Comparing Prepaid SIM Cards for Travel in Japan

From physical travel SIMs and eSIMs to pocket Wi-Fi and roaming, there are more ways than ever to keep yourself connected while in Japan. Here, we compare the best tourist SIM cards for a short-term visit.

We’ll break down some of the most popular Japan travel SIM options, list where to buy them, and hopefully answer your other burning SIM-related questions. If you order your SIM card in advance, you can get online the minute you pick it up at the airport (most companies provide some form of airport pick-up; some offer worldwide delivery).

Note: This article is about tourist SIM cards for a short stay in Japan. If you’re planning on living in Japan, or you’re here for an extended period of time, see our article on Japan SIM contracts.

Short-term Japan SIM options for tourists

This isn’t an exhaustive list; just our top picks of prepaid Japan SIM cards. Keep in mind that some of the cards can be recharged with extra data.

More about the providers

Mobal: The only option with data + voice

With the Mobal voice + data SIM, when your 7GB is up, data is still available at slower speeds. Top-ups can be purchased. 60-, 90-day and long-term packages also possible. If you’re traveling from China, you have access to a range of other prepaid packages. Free shipping to many countries, or airport pick-up at Narita or Haneda, as well as Fukuoka, Kansai, Nagoya and Sendai airports and downtown Tokyo and Osaka.

Similarly to all voice-calling products, the voice + data SIM carries a ¥2,970 initial fee, which is included in the price. On the data-only SIM, speeds may be temporarily reduced if more than 3GB is used in a day.

Sakura Mobile

Sakura Mobile SIM cards come pre-activated, so you simply plug and play. Longer- and shorter-term SIM deals are also available. Fair usage applies to data.

IIJmio

Called Japan Travel SIMs, IIJmio’s visitor SIMs are available at airports and electronic stores countrywide. Prices are approximate, as they’re set by individual retailers. The available range includes 3, 6, 10, 15, 25, 35, and 55GB options.

The maximum (theoretical) speed is 788Mbps, and the SIMs can be recharged with extra data. Chinese-language call-center support is available. IIJmio has also released Japan Travel eSIMs, available at Lawson convenience stores nationwide.

b-mobile

Runs on the NTT DoCoMo network. SIM cards can be recharged with extra data. Delivery costs ¥370 to a Japan airport post office, or ¥520 to a hotel/other accommodation. You can buy the SIM cards at electronics stores and Aeon stores, too. SIM cards must be returned after use.

Voice + data vs. data-only travel SIMs

While data-only SIMs are often the default for travel, there are strong arguments for getting a SIM that allows you to make and receive calls, as well as send/receive texts from an actual Japanese phone number. The biggest is accidents and emergencies.

Making voice calls with a Japan travel SIM

With the exception of Mobal’s voice + data SIM, Japan’s SIM cards for short-term travelers are data-only, meaning you can’t call or text, or even receive phone calls. A partial workaround is to make VoIP calls through an app like Facebook Messenger, Skype, LINE, or WhatsApp, but these apps can sometimes be unreliable, and often can’t be used for emergency calls.

Apps that require a Japanese phone number

You’ll need a Japanese phone number to use some apps locally — even if they can be downloaded outside of Japan. These include the following:

• PayPay
• Mobile Suica
• Uber Eats
• Wolt
• Mercari
• Yahoo! Japan
• ePlus and other Japanese ticketing platforms

If you’re planning on using any of the above on your Japan trip, you’ll want to make sure you have ordered a voice + data SIM.

Buying a SIM card in Tokyo (or elsewhere in Japan)

Want to buy a SIM after you’ve arrived? Here’s where to look.

Just look for a BIC Camera store (link in Japanese, but Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro have quite a few) or Yodobashi Camera (also in Japanese) and grab yourself whatever Japan SIM card seems like the best deal. We hear that Bic SIM cards are fairly popular. For more information, see our guide on where to buy a SIM card in Tokyo.

Once you’re in the shop, you can tell the staff, “Shimu kādo wo sagashiteimasu.” That translates to, “I’m looking for a SIM card.” Many stores will have English-speaking staff to make things easier.

Japan SIM cards for tourists: Frequently asked questions

Got questions about Japan travel SIM cards? We have answers.

