Japanese Phone Plans: Best SIMs for Long-Term Residents
By Tour in Japan editors · Updated
If you're living in Japan long-term, you'll need a Japanese phone plan. Here's what to know.
If you're living in Japan long-term, you'll need a Japanese phone plan. Here's what to know.
Plan Types
| Type | Contract | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract (契約) | 1–2 years | ¥5,000–10,000/month | Long-term residents |
| SIM only | Month-to-month | ¥3,000–7,000/month | Flexible residents |
| Prepaid | No contract | ¥3,000–5,000/month | Short-term visitors |
Major Carriers
Docomo (ドコモ)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Best in Japan |
| Price | ¥5,000–10,000/month |
| English support | ✅ Good |
| Contract | 2 years |
au (KDDI)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Excellent |
| Price | ¥5,000–10,000/month |
| English support | ✅ Good |
| Contract | 2 years |
SoftBank (ソフトバンク)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Good |
| Price | ¥5,000–10,000/month |
| English support | ✅ Good |
| Contract | 2 years |
Budget MVNOs
| Carrier | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Mobile | ¥2,980–3,280 | Growing |
| IIJmio | ¥1,100–2,000 | Uses Docomo/au |
| BIGLOBE | ¥1,100–2,000 | Uses Docomo |
| Line Mobile | ¥1,500–3,000 | Uses Docomo/SoftBank |
What You Need
For Contract
- [ ] Residence card (在留カード)
- [ ] Japanese phone number (for verification)
- [ ] Japanese bank account (for auto-pay)
- [ ] Passport
- [ ] Credit card (some carriers)
For SIM-Only
- [ ] Residence card
- [ ] Credit card
- [ ] Unlocked phone
Tips
- MVNOs are cheaper — same network, lower price
- Check coverage — before committing
- Bring your own phone — saves money
- Avoid roaming — get a local SIM
- Check data limits — if you stream a lot
- Ask about family plans — discounts for multiple lines
- Read the contract — understand cancellation fees
- Keep your number — if you switch carriers
📱Get a Japan eSIM
Stay Connected in Japan
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