This post is also available in:
日本語 
Türkçe
When first arriving in Japan, choosing major carriers like Softbank, au, or Docomo can present several challenges for foreign residents. These companies typically require a minimum visa period of 2 years and impose 2-year contract obligations. If you need to cancel your service before the 2-year period ends, you’ll face hefty cancellation fees. Additionally, monthly fees from these major carriers are extremely expensive.
On the other hand, by choosing budget SIM cards with no minimum contract periods, you can easily obtain mobile service at much more affordable rates, even if your visa is valid for less than 2 years.
This comprehensive guide introduces the best mobile carriers and value plans specifically designed for foreigners living in Japan, along with essential tips to increase your application approval chances.
#You may be interested in↓↓↓
Types of SIM Cards Available in Japan
Japan offers three main types of SIM cards: “Data Only,” “Data + SMS,” and “Data + Voice Calls.”
| Internet | SMS | Voice Calls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data + Voice Calls | ● | ● | ● |
| Data + SMS | ● | ● | ✖ |
| Data Only | ● | ✖ | ✖ |
Since phone numbers are required for most official procedures in Japan, we strongly recommend choosing “Data + Voice Calls” SIM cards that include internet, SMS, and voice calling capabilities. This guide focuses exclusively on “Data + Voice Calls” SIM card pricing plans.
Essential Tips to Increase SIM Card Application Approval
1- Choose Credit Card Payment
SIM card providers offer various payment methods including credit card payments, automatic bank transfers, and convenience store bill payments. Selecting credit card payment significantly increases your chances of SIM card application approval.
If you have a stable income and have been in Japan for more than 3 months, you can also apply for Rakuten’s credit card (Rakuten Card). International students with income from part-time jobs or scholarships are also eligible to apply, so please check it out.
2- Apply for SIM Card Only
Many Japanese carriers offer smartphone bundles with SIM cards, available for purchase through lump-sum or installment payments. However, newcomers to Japan attempting to purchase smartphones through installment plans may face reduced approval chances.
3- Hold a Visa Valid for 2+ Years
Your visa duration is a crucial factor in SIM card application approval. Some carriers don’t accept applications from individuals without visas valid for at least 2 years. The SIM card companies recommended in this guide generally don’t impose visa period restrictions.
Required Documents for SIM Card Applications
While requirements vary by carrier, you’ll typically need:
- Residence Card (Zairyu Card)
- Passport
- Credit card, debit card, or bank cash card
- Personal seal (Inkan)
Top Budget SIM Cards Recommended for Foreign Residents
Rakuten Mobile
Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten Mobile is a budget SIM brand offered by Rakuten, featuring competitive unlimited data plans and excellent English support.
Best Overall Value with Unlimited Data Option
| Monthly Plans | Rakuten Saikyo Plan 0GB～3GB: ¥1,078 3GB～20GB Plan: ¥2,178 20GB～Unlimited Data: ¥3,278 |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | Free domestic calls using app (RakutenLink) Without app: ¥22/30 seconds |
| Contract Administration Fee | None |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online or Rakuten Mobile Shop |
| Customer Support | English・Japanese support |
| Campaigns | ・iPhone purchase: Up to ¥36,000 cashback ・Android smartphone purchase: Up to ¥22,000 cashback ・First-time Rakuten Mobile application: 7,000 points ・Number portability from other carriers: 10,000 points ・Rakuten Market points +4x multiplier (up to 2,000 points limit) ・Saikyo Family Program: ¥100/month discount for all family members (tax excluded) |
Sakura Mobile
Sakura Mobile is a company that provides SIM cards for foreigners visiting Japan for short-term or long-term stays.
Payment methods support credit cards, debit cards, or Smart Pit cards (cash at convenience stores).
SIM cards can be received directly at the airport or delivered by mail to your home address in Japan.
Perfect for International Residents
| Monthly Plans | 5GB : ¥3,278 25GB : ¥4,378 40GB : ¥5,478 |
| Call Rates | Domestic → ¥16.5/30 seconds International → ¥34.1/30 seconds |
| SMS charges | Domestic phone numbers: ¥5.5/message (160 characters) International phone numbers: ¥55/message (160 characters) |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥5,500 (initial cost) |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | English |
| Campaigns | ・Contract administration fee (¥1,000 discount) → Code: SAKURA25 ・Student discount → Additional ¥1,100 discount from contract administration fee |
LIBMO
LIBMO is a low-cost SIM card brand provided by TOKAI Communications. TOKAI Communications offers competitive pricing for various data needs with flexible calling options.
