SIM Card — Katsushika

Documents

Cost

Varies

Steps

Compare Budget SIM Cards

SIM Card Options Compared

Japan has excellent mobile coverage, and getting a SIM is easier than most people expect. Here is a comparison of the best options for foreign residents, from budget to premium.

Provider	Monthly Fee	Data	Network	Multilingual	Best For
Rakuten Mobile ★	¥1,078-3,278	3GB-Unlimited	Rakuten + au	EN, ZH	Best overall value
LINEMO	¥990-2,728	3GB-20GB	SoftBank	EN, ZH	Cheapest + LINE free data
ahamo	¥2,970	20GB	docomo	Partial EN	Best coverage + int'l roaming
povo 2.0	¥0 base	Pay-as-you-go	au/KDDI	JP only	Flexible / low-usage
GTN Mobile	¥1,200+	2GB+	docomo/SB	VI, ZH, NE, ID, EN	Non-Japanese speakers

💡 Our Recommendation

If you speak some Japanese or English: Start with Rakuten Mobile or LINEMO — both offer excellent value with no minimum contract. If you do not speak Japanese: GTN Mobile is the safest choice with full multilingual support, though you will pay a premium. You can always switch carriers later for free using MNP.

Do You Need a Japanese Bank Account First?

Most carriers require a Japanese bank account or credit card for payment. If you have just arrived and do not have one yet, GTN Mobile accepts some overseas credit cards. Alternatively, open a Japan Post Bank account first (same-day process), then sign up for your SIM.

Physical SIM or eSIM?

If your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XS or newer, most recent Android flagships), choose eSIM for instant activation — no waiting for delivery. Check your phone's eSIM compatibility before applying. Rakuten Mobile, LINEMO, ahamo, and povo all support eSIM.

→ Rakuten Mobile review → LINEMO review → GTN Mobile review → Full ranking → Compare all

Steps

Choose a provider based on your needs. For most foreign residents, Rakuten Mobile (¥1,078-3,278/month, unlimited data ceiling) or LINEMO (¥990/month, LINE data free) offer the best value. If you do not speak Japanese, GTN Mobile provides multilingual support in Vietnamese, Chinese, Nepali, and Indonesian — though at a slightly higher price. ahamo (¥2,970/20GB) is ideal if you travel internationally, as it includes roaming in 82 countries.

↓

Prepare your documents for eKYC (online identity verification). You will need to take photos of your Residence Card (front and back) and a selfie. Make sure your Residence Card address matches your current address — if it does not, update it at city hall first. You will also need a Japanese bank account or credit card for payment. Some providers like GTN Mobile accept overseas credit cards.

📄 Residence Card (front & back)📄 Credit card or bank account

↓

Apply online (recommended) or visit a store. Online applications typically take 10-15 minutes. For Rakuten Mobile and ahamo, the entire process is in Japanese with some English support. GTN Mobile offers a fully English/Vietnamese/Chinese application. If you prefer in-store, major electronics stores like Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera have carrier counters where you can sign up.

📄 Residence Card📄 Payment method

↓

✓

Receive your SIM (1-3 days by mail for physical SIM, instant for eSIM) and activate it. For physical SIM, insert the card and follow the APN settings guide from your provider. For eSIM, scan the QR code sent to your email. Test a call and data connection to confirm everything works.