In Japan, wages are nearly always paid by furikomi (bank transfer). No account = no pay. Japan Post (Yucho) and JA Bank are the two most accessible options for seasonal staff in Hokkaido. Nail the counter conversation and you clear the single biggest first-week blocker.
Yucho (Japan Post Bank) — opens at any post office, zero startup fee, loved by short-term staff.
JA Bank — the agricultural co-op bank; branches in Kutchan and Hirafu. Some landlords specifically ask for JA accounts.
Your キャッシュカード arrives by mail 1–2 weeks after opening. The 暗証番号 (PIN) is 4 digits — never use your birthday.
If you want online banking at the same time, add 『インターネットバンキングもおねがいします』 and they'll set it up on the spot.
bank account
to open (an account)
bank transfer
deposit (into account)
withdrawal
residence card
personal seal / hanko
PIN (4 digits)
'〜 please' — the universal counter phrase for any procedure.
〜 is required / needed.
At the Kutchan post office, opening a Yucho account
Say politely: 'I'd like to open an account.'
Which document is NOT required to open a Yucho account?
Order: いいですか / サイン / で
振込をおねがいします。
Write out your side of a 4-line conversation to open a Yucho account. Must include: the request, confirmation of documents, the signature question, and asking when the cash card arrives.
Tomorrow: the post office parcel counter. '送ります' and '受け取ります' handle both international and domestic.