Affordable Data Plans by TOKAI Communications
| Monthly Plans | 3GB : ¥980 8GB : ¥1,518 20GB : ¥1,991 30GB : ¥2,728 60GB : ¥3,960 |
| Optional services | 5-minute unlimited calls: ¥550/month, ¥11/30 seconds after 5 minutes 10-minute unlimited calls: ¥770/month, ¥11/30 seconds after 10 minutes Unlimited calls: ¥1,430/month |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | ¥22/30 seconds |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥3,733 (Contract fee + SIM issuance fee) |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | If you cancel voice SIM within 1 year, you’ll pay 1 month’s plan fee as cancellation charge |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | Japanese |
| Campaigns | ・New LIBMO contracts: Up to ¥10,000 worth of TLC points ・Smartphone purchase with LIBMO contract: Up to ¥23,000 worth of TLC points |
ahamo
A budget SIM card brand provided by NTT Docomo. ahamo provides excellent coverage using NTT Docomo’s premium network infrastructure.
Premium Network Quality by NTT Docomo
| Monthly Plans | 30GB + 5-minute calls: ¥2,970 110GB + 5-minute calls: ¥4,950 |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | ¥22/30 seconds after 5 minutes |
| Contract Administration Fee | None |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | Japanese |
| Campaigns | Number portability from other carriers: 20,000 points cashback |
NURO Mobile
NURO Mobile by Sony offers diverse plan options catering to different usage patterns.
Sony’s Flexible SIM Solution
| Monthly Plans | VS Plan 3GB: ¥792 VM Plan 5GB: ¥990 VL Plan 10GB: ¥1,485 VLL Plan 15GB: ¥1,790 NEO Plan 20GB: ¥2,699 NEO Plan W 40GB: ¥3,980 5-minute unlimited calls + 1GB: ¥930 10-minute unlimited calls + 1GB: ¥1,320 Unlimited calls + 1GB: ¥1,870 |
| Optional services | 5-minute unlimited calls: ¥490/month, ¥11/30 seconds after 5 minutes 10-minute unlimited calls: ¥880/month, ¥11/30 seconds after 10 minutes Unlimited calls: ¥1,430/month |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | Regular: ¥22/30 seconds NURO Mobile Denwa app (Android / Iphone) : ¥11/30 seconds ※NURO Mobile Denwa app automatically adds a “prefix number” to phone numbers for discounted call rates. |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥3,740 (Contract fee + SIM issuance fee) |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | Japanese |
| Campaigns | ・NURO Hikari Set Discount NURO Hikari (NURO 光) members get ¥491/month discount for 3 years on VM/VL/VLL/NEO plans (e.g., 5GB plan: ¥990→¥499), plus half-price contract fees |
HISモバイル
HISモバイル provides some of the most affordable plans in Japan, perfect for minimal data users.
Budget-Friendly Options by HIS
| Monthly Plans | 100MB: ¥290 1GB: ¥550 3GB: ¥770 7GB: ¥990 10GB: ¥1,340 20GB + 6-minute calls: ¥2,090 30GB + 6-minute calls: ¥2,970 |
| Optional services | 5-minute unlimited calls: ¥500/month, ¥9/30 seconds after 5 minutes Unlimited calls: ¥1,480/month |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | ¥9/30 seconds |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥3,300 (Contract fee + SIM issuance fee) |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | Japanese |
| Campaigns | ・50% discount on contract fees for those 18 and under ・Free 1-month trial of Hulu streaming service |
Excite Mobile
Excite Japan provides affordable SIM card services through “Excite Mobile.” You can use up to 5 different SIM numbers under one contract, making it ideal for families wanting to add SIMs cost-effectively or those using multiple devices.
