The Best SIM Cards for Travel to Japan
[Update September 2019] Traveling to Japan is an incredibly exciting experience. It’s the land of the rising sun and symbol of the far east. I’ve been there 3 times in two years for 11 weeks in total, I absolutely love it! To make the most of your trip, I recommend checking our our list of the Best Apps for Travel to Japan and getting a prepaid Sim Card. Most travelers only have 10 to 15 days to see all the places they want. Japan is just so far away and so expensive! More than anywhere else I’ve been, travelers feel the pressure to really make the most of their trip. Thankfully with the amazing train networks in Japan you can move at a fast pace from city to city. Using the Japan Rail Pass, travelers can go from Hokkaido to Kyushu in 15 days or less. Ignoring Okinawa, that’s from end to end hitting all five islands! Check out our Japan Transportation Guide for other passes and discount tickets.
Unlike other countries where traveling from city to city may require a cheap night bus, Japan is so small and compact, a few hours will get you from Tokyo to Nagoya or from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Not to mention the Shinkansen that is as fast as flying! So planning in advance is key. Yes, you should plan for Japan! Having access to hotel bookings, maps and guides on the go will help you cram as much as you can into your trip. So here are our recommended Japan SIM Cards.
SIM Cards Available in Japan 2019
- Best Value
- Best Price
- Monster & Unlimited Data
- Voice & Data SIM
- Roaming & Multi-Country SIMs
- Free Wi-Fi Passport
Choosing the right SIM Card is a personal choice, luckily Japan has a lot of options available for each type of traveler. Unlike the countries we covered in our SIM Cards of South Asia article, Japan has a lot of competitors with many different offers. You can choose based on what is the best price, or the best value for the data you need, or simply the option with the most data you can get.
Some SIM Cards are available for pre-purchase from official websites or on amazon, while others may be harder to find in local stores. Also, some plans give 100 MB/day for the length of the plan, rather than all the data upfront, watch out for that.
Japan SIM Card Requirements
Japanese domestic sim cards used to be data-only, most still are. Getting a monthly or prepaid sim with voice and SMS texting requires registration, meaning a permanent address in Japan. But recently more MVNOs are opening up in Japan (companies that buy broadband space on the major telecom networks like Docomo or Softbank). These newer companies are offering short-stay sims that also include Voice. A few international telecoms have roaming visitors sims for Japan, like 3Hong Kong include calling and text as well.
1) You need an unlocked phone to access these networks!
2) A compatible phone! Japan networks have some unusual frequencies, meaning not all phones can work well on the networks. Most of the options use the Docomo 3G and LTE network, so be sure to check your phone compatibility! Use frequencycheck.com or Willmyphonework.net
3) Assume the sims are Data-Only unless otherwise stated
Also, all electronics in Japan are passed through a registry with a certification “Giteki” mark, so your foreign phone is technically illegal but I wouldn’t expect any problems as a tourist. One of those travel things local authorities let slide for tourism dollars. Just so you know.
Where to Buy a SIM Card in Japan
Pre-paid data only SIM cards are super easy to find. You can find them in vending machines and electronics/camera shops. Beware of the mark-ups from the prices listed below if you are purchasing from an airport or vending machine.
SIM Cards in Japan can be purchased at the following carrier stores
- Docomo
- AEON
- Yodobashi
- BIC Camera
- Airport kiosks and Vending Machines
Some SIM Cards can only be ordered online and shipped to a Japanese address like a hotel or hostel. Or you may try your luck on Amazon Japan and have it delivered internationally.
Here is a Buying Guide for Amazon Japan to help if you want to try it.
Best Value SIM Cards
Top Choice: b-mobile Visitor SIM
- Network: B-Mobile
- Pre-Purchase Online: Yes, at b-mobile site and Amazon Japan, but can only be delivered to an address in Japan (Hostel, Hotel, Friend etc…)
- Available Locations: AEON, Yodobashi Camera Store, BIC Camera Store
- Top Ups: Yes, at least 10 days before expiry of plan with Credit Card
- Note: After data limit, no more internet access.
SIM Price:
- 1980 Yen ($20 USD) for 5 GB of Data for 10 days
- 2980 Yen ($30 USD) for 7 GB of Data for 21 days
- Day count starts from delivery, not activation
The b-mobile SIM Card offers the best of both worlds: A large amount of data with no daily limit, available for three full weeks at a decent price. The card can be purchased in advance and sent directly to your hotel or even the airport post office for pick up.
This is easily the best choice for most travellers who are looking to spend less than 3 weeks in Japan.
