Product availability, fund and foreign-stock support, fees and FX, recurring purchases, card investing, language, and departure policy.
Choose a NISA brokerage on the eligible fund lineup, foreign-stock support, NISA fees and FX, recurring and card-investing controls, language, foreign-resident acceptance, and departure policy — not on a temporary point rate, because you keep the broker long-term.
The most important criterion is whether the broker carries what you intend to buy, in the allowance you intend. Confirm your target fund is on the FSA list and offered by the broker for the tsumitate or growth allowance, and that recurring purchases are supported. If you want individual Japanese shares, REITs, or foreign stocks in the growth allowance, check that specific support — foreign-stock availability in NISA is broker-specific and not automatic.
A broker with a huge menu is only useful if it includes your chosen low-cost fund. Verify the specific product before weighing anything else.
Next compare cost and convenience: NISA transaction charges (usually ¥0 on covered domestic and US products at the big brokers), FX terms if you buy foreign securities, recurring-purchase controls, and credit-card/point integration if you value it. Remember that even in NISA, foreign dividends carry source-country withholding and FX spreads recur, so FX terms matter for global investors.
Weight promotional point rates low — they change and can be outweighed by card annual fees. Convenience and ecosystem integration are legitimate tie-breakers, but only after product availability and cost.
If you are a foreign resident, add three checks: does the broker accept your nationality and residence status; is English support available at the stages you need (opening, tax documents, incidents); and what is its non-resident/departure policy if you might leave Japan. These can differ from the tax rule and are easy to overlook until they matter.
Because you keep a NISA broker for the long term — switching leaves existing holdings at the old firm — factor in continuity. The best NISA broker is the one that carries your funds, accepts your status, fits your budget, and you can see yourself using for years.
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.