Family-Friendly Multi-SIM Plans
- Families wanting to reduce communication costs
- Those wanting to use SIM cards across multiple devices
- Those wanting additional phone numbers at affordable prices
| Monthly Plans | Fit Plans (Pay-as-you-use – no waste, pay only what you use): Up to 3GB: ¥690 ★Most affordable plan Up to 7GB: ¥1,190 Up to 12GB: ¥1,890 Up to 25GB: ¥2,990 Flat Plans (Fixed monthly fee – consistent monthly charges, perfect for data sharing with family): 5GB: ¥1,210 14GB: ¥1,650 30GB: ¥2,068 ★Recommended 40GB: ¥2,970 ★Recommended 50GB: ¥4,400 |
| Optional services | ・3-minute unlimited calls: ¥759/month, ¥11/30 seconds after 3 minutes ・Additional SIM fees (monthly): Voice call SIM: ¥528/card SMS-enabled data SIM: ¥462/card Data-only SIM: ¥220/card |
| Call Rates | ・Voice call rates (using BB.excite phone app (Android / iPhone) ): Domestic: ¥11/30 seconds, International: ¥10/30 seconds ・Without BB.excite app: Domestic: ¥22/30 seconds, International: ¥20/30 seconds |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥3,733 (Contract fee + SIM issuance fee) ※Campaign makes ¥3,300 contract fee free |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | Japanese |
| Campaigns | ・Campaign makes ¥3,300 contract fee free ・Fit Plan users get ¥690/month discount for 3 months |
DTI SIM
DTI SIM
is a budget SIM brand provided by Dream Train Internet Corporation. DTI SIM emphasizes the “origin of budget SIMs” with simple, easy-to-understand services. They eliminate complex option structures and provide pricing plans that anyone can understand.
Simple, Contract-Free Solution
- No contract period “binding” – cancel anytime without penalties
- All voice plans include “10-minute unlimited calls” – no additional options needed
- Available from ¥660/month (tax included) – industry-leading affordable pricing
- Data rollover support – carry over unused data to next month
- Simple pricing structure – easy-to-understand plan configuration
| Monthly Plans | Voice + 10-minute unlimited calls included) 2GB: ¥1,485/month 4GB: ¥1,650/month 8GB: ¥1,980/month 16GB: ¥2,420/month Sugo Giga (Daily 1.4GB): ¥3,960/month |
| Optional services | Data top-up: 500MB ¥330, 1GB ¥550 |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | ¥11/30 seconds (tax included) for calls exceeding 10 minutes |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥3,733 (Contract fee + SIM issuance fee) |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | Japanese |
| Campaigns | DTI Hikari (DTI光) × SIM Set Discount: ¥165/month discount on DTI Hikari when used with DTI SIM |
- Those seeking simple, easy-to-understand pricing plans
- Those wanting to try budget SIMs without contract commitments
- Those wanting balanced voice calls and data communication
- Heavy users needing large data capacity (Sugo Giga plan)
- Those prioritizing cost-performance
Mobal
Mobal provides SIM cards for foreigners visiting Japan for short-term or long-term travel purposes.
Payments can be made via credit card or PayPal. After initial payment, you can switch to cash payments at convenience stores in Japan.
SIM cards can be shipped to your home country for free, or you can pick them up directly at the airport.
Designed for International Travelers
| Monthly Plans | 1GB: ¥1,650 5GB: ¥3,190 10GB: ¥3,630 30GB: ¥4,378 |
| Call Rates (Domestic) | ¥44/minute |
| Contract Administration Fee | ¥2,970 (SIM card cost) |
| Minimum Contract Period | None |
| Cancellation Fee | None |
| Application Method | Online |
| Customer Support | English, Chinese |
| Campaigns | SIM + Prepaid Card – Set Discount (Please look below👇) |
JEC’s SIM Card Recommendations
When obtaining a SIM card from mobile carriers immediately upon arriving in Japan, you may face difficulties if your Japanese isn’t sufficient or due to visa period constraints (if you have a visa shorter than 1 year). Therefore, we recommend initially avoiding complex procedures and purchasing from SIM card companies like Sakura Mobile, even if slightly more expensive, to choose a suitable plan and start using services. You can receive SIM cards at the airport upon arrival, and payments can be made via credit card/debit card or Smart Pit card (cash payment at convenience stores).
After several months of getting accustomed to life in Japan and reaching a sufficient level of Japanese, you can apply online and obtain SIM cards from the budget SIM card companies introduced above.
Recommended Selection Method:
- Budget-focused: HISモバイル
- Quality-focused: ahamo
- Cheap unlimited internet: Rakuten Mobile
If you have any questions about SIM cards, please feel free to ask. You can contact us through our social media or the contact form below.
If you found this article or our activities helpful, we would greatly appreciate your support with a cup of coffee ☕✨
