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SIM & Phone Plan Optimizer

携帯プラン比較

📱 Save ¥36,000 - ¥96,000 per year by switching to a cheaper plan!

Most foreigners overpay for mobile. Find the best plan for your needs.

Find Your Perfect Plan

💡 Yamada Hack: Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Card Combo

If you use Rakuten ecosystem, their mobile plan gives you extra Rakuten Points multiplier at Rakuten Ichiba. Combined with Rakuten Card, you can earn 4-5x points on all purchases!

  • • Rakuten Mobile: +1x point multiplier
  • • Rakuten Card: +2x point multiplier
  • • Rakuten Bank: +0.5x point multiplier
  • • Combined: massive savings on everyday shopping

What You Need to Sign Up

Residence Card (在留カード)
Japanese bank account or credit card
My Number card (for some carriers)
Current phone must be SIM-unlocked (or buy new phone)

Before Switching

  • • Check your current contract - early cancellation may have fees
  • • Keep your phone number by requesting MNP (番号ポータビリティ)
  • • MVNOs may be slower during peak hours (lunch, evening commute)
  • • If you need physical store support, choose UQ Mobile or Y!mobile

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Can foreigners get a SIM card in Japan?

✅ Yes! You need a Residence Card (在留カード) and sometimes a Japanese bank account or credit card.

❓ What is the cheapest plan?

✅ povo 2.0 has a ¥0 base plan - you only pay for data when you need it. LINEMO Mini is ¥990/month for 3GB.

❓ Which carrier has English support?

✅ Rakuten Mobile and ahamo have English apps and support. Most MVNOs are Japanese-only.

❓ Can I keep my phone number?

✅ Yes! Request MNP (番号ポータビリティ) from your current carrier. You will get an MNP code to give to your new carrier.

❓ What is eSIM?

✅ A digital SIM - no physical card needed. You can activate instantly by scanning a QR code. Most new phones support it.

❓ Are cheap plans slower?

✅ MVNOs may be slower during peak hours (lunch, evening). Major carriers like ahamo use full docomo speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rakuten Mobile offers the best combination of English-language support and value for foreigners in Japan, with plans from ¥1,078 to ¥3,278 per month based on data usage and a fully English app and customer service system. IIJmio provides plans from ¥850 per month with a reliable network and English website. LINEMO (SoftBank sub-brand) starts at ¥990 per month with nationwide coverage. All of these SIM options require a valid residence card for registration, making them accessible to foreign residents.
Rakuten Mobile provides comprehensive English support including an English app, English-language contract process, and English chat and phone customer service. IIJmio and Mineo have English websites for account management. Among the three major carriers, docomo (0120-800-000), au, and SoftBank all have English-speaking support available at their flagship stores in major cities and via dedicated multilingual helplines, though wait times can be long compared to smaller carriers.
A data-only SIM provides internet connectivity and supports internet-based calling through apps like LINE and WhatsApp, but does not include a Japanese phone number for making or receiving standard calls. A voice SIM includes both data and a Japanese phone number (070/080/090 prefix), which is required for registering Japanese bank accounts, government services, and many official procedures. Most foreigners living in Japan need a voice SIM for these essential SIM functions.
Japan's telecommunications regulations eliminated early termination fees for most contract phone plans in October 2022, so you can cancel or switch carriers at any time without paying a penalty fee. To keep your existing Japanese phone number when switching, obtain an MNP (Mobile Number Portability) transfer number from your current carrier — valid for 15 days — and provide it to your new SIM provider during sign-up. The number transfer typically completes within 1 to 2 business days.
Tourist SIMs in Japan are data-only, valid for 1 to 90 days, require no address registration, and can be purchased at airports and convenience stores without a residence card. Resident SIMs require your Japan residence card for registration, provide a Japanese phone number for voice calls and SMS, operate on monthly billing, and offer significantly better long-term SIM rates. Once you have a residence card in Japan, switching to a resident SIM is strongly recommended as tourist SIMs become expensive and limiting for daily life.