NISA product range, mutual funds, Japanese and US stocks, fees and FX, recurring purchases, card/point integration, and foreign-resident support.
For NISA, SBI, Rakuten, Monex, Matsui, and Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart lead on broad eligibility, low NISA transaction charges, and recurring services; the best fit depends on which funds you want, your ecosystem, and whether you need foreign-stock support.
For NISA, the first thing to compare is the eligible product range and how easily you can automate it. SBI, Rakuten, Monex, Matsui, and Mitsubishi UFJ eSmart all offer broad NISA fund menus, ¥100 minimums, and recurring purchases, and generally advertise ¥0 commissions on NISA-covered domestic shares and funds. Check that your intended fund is on the FSA list and offered by the broker in the allowance you want.
Recurring-purchase controls matter for the tsumitate allowance: monthly dates, bonus-month settings, and how easily you can adjust amounts. These small differences affect how smoothly you can run a long-term plan.
If you want US or other foreign stocks inside NISA, support is broker-specific. SBI, Rakuten, Monex, and Matsui offer NISA US-stock trading (often ¥0 on covered products), while foreign-market breadth and FX terms differ. IBKR Japan supports eligible domestic and foreign products in NISA with global reach. Confirm the exact securities and the FX cost, since foreign withholding remains even in NISA.
Ecosystem integration can decide a close call: Rakuten Card/Points with Rakuten, SMBC/Olive and V Points with SBI, d Card/Points with Monex, MUFG/au/Ponta with eSmart. These are conveniences, not reasons to accept a worse fund menu.
Remember the structural NISA rule: only one institution can receive your new NISA purchases in a given year, though you can generally change institutions by year. If you switch, your existing NISA holdings normally stay at the old broker in that NISA relationship — they do not transfer into the new broker’s NISA — so choose carefully to avoid fragmenting your NISA across firms.
Because switching is possible but not seamless, weigh the fund menu, costs, and ecosystem for the long term. The best NISA broker is the one you will happily keep, that carries your funds, and that fits your status.
Brokerage (NISA/iDeCo) · Rakuten Securities
A leading low-cost brokerage for NISA and index-fund investing, integrated with Rakuten points and Rakuten Bank.
Fees: Many domestic funds and trades are low- or no-commission — verify current fee schedule.
Brokerage (NISA/iDeCo) · SBI Securities
Japan’s largest online brokerage by accounts, with a very broad low-cost fund lineup and full NISA/iDeCo support.
Fees: Many trades and funds are low- or no-commission — verify current fee schedule.
Brokerage (NISA/iDeCo) · Monex
An established online brokerage often chosen for US-stock access and research tools, with NISA and iDeCo support.
Fees: Commissions vary by product; some funds/trades are low-cost — verify current schedule.
Generally yes, if you are a tax resident of Japan (with a My Number) and at least 18. NISA is tied to residency, not citizenship, so most foreign residents qualify — with two big cautions: US citizens and green-card holders face US tax complications with Japanese funds, and NISA generally cannot continue after you leave Japan. Confirm eligibility and the current rules on the FSA site and with your chosen brokerage.