Runner Up: JPSIM & JPSIM Air
- Network: Docomo (or Softbank)
- Pre-Purchase Online: Rakuten Global, Amazon Japan– ship to Japan Airport. Amazon.com (may be in stock)
- Available Locations: Online Only
- Top Ups: Yes
- Note: After data limit, no more internet access
- Note2: 3 in 1 sim
JPSIM Data-Only Price:
- 2180 Yen ($20 USD) for 220 MB/day for 7 days
- 2980 Yen ($28 USD) for 220 MB/day for 15 days
- 3980 Yen ($37 USD) for 220 MB/day for 30 days
- 2380 Yen ($22 USD) for 3 GB for 8 days
- 3980 Yen ($37 USD) for Unlimited Data for 8 days
JPSIM Air Data & Wi-Fi Pass Price:
- 2180 Yen ($20 USD) for 500 MB/day for 7 days
- 3280 Yen ($30.50 USD) for 500 MB/day of Data for 15 days
- 4280 Yen ($40 USD) for 500 MB/day of Data for 30 days
- 1680 Yen (15.50 USD) for 1 GB of Data for 7 days
- 1880 Yen ($17.40 USD) for 2 GB of Data for 7 days
- 2980 Yen ($28 USD) for 3 GB of Data for 15 days
- 3580 Yen ($33 USD) for Unlimited Data for 15 days
- 4580 Yen ($42.50 USD) for Unlimited Data for 30 days
- Network: Softbank – Need to confirm phone compatibility
JPSIM Softbank Price:
- 2280 Yen ($19 USD) for 3 GB of Data for 15 days
- 3480 Yen ($28 USD) for 10 GB of Data for 15 days
Different set of frequencies, most likely only be compatible with 2017 phones or newer
Best Price SIM Cards
Top Choice: IlJmio Japan Travel SIM & VOIP Card
- Pre-Purchase Online:Yes, atBrastel Websiteshipped to any airport post office, hotel or hostel for 550 Yen ($5 USD)
- Available Locations: Yodobashi Camera Stores, BIC Camera Store
- Top Ups: Yes
- Note: After data limit, no more internet access
- Note2: Only Micro and Nano sim sizes
SIM Price:
- 2160 Yen ($19 USD) for 1.5 GB of Data for 30 days
- 3240 Yen ($28 USD) for 3 GB of Data for 30 days
Data Recharges
- 1,500 Yen ($13.32 USD) for 500 MB of Data
- 3,000 Yen ($26.64 USD) for 2 GB of Data
- 5,400 Yen ($47.96 USD) for 5 GB of Data
- 9,400 Yen ($83.48 USD) for 10 GB of Data
Update September 2019: 90 Day duration SIM Card is no longer available.
Japan Travel SIM ditched the SIM Cards that keep their data for longer than 30 days but in the terms and conditions is listed “Each recharge will also extend the validity of any remaining (unused) data on the SIM up until the fifth month after the remaining data was added to the SIM.” Each recharge also extends the sim validity another 3 months.
This is great for travelers on gap-years or looking for a longer term stays as they can grab these SIM Cards for a decent price and just get a small data recharge to extend
2nd Choice: Wireless Gate Prepaid SIM
- Network: Docomo
- Pre-Purchase Online:No
- Available Locations: Yodobashi Camera Store Only
- Top Ups: Yes
- After data limit, no more internet access
SIM Price:
- 2650 Yen ($25 USD) for 1 GB of Data for 14 days
- 3590 Yen ($34 USD) for 2 GB of Data for 30 days
- 3980 Yen ($38 USD) for 3 GB of Data for 60 days
Wireless Gate offers reasonably priced prepaid Japan SIM Cards with no daily limits and the plans vary depending on your length of stay. Also a solid option we recommend!
Monster Data & Unlimited SIM Cards
Top Choice: eConnect Japan Inc.
- Pre-Purchase Online eConnect Website (Paypal) – Ships only inside Japan (Pick up at your Hostel, Hotel, or Post Offices), or buy it through Amazon for international shipping
- Available Locations: Amazon, BIC, Yodobashi stores
- Top Ups: Yes
- Note: After data limit, no more internet access.
- Note2: Have their own app to manage data usage and for top-ups
SIM Price:
- 2,680 Yen ($24.25 USD) for 100 MB of Data per day for 7, 15 or 30 days
- 1,980 Yen ($18.00 USD) for 500 MB of Data for 7 days
- 3,180 Yen ($28.60 USD) for 1 GB of Data for 15 days
- 4,980 Yen ($45.00 USD) for 3 GB of Data for 30 days
- 6,880 Yen ($62.00 USD) for 5 GB of Data for 30 days
- 9,180 Yen ($82.67 USD) for 10 GB of Data for 60 days
2nd Choice: So-net Prepaid SIM
- Pre-Purchase Online: Amazon Japan (not in English us chrome translate)
- Available Locations: Vending Machines at all major stations & airports. List here
- Top Ups: Yes
- After data limit, no more internet access
SIM Price:
- 3,240 Yen ($28 USD) for 1.2 GB of Data for 30 days
- 4,320 Yen ($38 USD) for 2.4 GB of Data for 30 days
- 5,400 Yen ($48 USD) for 3.2 GB of Data for 60 days
- 12,960 Yen ($121 USD) for 12 GB of Data for 180 days
So-Net SIM Cards are sold at most of the major airports. So-Net Sims cards do not work with all phones, mainly HTC and Blackberry. List here
Voice & Data SIM Cards
As mentioned before, most sims in Japan are Data-Only. But since Softbank acquired some of Japan’s smaller networks, they’ve started to roll out sims for tourists and for international business that include voice and text with a Japanese number.
