Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards

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Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards in Japan

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Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards in Japan

Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards in Japan

Cheap SIM card is a general term that can make a phone call and use mobile communication with cheap price, compare to Japanese major mobile phone operators. You can use cheap SIM cards with unlocked mobile phones or mobile phones from your country. (*Notice:mobile phones which is not from Japan may not be able to use in some case, therefore you should check the list of mobile terminals that have done application test)

And, low-cost smartphone indicates a set of cheap SIM card and smartphone.

Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones do not have the penalties to break tne 2years contract, and the contract term is shorter than major mobile phone operators. Also, you can use a smartphone with cheap price, like 2,000yen per month, so you can cut phone expenses. We highly recommend to use cheap SIM cards or low-cost smartphones, especially those who come to Japan for working holiday or studying abroad and stay less than 2years. And, you can get your cheap SIM cards and low-cost smart phones by ordering by internet. But, most of cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones need credit cards with paying expenses, so some people cannot use them.

In that case, you can use cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones which correspond account transfer. People who do not have credit cards should use them and you can spend your time more comfortable and happier.

In this article, we introduce some cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards. Please check this page till the end and get the best cheap SIM card or low-cost smartphone!

Cheap SIM cards that can be used without credit cards

There is a cheap SIM card for foreigners staying in Japan which is provided by Mobal from the UK. In addition to paying by credit card, Mobal's cheap SIM supports Paypal and Alipay. You can receive the SIM at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, Chubu International Airport, as well as delivery to USA, UK, France, Germany, South Korea, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. There are four types of monthly payment plans that depend on data capacity. For example, “Voice + Text (SMS) plan”, “7GB plan”, “10GB plan”, and “15GB plan”. If you choose the monthly payment plan, you can cancel anytime after using a month. Besides, after you stop using, you can maintain your phone number for a year without paying additional fees. Therefore, you can use a cheap SIM with the same number if you visit Japan again. Remember that you have to apply to use the service. ( *you can maintain your phone number more than 12 months in a row for an annual fee of ¥2,400. ) Hence, this cheap SIM card is one of the best recommended for foreigners who have a short stay in Japan, such as short-term study abroad in Japan, working holidays, and business trips.

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Contents

Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphone which can use account transfer

Notice with using cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphone which enable to use account transfer

How to Apply for Account Transfer

Some cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones accept the application for account transfer on the Internet, and some of them accept application only by phone call. Those who does not have confidence in talking in Japanese, should use the operator that can be applied on the Internet.

People need to wait for getting a cheap SIM card

Most of cheap SIM cards operators send SIM card after accepting documents for account transfer therefore you have to wait for some time to get a SIM card. In case you need it in hurry, you should choose the one that you can apply for account transfer on the Internet.

In some case, you cannot contract data+voice call SIM card or buy a set of low-cost smartphone without credit card

There are three type of cheap SIM cards: "data-only","data+SMS"and "data+voice call". Most of data-only SIM cards are enable to use account transfer, but some data+SMS or a set of cheap SIM card and smartphone do not correspond account transfer.

In some case, you need to pay transfer fee to use account transfer

When you use account transfer for paying expenses, you need to pay transfer fee in some case. Transfer fee costs about 108yen or 216yen in usual but the charge is different depends on operator. People who want to use SIM cards or smartphone should choose the one that transfer fee is free.

Recommended cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can use account transfer

LINEMO is a low-cost SIM card provided by SoftBank (online contract only). In addition to the low monthly fee, the communication charges for chatting, voice calls, and video calls using the "LINE app" are free*. Those who mainly communicate with LINE and do not use voice calls are suitable for this service.
There are two plans: the "Mini Plan (3GB + free LINE)" with a basic monthly charge of 990 yen (including tax) and the "Smartphone Plan (20GB + free LINE)" with 2,728 yen (including tax). They charge neither contract administration fee nor cancellation fee. The communication line is the same as SoftBank with standard 5G communication.
The payment method is credit cards or bank account transfers. Since it is possible to transfer from a Japanese bank account, those who do not have a credit card issued in Japan can also sign up for the service. Besides, there are various options such as flat-rate calling, bring-your-own-device warranty, international roaming, and international calling. Therefore, you can use it as-is during overseas business trips or temporarily return. LINEMO is recommendable for the following people; not having a Japanese credit card, using LINE frequently, or attempting to save communication costs in Japan.
*: except location sharing, LINE LIVE, the stamp shop, and reading news articles

