SIM cards for tourists in Japan: Options and alternatives

Why do you need a SIM card to travel to Japan?

SIM cards are important when traveling to Japan. While you’re not going to spend your entire vacation stuck on your phone, you’ll need an internet connection to:

• Translate signs and menus.

• Make reservations at the best restaurants.

• Navigate to tourist destinations.

• Look up train schedules.

• Use mobile apps.

• Stay connected with friends and family.

While you may luck out with some free Wi-Fi, Japan actually doesn’t have as many free networks as other countries. Even major cities like Tokyo or Osaka don’t have a lot of public Wi-Fi coverage, and you definitely shouldn’t count on free Wi-Fi in more remote areas. Not to mention, free Wi-Fi connections are often unreliable.

That means that during your Japan trip, you’ll need mobile service to access the internet. Most phones are compatible with Japanese mobile networks, including iPhone and Android smartphones, so long as they’re unlocked. However, older devices that run on 2G may struggle to get connected, as Japan doesn’t have any 2G service. If you’re unsure, check out our article explaining whether your phone will work in Japan.

To actually get that mobile data, you can try international roaming with your home mobile carrier.  However, this strategy gets expensive really quickly. Even light smartphone use could cost you US$10 per day! For that price, you could get multiple days of internet with a prepaid data SIM card.

How to buy a SIM card for Japan

You have a few options for buying a SIM card for Japan:

• Order online. Many providers offer online pre-order. You can buy your SIM card online and have it shipped to your home, or you can arrange for free pickup at an airport or hotel after your arrival in Japan.

• In the airport. Most Japanese airports have SIM card kiosks in their arrival halls. If you’re flying into Narita International Airport (NRT), you can buy SIM cards at the arrival hall in Terminal 1, and Tokyo International Airport/Haneda Airport (HND) has kiosks on the second floor of Terminal 3.

• At an electronics store. Electronics stores, like Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera, carry Japanese SIM cards.

• At a convenience store. You can also buy a Japanese SIM card at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson.

If you buy a prepaid SIM card for Japan in person after your arrival, make sure you have your passport handy. Japanese law requires that tourists register their cards with their name and passport number.

How to activate a Japanese SIM card

Once you buy your plan, follow these steps to activate a Japanese SIM card:

1. Remove your home provider’s SIM from your mobile device. Be careful not to damage your SIM card, and store it in a safe place so that it doesn’t get lost or stolen.

2. Insert the Japanese SIM card into your mobile device.

3. Check the APN for your Japanese network to ensure that your phone is compatible.

4. Follow the instructions provided to activate your plan. Most companies will require you to enter a PIN code and adjust some network settings.

Once you complete these steps, you’re ready to go!

Which are the best short-term SIM card options for Japan?

We’ll explore the best short-term SIM card options for Japan by comparing five major providers: Mobal, Sakura Mobile, Nippon SIM, IIJMio, and Softbank.

Mobal

Most tourist SIM cards in Japan are data SIMs, meaning that you can’t make phone calls unless you use internet-based communication apps like Messenger or WhatsApp. However, Mobal offers both data and voice plans for tourists, so if you need to make or receive calls, a Mobal SIM card with a Japanese phone number may be your best bet.

You can preorder Mobal SIM cards online and either have them shipped to you or arrange for pickup in Japan after your arrival. Mobal also has English language customer service, so if you’re not confident in your Japanese, you can still get help.

Mobal’s tourist SIM cards for Japan include:

• 25 GB data for 8 days (¥4730/US$33)

• 50 GB data for 16 days (¥6490/US$45.50)

• 50 GB data for 31 days (¥7920/US$55.50)

• Voice calls + 7 GB data for 30 days (¥7920/US$55.50)

Mobal partners with NTT docomo, Japan’s largest mobile carrier, to provide users with reliable internet access. Mobal also offers extended plans for 60 days, 90 days, and more.

Sakura Mobile

Sakura Mobile is also a SIM provider that uses NTT docomo’s network. While Sakura Mobile’s SIM cards are data only, they don’t have any limits, and pricing is per day instead of per GB. Sakura Mobile SIM cards also come pre-activated, so you can get online quickly and easily.

Sakura Mobile’s travel SIM options include:

• 5 days for ¥3500 (US$24.50)

• 8 days for ¥4500 (US$31.50)

• 12 days for ¥5700 (US$40.00)

• 15 days for ¥6500 (US$46.00)

• 21 days for ¥7650 (US$54.00)

• 30 days for ¥9000 (US$63.00)

Like Mobal, Sakura Mobile offers online pre-order with home shipping and/or local Japanese pickup, English language support, and longer data plans.

IIJmio Travel SIM

IIJmio’s data only Japan Travel SIMs are widely available across airports, electronic stores, and convenience stores. Since IIJmio partners with retailers, the exact SIM price will vary. Like Mobal and Sakura Mobile, IIJmio SIM cards use NTT docomo’s network.

All IIJmio Japan Travel SIMs come with a 30-day service period, and you have the option of a 3 GB, 6 GB, 10 GB, 15 GB, 25 GB, 35 GB, or 55 GB plan. If you need to top up your plan, you can easily buy IIJmio coupon cards at electronics and convenience stores.

Nippon SIM for Japan

Nippon SIM specializes in unlimited data, so they are a good option if you don’t want to worry about topping up your plan. Nippon SIM uses the NTT docomo internet network, and you can pre-order your SIM online for home delivery or airport pickup.

Nippon SIM offers a variety of data only tourist SIM cards for Japan:

• Unlimited data for 4 days (¥3480/US$24.50)

• Unlimited data for 7 days (¥4480/US$31.50)

• Unlimited data for 10 days (¥5980/US$42.00)

• Unlimited data for 15 days (¥7480/US$52.50)

• 50 GB of data for 30 days (¥4980/US$35.00)

SoftBank

Most Japan tourist SIM cards use the NTT docomo network, but if you want to try another carrier, major mobile provider SoftBank also offers travel SIM cards. SoftBank SIM cards can be bought at airport kiosks, convenience stores, and SoftBank’s retail stores.

SoftBank’s prepaid Japan SIM cards include:

• 3 GB data for 5 days (¥3960/US$28.00)

• 3 GB data for 10 days (¥5610/US$39.50)

• 10 GB data for 30 days (¥6600/US$46.00)

SoftBank also offers extended 60- and 90-day plans for longer trips.

Which one is the best overall?

So, which Japanese SIM card is best? Let’s compare:

However, you have other options for getting online, including the easiest, most flexible choice — an eSIM.

eSIM for Japan: The best option for your trip

If you want high-speed data at an affordable rate, an eSIM for Japan is the best option for your trip. An eSIM is a virtual alternative to physical SIM cards that uses preinstalled features in mobile devices to access different carriers.

Saily’s eSIM plans for Japan start at just US$3.99 for 7 days, so not only are eSIMs easier to use than physical SIM cards, they’re also more cost-effective. That means you can spend more money on delicious sushi or the cutest Sanrio merchandise!