Cheap SIM cards in Japan

There is a cheap SIM card for foreigners staying in Japan which is provided by mobal from the UK. If you have a SIM lock-free smartphone, you can use it without problems. The greatest benefit is that it is possible to apply without holding a residence card or credit card. There are two pricing plans: a “Monthly Payment Plan” that you can purchase a SIM card as selecting the data capacity, and a “Prepaid SIM Card” that allows you to use high-speed data up to 7GB every month (Prepaid SIM only available at Mobal Chinese website) . Even if you choose the Monthly Payment Plan, the minimum usage period is only one month so that you can stop using anytime you would like. No penalty for any cancellation is one of the best points of mobal. It is convenient to use for foreigners who stay in Japan shortly, such as short-term study abroad, working holidays, and business trips. Also, customer support provides help in English and Chinese. If you stay for less than a year, it is a good choice for a low-priced SIM card.

Ahamo is a low-cost SIM card for only online contracts provided by docomo. You can use docomo's high-quality 4G / 5G telecommunication at a reasonable price. There are mainly two attractive points: the low monthly payment and free domestic call within 5 minutes. Ahamo provides only one plan: 20GB telecommunication data for 2,970 yen (tax included) per month. It is overwhelmingly cheap compared to major Japanese carriers such as docomo, au, and Softbank. You can save phone costs because you can call anytime within 5 minutes, such as store reservations, callbacks, etc. There is a free overseas roaming service for 20GB, which is helpful for those who frequently go overseas on a business trip or temporary return. There is neither a minimum usage period nor a contract cancellation fee. Therefore, it is a clever choice for those who stay in Japan for less than one year and do not decide the returning date.

SoftBank provides LINEMO, the cheap SIM card brand, which allows sign-up only online. The communication speed is the same as SoftBank at a reasonable price, so that makes the user comfortable. The biggest advantage is that the monthly payment is low and the LINE app (except for sharing location information, LINE LIVE, stamp shop, browsing news articles, etc.) is free of use. There is only one price plan, called Smartphone Plan (20GB + LINE Free), which costs 2,728 yen (tax included), per month. Compared to major carriers, it is overwhelmingly low price. Users can use chat, voice call, and video call on LINE as much as they want. If you routinely use those functions on LINE, this plan is highly recommended. There are no contract handling fees or cancellation fees. International roaming (possible to use overseas) is a free option; it is useful for a temporary return to Japan and overseas business trips. They currently sell only SIM cards (*compatible with eSIM); unavailable for SIM + smartphone set items. Although you need to prepare your smartphone by yourself, it is a great service for those who consider using a reasonable smartphone.