Feature
  • Support for Japanese bank account transfers
  • Unlimited use of LINE chat, voice, and video calls
  • Using SoftBank's communication line. No extra charge for 5G communication
  • Available overseas as-is
Data+Voice call plan
  • Mini Plan (3GB + LINE Free):990yen
  • Smartphone Plan (20GB + LINE Free):2,728yen
Initial Cost -
Minimum usage period -
Cancellation Penalty Fee 0yen
Option service
  • Purchase of additional communication data: 550 yen/1GB
  • Calling Semi-flat Rate Plan : 550yen per month
  • Calling Flat-Rate Plan : 1,650yen per month
  • Carry-in device warranty with AppleCare Services: from 950 yen per month
  • International Call : Free
Special offer
  • By signing up for a new contract or switching from another carrier to "Mini Plan", you can receive PayPay points worth 5,940 yen . Additionally, during the campaign period, if you use PayPay for payment at PayPay-affiliated stores, you can receive reward points equivalent to up to 20% of the payment amount (with a maximum of 2,000 yen in points per transaction, and a total maximum of 5,000 yen in points during the campaign period). (* Until March 31st, 2024)
    * Note: Switching from SoftBank, Y!Mobile, or LINE Mobile is not eligible for this offer.
  • By signing up for a new contract or switching from another carrier to "Smartphone Plan", you can receive PayPay points worth 16,000 yen . Additionally, during the campaign period, if you use PayPay for payment at PayPay-affiliated stores, you can receive reward points equivalent to up to 20% of the payment amount (with a maximum of 2,000 yen in points per transaction, and a total maximum of 4,000 yen in points during the campaign period). (* Until March 31st, 2024)
    * Note: Switching from SoftBank, Y!Mobile, or LINE Mobile is not eligible for this offer.
  • By switching from another carrier to the "Smartphone Plan", you can get 15,000 yen worth of PayPay points. Additionally, by switching from another carrier to the "Mini Plan", you can get 5,000 yen worth of PayPay points. (* Until March 31th, 2024)
    * Note: Switching from SoftBank, Y!Mobile, or LINE Mobile is not eligible for this offer.
  • Upon subscribing to LINEMO, the optional "Free Domestic Calls Under 5 Minutes" plan, priced at 550 yen/month, is offered free for 7 months.
  • Upon subscribing to LINEMO, the "Unlimited Domestic Calls" option, which allows unlimited calls within Japan at 1,650 yen/month, is available at a discounted rate of 1,100 yen/month for 7 months.

*NOTICE: the information is based on March 2024, the details may be changed.

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ahamo is a low-cost SIM card and smartphone provided by NTT DOCOMO. It is possible to subscribe only online. You can complete all procedures, including contract application and support, online. There are no contract cancellation fees or minimum usage period. Therefore, it is recommendable for those who stay in Japan for a short period.
Remarkably, all price plans have a service that allows free domestic calls of up to 5 minutes. If you make many short calls, such as restaurant/hotel reservations, contact companies, and small inquiries, ahamo is recommendable. There is no limitation on the number of calls. If you call for over 5 minutes, they charge 22 yen per 30 seconds (tax included).
There are two price plans: the 20GB Plan (20GB + free domestic calls within 5 minutes) with a monthly fee of 2,970 yen (including tax) and the 100GB Plan (100GB + free domestic calls within 5 minutes) with a monthly of 4,950 yen (including tax). The 100GB plan, which no other low-cost SIM card or smartphone offers, allows for approximately 85 hours of video viewing and 170 hours of online meeting. It satisfies even heavy internet users.
You can select to pay by credit card or Japanese bank account transfer when you contract. If you are already under contract, you can change it after logging in to the website. In addition, overseas roaming, used in 82 countries, is available with no application and no additional charge. To use it, turn on the data roaming setting on your phone. Even though you can use it with a simple process, the monthly data capacity is 20GB. ahamo is especially recommendable for those who regularly return home temporarily or frequently travel overseas on business trips.

Feature
  • Unlimited domestic free calls within 5 minutes
  • Support for bank account transfers
  • High-capacity plan with 100GB of monthly usage available
  • Use overseas without additional charges (data roaming available in 82 countries)
Price plan
  • 20GB + domestic free calls within 5 minutes: 2,970yen
  • 100GB + domestic free calls within 5 minutes: 4,950yen
Initial Cost Free
Minimum usage period None
Cancellation Penalty Fee 0 yen
Carry-over of excess data Impossible to carry-over
Option service
  • Unlimited calls: ¥1,100 per month
  • Compensation Service: ¥550-¥1,100 per month (the price depends on the terminal)
  • Additional data purchase: ¥550 for 1GB
  • Anshin-security: ¥220 per month
Special offer By signing up for both ahamo and Disney Plus, you will receive a discount of 990 yen off the monthly fee for Disney Plus for up to 6 months. In addition, you will receive 3,000 d-points. Only a d-point club member who applies for the promotion can receive those rewards.

*NOTICE: the information is based on March 2024, the details may be changed.