Which tourist SIM cards can I buy in Japan?

Mobal SIMs and Rakuten prepaid SIMs are among those you can order online when you are already in Japan. Other options include BIC Camera SIMs and IIJmio’s Japan Travel SIM, which you can buy at the airport. For more info, see our guide to buying a SIM card after arrival — while the focus is on Tokyo, it applies to all of Japan.

Where can I buy a Japan SIM card in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, or The Philippines?

If you are traveling from one of the above areas, you can order a SIM card online and have it delivered before you leave for Japan or — depending on the provider — pick it up at your local airport or landmark. For example, Mobal SIM cards can be collected at Singapore’s Japan Rail Cafe or the Nikkei Education Center in Hong Kong. There may be other options for your region.

How do I activate a Japan SIM card?

The exact steps depend on the provider, but generally, it’s a matter of inserting the SIM into your phone and following the instructions provided. It doesn’t take long, and you should be able to start using it straight away.

Can I use an eSIM in Japan?

Depending on where you are traveling from, if you have a newer phone, you can probably use a software-based eSIM card (instead of a physical SIM card) for your trip to Japan. Read more about eSIMs in Japan.

Should I use roaming, pocket Wi-Fi, a travel SIM card, or eSIM when I’m in Japan?

It really depends on your individual needs. If you’re traveling in a group and just want data, it may work out cheaper to share data using pocket Wi-Fi. If you want the option of using your existing phone number for voice calls and texts, then roaming might be for you.

Where are the big companies like SoftBank, Docomo, and AU?

As in most countries, there are network providers with their own retail brands and smaller companies that operate on the networks of big players like Docomo. You can get travel SIMs from the big players if you go into their stores or order online, e.g., from Amazon, but the smaller players often provide the best value.

Alternatives to SIM cards for tourists in Japan

Free Wi-Fi

You can be super cheap about data and take advantage of some of the free Wi-Fi options out there. First up, a coffee chain that we understand is quite popular with the kids has free Wi-Fi, providing you register at the link above. Then, just pop into a store, and away you go.

Sign up? That’s WAY too much work.

If you want to skip signing up, Apple provides free Wi-Fi at various store locations with no login needed. And if there’s not one of those near you, the good ol’ Tokyo Metro provides free Wi-Fi too, but keep in mind, it can be patchy at best.

If your home internet provider is part of the Fon network, you can use your own home internet login and passcode on Fon hotspots, which are practically everywhere in Tokyo. That’s not taking into account the myriad cafés and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi.

It is worth pointing out a few other alternative solutions, too.

Renting a travel Wi-Fi router

First up, if you have more than one device that requires the internet, or a few of you are traveling together, you may want to consider a portable Wi-Fi device from a rental provider like Ninja Wifi, who give our readers a 20% discount.

You can pick these travel routers up and drop them off at airports for convenience, and they have generous data allowances. For a more in-depth take, see our popular guide to renting a travel Wi-Fi router in Japan.

Japan eSIMs

Chances are, at this point in your search, you’ve come across eSIMs as an alternative to physical prepaid SIMs. The downside to eSIMs is that they’re incompatible with older phone models, or phones locked to your local provider.

eSIMs are compatible with devices that have a 32-digit EID. You can check this in your device’s settings, or by dialing *#06#. To confirm if your phone is locked, you can chat with your local network provider or follow these instructions.

Have a compatible phone but want a Japanese phone number and voice calls? You’re in luck, Mobal also has an eSIM option similar to the physical one we mentioned earlier that includes data, a Japanese phone number, and the option to make and receive calls.

Roaming in Japan

Finally, you may be pleased to know that some mobile networks outside Japan offer cheap roaming packages. For example, data is free in Japan for T-Mobile USA customers on one of their plans. Read the fine print carefully, though, as your data speeds may be heavily throttled! Check out our detailed breakdown of roaming options for your local carrier.

If a trip to the UK happens to be on the cards too, or you just want to wince at how pricey Japan is in comparison, check out our London Cheapo Guide to UK prepaid SIM cards and where to buy a SIM card in London.

Video explainer of SIMs for travelers to Japan

While we do our best to ensure everything is correct, information is subject to change. Article regularly updated. Last update: October 10, 2024, by Patrick Balfe.