that most competitors have eliminated, it wins back ground on borrowing costs. Its margin rates start at 8.83% — a figure that sits notably below what traders pay at the major household-name brokers — making it a practical choice for anyone who regularly carries leveraged positions overnight. The savings are modest on small balances but compound meaningfully for traders running larger margin books across a full year.
- Most brokers at this price point offer little beyond basic charts and a news ticker. Zacks Trade goes considerably further — standard accounts come with over 20 free research subscriptions, plus access to more than 80 additional paid options spanning providers like Morningstar, Dow Jones, Seeking Alpha, and Thomson Reuters.
- The ability to place trades by phone with a human broker at no additional charge beyond the standard penny-per-share commission is a genuine rarity among discount brokers. Most competitors either don't offer this at all or charge a meaningful premium for it, making it one of the few features here that Zacks Trade genuinely owns.
Cons
- The account-opening process is fully digital but overly complicated, with verification taking more than a week in some cases. Multiple document steps and an experience-assessment stage before approval make this one of the more tedious onboarding processes in retail brokerage, at a time when most competitors have it down to hours.
- Traders cannot access forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, or futures — a meaningful gap for anyone trading across multiple asset classes. Given that the infrastructure runs through Interactive Brokers, which supports all of these, it feels like an artificial ceiling rather than a genuine platform limitation.
- Most brokers have dropped stock and ETF trading to $0, making Zacks Trade's penny-per-share fee stand out. For casual traders, the cost is negligible, but a 10,000-share trade costs $100 in commission — and in a market where zero-commission alternatives are everywhere, that's a harder position to defend.
What Is A JPY Account?
A JPY account is an online trading account that uses the Japanese Yen as its base currency. This type of account holds many benefits for Japanese traders or traders from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The Yen is widely used as a reserve currency after USD, EUR and GBP, making it a stable currency and an attractive base currency for many traders.
Brokers with a JPY account allow users to trade on popular forex pairs such as the JPY/USD and JPY/EUR as well as cryptos and other assets without currency conversion fees.
Pros Of Brokers With JPY Accounts
Holding a JPY account provides several advantages:
- Easy access – Japanese traders will want to find an account that offers straightforward access to international markets and finding a broker with a JPY account make that trading process simpler.
- No conversion fees – Traders in Japan or holding JPY who are looking to access international markets may be frustrated by the currency conversion fees some platforms charge. Fortunately, most brokers that offer JPY accounts allow users to trade in Yen with zero conversion fees.
- Regulation – It is important for traders based in Japan to find a broker which is fully regulated by the Financial Services Agency (金融庁, Kin’yū-chō, FSA), which is responsible for overseeing banking, securities and exchanges, plus insurance sectors in Japan. All brokers with JPY accounts in Japan must be regulated by the FSA. Foreign cryptocurrency exchanges are also allowed to operate if they can prove an equivalent registration standard in their host country. This provides security and peace of mind to those trading in Japan or with the Yen.
- Deposits and withdrawals – An important part of finding the right broker in any country is the ease with which a user can make deposits or withdrawals. Brokers offering JPY accounts make it quick and easy to make deposits and withdrawals in Yen.
How To Check A Broker Offers A JPY Account
Not all brokerages allow users to open a trading account denominated in Japanese Yen. Check the accounts section on their website to see if they offer a JPY account. If this is not clear, get in touch with their customer service department. Most reputable brokers offer a 24/7 live chat or phone line which can point you in the right direction.
How To Compare Brokers With JPY Accounts
If you are interested in opening a JPY account but are unsure which broker to go for, we have compiled a list of things to look out for:
- Market access – Before opening an account, it’s helpful to know which markets you want to trade on. JPY is an extremely popular trading currency; however, different platforms will have different FX pairs that they believe will be most popular with their customers. Have a look at what markets you are interested in and check out the broker’s website to see if your desired product is available.
- Fees – Charges vary significantly between online brokers with JPY accounts. Depending on how often you trade and which assets you invest in, different price structures may suit your needs. Fees usually take the form of spreads and/or commissions. Different brokers may also have overnight holding fees and inactivity charges.
- Regulation – Trading can be risky, so finding a broker that is fully regulated and insured is important to help protect your capital. The Financial Services Agency (金融庁, Kin’yū-chō, FSA) is the body responsible for overseeing trading in Japan and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Be sure to find a broker with JPY accounts that are regulated by the FSA to help provide a secure trading experience.
- Rewards and bonuses – Many brokers with JPY accounts offer rewards for customers such as interest on deposits, loyalty schemes and referral programmes. Be wary of any scheme that seems too good to be true, as there could be hidden requirements.
- Mobile app – Trading can quickly become a full-time venture, especially if you’re interested in the crypto market, which is open 24/7. As a result, a high-quality, user-friendly mobile app can prove important. This will allow you to carry out trades with ease no matter where you are or what the time is.
- Demo account – Most platforms provide a demo account, loaded with virtual funds, which allow you to test out the features of an app before you invest any Yen. This is also a great way to refine your skills and reduce risk when it comes to real trades.
Taxes
If you are trading in Japan using brokers with JPY accounts, you may need to pay capital gains tax. A non-resident or non-permanent resident must only pay capital gains tax on income received in Japan, while a resident must pay capital gains tax on all income received, either in Japan or abroad. If you earn ¥200,000 or more from trading, these profits are considered miscellaneous income and are taxable. The basic rate of capital gains tax in Japan is 20%.
Consult a local tax advisor for clarity before you start trading.
Final Word On Brokers With JPY Accounts
With a high GDP, a solid industrial base, and some of the best-known companies in the world, Japan is an attractive location for investors. Furthermore, Japan currently has the most progressive regulatory system in the world for cryptocurrencies and is one of the only countries that recognises Bitcoin and other digital currencies as legal property under the Payment Services Act (PSA).
There are many Japanese and international brokers that accept JPY as the base currency. Make sure to carry out research and choose a broker which is best suited to your needs.
FAQ
Which Brokers Have A JPY Account?
Many brokers have a strong international presence, with several offices around the globe. Some reputable brokers who work in Japan include IG, Plus 500, Interactive Brokers, Saxo and Pepperstone.
Is Crypto Legal In Japan?
Yes, Japan has one of the world’s most progressive regulatory systems for cryptocurrency. Bitcoin and other digital currencies are recognised as legal property under the Payment Services Act (PSA).
How Do I Choose A Broker With A JPY Account?
When deciding between JPY brokers there are several factors to consider. These include market access, fees, regulation, rewards, platforms and mobile apps. Check out our list for our top picks.
Is Trading In Japan A Good Idea?
Japan has the world’s third-largest GDP, trailing the USA and China. It also has one of the biggest Bitcoin markets in the world. This coupled with a highly educated population, a strong industrial base, plus some of the biggest brands in the world means that Japan is an attractive location for traders from across the globe.
Do I Pay Taxes Trading In Japan?
If you earn ¥200,000 or more from trading, these profits are considered miscellaneous income and are therefore taxable. The basic rate of capital gains tax in Japan is 20%. In December 2017, the National Tax Agency ruled that gains on cryptocurrencies should also be considered miscellaneous income and taxed accordingly.