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You switch from another company's SIM cards, the monthly usage fee can be paid by account transfer. (*NOTICE:The service will be applied only if you switch from another company's SIM cards. Also, if you contract newly, you need credit cards.) Most of cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones costs tranfer fee 110yen to 220yen, but UQ Mobile do not charge it. Also, both data-only SIM cards and data+voice call SIM cards are enable to use account transfer. You have to remind that they need 1 or 2 months to complete setting account transfer so that you have to use convenience store payment untill the setting end. If you want to pay for low-cost smartphone, you can also use cash-on-delivery. (*NOTICE: you have to pay COD fee) UQ Mobile has been awarded by the best high-speed signaling cheap SIM card two times in a research instituted by third-party organisation. And, they have an excellent reputation for high quality and signaling rate. We recommend this cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones especially for those who want to be particular about the signaling speed and quality of communication line.

Feature
  • Account transfer fee is free
  • High quality and stable signaling rate
  • You can pay phone expences by cash-on-delivery (*NOTICE: you have to pay COD fee)

(*NOTICE: After application, you have to fill in the document and send it by mail)

Data + Voice Call SIMs Monthly Plan
  • Mini-mini Plan(4GB) : 2,365yen
  • Toku-toku Plan(1GB~15GB): 3,456yen (*less than 1GB : 2,277yen)
  • Komi-komi Plan(20GB + domestic free calls within 10 minutes ) : 3,278yen
Initial Cost SIM package fee : 3,850yen
Minimum Period of Use -
Option service
  • 60min of Calls Plan : 550yen per month
  • Unlimited calls Light : 880yen per month
  • Unlimited calls : 1,980yen per month (*In the case of the Komi-komi Plan, it is 1,100 yen)
  • Extra Data Option : 550yen/5GB (*In the case of the Mini-mini Plan, it is 550yen/2GB)
Special offer By signing up for either the "Toku-toku Plan" or the "Komi-komi Plan", you can enjoy Amazon Prime for 3 months without any additional charges!

*NOTICE: the information is based on March 2024, the details may be changed.

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Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards

Cheap SIM cards and low-cost smartphones that can be used without credit cards

All of plans can be paid by credit card, account transfer, Rakuten Super Point and debit card*. But you have to remind if you choose account transfer, you have to pay low-cost smartphone's charge by cash-on-delivery or Rakuten Super Point so you have to pay phone expences by two way every month. Please be careful of Rakuten Super Point maximum payment is 30,000yen. Rakuten Mobile accepts all services request via Internet, like applying cheap SIM cards or low-cost smartphones, and request account transfer, so it is easy to use.
*Only Rakuten Bank Debit Card or Suruga Bank Debit Card

Feature
  • Account transfer fee costs 110yen every month
  • The charge is cheaper than other
  • They provide large capacity SIM cards in cheap price
  • You can appky for account transfer on the Internet. There is no need to fill out the document and return it by mail
  • You can get 1point per paying 100yen as monthly payment
Rakuten UN-LIMIT VII Plan
  • 0GB~3GB Plan : 1.078yen
  • 3GB~20GB Plan : 2,178yen
  • 20GB~unlimited Plan : 3,278yen
  • *Up to 2GB of international data is free every month!
Initial Cost -
Minimum usage period Free
Option service
  • 10min of Free Call Plan : 935yen per month
  • Answerphone : 330yen per month (*only for Data+Voice call plan)
  • Call-waiting service : 220yen per month (*only for Data+Voice call plan)
Special offer
  • When you switch from another carrier and apply for Rakuten Mobile for the first time, and use the Rakuten Link app for a call lasting more than 10 seconds, you will receive 6,000 yen worth of Rakuten Points as a gift.
  • If you apply for Rakuten Mobile for the first time as a new customer and use the Rakuten Link app to make a call for more than 10 seconds, you will receive 2,000 yen worth of Rakuten Points.
  • Apply for the Rakuten Mobile data-only SIM card, start using it before the end of the month following your application, and answer the survey, you'll receive points equivalent to 1,081 yen. *This is equivalent to a free use of the data-only SIM card's 3GB plan for the first month.
  • When applying for Rakuten Mobile for the first time and simultaneously purchasing either the "Rakuten Hand 5G" or "Rakuten WiFi Pocket 2C", each can be purchased for only 1 yen (with a 19,000 yen discount for the "Rakuten Hand 5G" and a 7,979 yen discount for the "Rakuten WiFi Pocket 2C").

*NOTICE: the information is based on March 2024, the details may be changed.

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Recommended Credi Card For Foreigners

Rakuten Card

Rakuten Cardeasy to pass the examination

Rakuten Card is the best Japanese credit card for foreigners: this is the easiest card to pass the examination including foreigners, and annual fees and registration fees are free. You can get Rakuten Point return 3% of payment by using card at Rakuten Ichiba. The points can be used at Rakuten Ichiba for shopping or Rakuten Mobile expences. (*1point = 1yen) This is the best recommended credit card for who buy something at Rakuten Ichiba, who use Rakuten Mobile, and who never passed credit card examination. As a new customer, you'll receive 10,000 points, equivalent to 10,000 yen, when you apply for and use the Rakuten Card. (* Until April 8th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (JST))

Get the credit card (in Japanese)

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