Buying US Stocks from Japan: Rules, Limits, Routes

Japan allows free personal investment in foreign stocks (with sector-specific restrictions limited to foreign direct investment in strategic industries). Capital gains and dividends taxed at 20.315% flat rate for most investors.

Domestic broker with a US partner

Your local broker routes the order to a partner in the United States. You hold real shares with voting and dividend rights, under full identity verification.

International broker account

You open the account offshore yourself and remit under your country’s rules. Ownership is the same, and the reporting duties sit with you.

Perpetual exposure on Canborsa

A US-equity perpetual tracks the share price and settles in crypto: no broker, no remittance, no share, no votes and no dividends. Funding is charged or paid every 1h while the position is open, and deposits arrive as USDC on six networks.

Yes, Japanese residents can trade US stocks through Interactive Brokers Japan, which gives access to more than 10,000 US stocks and ETFs.

Interactive Brokers is rated the best broker in Japan for trading US stocks.

Dividends from foreign stocks are taxed at a flat rate of 20.315%, made up of 15.315% national tax and 5% local inhabitant's tax.