RetireJapan

Hello, I'm a long term resident of Japan but only recently learned about NISAs. I set one up with the Japan Post as I kept getting rejected by Rakuten and it was easy to go into the post office and do it face to face.

Since then, I've been trying to figure out how to use it. My British friend recommended a Vanguard Equity Accumulation Fund but the search function seems utterly useless and won't bring up anything at all unless I leave it blank. I have a UK stock account and have a little in there, but of course I'll get screwed for 20% if i make any money. I'm wondering if there is something similar that I can use in Japan, and if so if someone could point me towards it.

I also seem unable to find individual stocks. The post office guy who set it all up for me was banging on about Apple, Google, etc, but I can't get it to show me anything at all.

If anyone knows a simple user guide I'd really appreciate a link.

Thanks in advance!
Chris

This the the best option at Japan Post, it's basically a custom branded version of eMaxis Slim All Country. Exactly the same as what you'd get with a better provider, just more expensive.

https://qw159.qhit.net/jp-bank.japanpos ... e=03316203

See also https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/Japanese_global_index_funds

Headofwords wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 8:55 pm I also seem unable to find individual stocks. The post office guy who set it all up for me was banging on about Apple, Google, etc, but I can't get it to show me anything at all.

They do not provide the option to buy individual stocks. Only a list of 100 or so funds.

See also
https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/NISA#Choosin ... A_provider

This tells you how far Japan has come with financial services, I remember the day not too long ago (probably 15 years ago) when the Post office would not accept credit cards, unbelievable as it might sound.

adamu wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 3:07 am This the the best option at Japan Post, it's basically a custom branded version of eMaxis Slim All Country. Exactly the same as what you'd get with a better provider, just more expensive.

https://qw159.qhit.net/jp-bank.japanpos ... e=03316203

See also https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/Japanese_global_index_funds

Headofwords wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 8:55 pm I also seem unable to find individual stocks. The post office guy who set it all up for me was banging on about Apple, Google, etc, but I can't get it to show me anything at all.

They do not provide the option to buy individual stocks. Only a list of 100 or so funds.

See also
https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/NISA#Choosin ... A_provider

Thanks for the info! Wow, is it really that bad? I have Hargreaves Landsdown in the UK which is so user friendly it's almost worth the 20% tax hit. Do you think it's better to switch to a different provider? I've heard from a mate that it can take months.

Wales4rugbyWC23 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 7:10 am This tells you how far Japan has come with financial services, I remember the day not too long ago (probably 15 years ago) when the Post office would not accept credit cards, unbelievable as it might sound.

For sure haha. I remember having to wait a week to receive foreign currency, at a worse rate than you could get even at the airport. I think things are improving (they have apps now, not everything is about the little paper book) but things move slowly. Twenty years ago I flew into Fukuoka on a bank holiday weekend and nearly starved because I couldn't draw cash out anywhere using my regional Nagano bank card. I can now make electronic purchases using my British debit card, so the wheels are turning, only very slowly ...!

Headofwords wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:41 pm Do you think it's better to switch to a different provider? I've heard from a mate that it can take months.

Considering you already gave up on Rakuten, as long as you only want to do NISA and are happy with a single diversified fund (which is a sensible choice), I think sticking with the post office and using the fund I linked above is fine. Under the hood it's the same fund we usually recommend on the forum, it just charges a bit more than normal. But 0.198% is not bad, either.

Headofwords wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:41 pm it's almost worth the 20% tax hit

Take a look at the NISA article above. This could work out to millions of yen of tax savings in the long run. Definitely worth doing.

adamu wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 3:27 am

Headofwords wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:41 pm Do you think it's better to switch to a different provider? I've heard from a mate that it can take months.

Considering you already gave up on Rakuten, as long as you only want to do NISA and are happy with a single diversified fund (which is a sensible choice), I think sticking with the post office and using the fund I linked above is fine. Under the hood it's the same fund we usually recommend on the forum, it just charges a bit more than normal. But 0.198% is not bad, either.

Headofwords wrote: ↑Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:41 pm it's almost worth the 20% tax hit

Take a look at the NISA article above. This could work out to millions of yen of tax savings in the long run. Definitely worth doing.

Thanks for the advice, I've set one up. Kind of frustratingly funny that I have to wait until May before it takes the first deposit. I prefer the one day I have to wait with HL, but it's Japan, so. Fingers crossed at some point in the not to distant future I'll be able buy stocks too, but at least this is something.