Getting a Phone and SIM Card in Japan: What You Need and What to Say
To get a phone plan in Japan you usually need your residence card, an address in Japan, and a way to pay such as a credit card or Japanese bank account. Short-term visitors can buy a data-only SIM or eSIM at the airport or online with just a passport, but a voice plan with a Japanese phone number is normally only for residents. The main choices are the big carriers, their cheaper online brands, and budget providers. Shop staff explain contracts quickly and in Japanese, so learning a few key words before you go makes the process much less stressful.
Your options
- Tourist data SIM or eSIM. For a short stay. Data only, no Japanese number, bought at the airport, electronics shops or online.
- Big carriers. Full service in shops, often with a new handset. Usually the most expensive monthly cost.
- Online sub-brands of the big carriers. Same networks, lower prices, but sign-up and support are mostly online and in Japanese.
- Budget SIMs (格安SIM, kakuyasu SIM). Cheaper plans that use the big networks. Good if you already have an unlocked phone.
If you already have a phone from home, check that it is unlocked (SIMフリー) and supports Japanese network bands before you sign up.
What to bring
- Residence card (在留カード) with your current address. Register your address at the ward office first: see Japanese at the city or ward office.
- Payment method: a credit card or a Japanese bank account. Some providers don’t accept foreign cards. See opening a bank account in Japan.
- Passport, as a backup ID.
Many people face a chicken-and-egg problem: banks may want a Japanese phone number, and phone companies may want a bank account. Ask your employer, school or real estate agent which order works locally.
Useful words in the shop
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 契約 | keiyaku | Contract |
| 料金プラン | ryōkin puran | Price plan |
| 月額 | getsugaku | Monthly fee |
| データ容量 | dēta yōryō | Data allowance (in GB) |
| 解約 | kaiyaku | Cancelling a contract |
| 本人確認書類 | honnin kakunin shorui | ID documents |
| オプション | opushon | Add-on services |
| MNP・乗り換え | emu-enu-pī, norikae | Keeping your number when switching |
Phrases to use
- 外国人でも契約できますか。 Can a foreign resident sign up?
- いちばん安いプランはどれですか。 Which is the cheapest plan?
- オプションは要りません。 I don’t want any add-ons.
- 解約金はかかりますか。 Is there a cancellation fee?
- 英語の資料はありますか。 Do you have information in English?
Shops sometimes add optional services that are free for the first month and then charged. Ask which ones you can remove, and check the contract before you sign.
Before you leave Japan
Cancel your contract before you move away, and settle any remaining payments. Leaving without cancelling can cause problems if you return to Japan later. For the rest of your arrival tasks, see our moving to Japan checklist.
Practise before you go
A short online lesson before your appointment lets you practise exactly these conversations with a native tutor: asking about plans, understanding the answers and saying no to things you don’t need. It is a small step that saves time, money and stress in your first weeks in Japan.