You could always get a sim from Hong Kong with Voice & text in Japan but it was a roaming sim with a Hong Kong number.
The problem is that Softbank has a strange frequencies for their data services that don’t match many international GSM phones. So checking your compatibility is extra important if you can considering using the Softbank network.
Top Choice: TelecomSquare
- Network: Docomo (Data-Only SIM), Softbank (Data & Voice)
- Pre-Purchase Online: Yes
- Available Locations: at Mobile Center or Rental Mobile kiosks at Chitose Airport, Narita Airport, Haneda Aiport, Kansai International Airport & Fukuoka Airport
- Top Ups: Yes, up to 10 GB/day for the 2 GB & 5 GB sims
- Note: After data limit, no more internet access.
- Note2: Unlimited sim are 3 in 1 sim size, 2GB & 5GB are nano only
Data Only SIM Price:
- 3,800 Yen ($35 USD) for Unlimited Data for 7 days
- 5,500 Yen ($51 USD) for Unlimited Data for 30 days
- 4,980 Yen ($46 USD) for Unlimited Data for 8 days
- 6,980 Yen ($65 USD) for Unlimited Data for 31 days
Runner Up: Softbank Tourist SIM
- Pre-Purchase Online: No
- Available Locations: SoftBank Stores
- Top Ups: Yes, 1680 Yen for 500 MB
- Note: After data limit, no more internet access.
- Note2: 3 in 1 sim size
Data Only SIM Price:
- 1680 Yen ($15. 28USD) for 3 GB of data for 31 days
You have to buy the smartphone for 15,000 Yen ($140 USD) for which you’ll receive 10,000 Yen in airtime credit. Then you have to add the following monthly data packages.
Data & Voice SIM Price:
- 900 Yen ($8.33 USD) for 200 MB of data for 2 days
- 2,700 Yen ($25 USD) for 700 MB of data for 7 days
- 4,980 Yen ($23 USD) for 3 GB of data for 30 days
Buying a whole new phone is the worst option, but businessmen or frequent travellers to Japan may find it worthwhile to have a Japan phone number on a plan that can be extended, where the airtime or data is renewed each month. It’s not for everyone, but may be worth the high upfront cost in the rare case.
Roaming & Multi-Country SIMs
Top Choice: Docomo-Three 7 GB Roaming SIM
- Network: Docomo
- Pre-Purchase Online: Yes, Amazon
- Top Ups: No
- After data limit, no more internet access
SIM Price:
- $23.95 USD for 7 GB of Data for 7 days
Three is a provider based out of Hong Kong and Macao. They offer a few short duration roaming SIM cards for Japan. They seemed to have entered into a partnership with the Japanese network Docomo.
This one offers up to 7 GB of data for 7 days which is plenty of data but not very long. Mainly, it’s a good choice for the price but also because it’s available for international delivery from Amazon.
Runner Up: DTAC Go Inter SIM
Valid for use in 26 Asian countries including Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos etc..
- Pre-Purchase: Amazon for int. delivery
- Note: includes Japan and Vietnam.
SIM Price:
- $14.99 USD for 10 days with Unlimited 4G Data
Simply insert the SIM Card and good to go. No registration required. DTAC is a telecom provider based out of Thailand.
I’ve emailed Dtac recently (April 2019). They are going to introduce a new DTAC Go Inter World SIM shortly. We are currently trying to add it to our Tallypack Store.
Free Wi-Fi Passport
An alternative to buying a Japan SIM card is to sign up for the Free Wi-Fi Passport from provider Softbank. There are over 400,000 Wi-Fi access points across Japan at most train & bus Station, airports and major tourist destinations. Japan doesn’t really do free public Wi-Fi and companies don’t give out the passwords like you might expect in western countries. For me, this with offline maps was enough to enjoy my travels in Japan.
If you love social media, always want to stay connected, then I recommend a SIM card. It’s less hassle and more reliable.
- Dial *8180 to register
- Received a password text valid for 2 weeks
- Open your Wi-Fi settings and look for “.FREE_Wi-Fi_PASSPORT”
- Enter your country code, phone number as ID and enter the password they sent you.
More information: Check out SIM Wiki here
Disclaimer: Amazon.com is an affiliated partner, we make a small commission from bookings at no cost to you. It helps us publish more useful travel guides.
More Info for Japan
If you are still planning your trip to Japan, check out our List of Articles for Japan. They are based on my own travels in Japan and I also dive into some of the historical characters in feudal Japanese history and include some tips and ticket discounts.
Check out these other useful articles
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