Originally Posted by
freakazoid
I checked out Sakura Mobile today and they have improved their "Long Termin (e)SIM" offering in two significant points:
...
Other aspects:
Downsides:
- you need to sign up for at least 3 months (see pick up link above)
- high activation fee 5,500 Yen
- compared to international eSims high monthly price (3,278 JPY/mo for 5GB, 4,378 JPY/mo for 25GB)
- you pay per calendar month, e.g. 20. Oct - 10. Nov = 2 months
The current Sakura Mobile pick-up link doesn't mention a three month minimum, but I would not be surprised if this is still a common result as the issuance fee is probably high enough to deter one calendar month's use. You can cancel or suspend based on the billing cycles & suspension starting the
first of the next month.
You are welcome to subscribe monthly contract with us. However face-to-face identity verification is required, so you will need to pick up the long-term item at our Shinjuku office, airport pickup counters, or our partner counters by presenting your passport in person.If you are not able to fulfill the above requirements, then please kindly use services for
Short-Term visitors.
If you are interested in our short-term travel eSIM, please visit another page on our website:
・Short-term Data Only SIM card (for travelers):
https://www.sakuramobile.jp/travel/travel-sim/
Main page notes "docomo's 5G network is now available!"
eSIM reissuance fee pointed out by @freakazoid is
3,300 JPY which will be charged to port the esim to a new phone. I opted to apply for a regular SIM to put in a spare unlocked phone instead for flexibility. Note that it requires an upload of your passport picture for pickup at an airline counter in addition to your credit card. Their weekday
appointment only office in Shinjuku might be able to issue a sim or esim in person.
I may still get a prepaid esim for my main phone with Suica. A small data package from
billionconnect might fit the bill as it has separate plans for 5G Softbank and 4G Softbank. I sometimes go to the inaka so domestic MVNOs can be a little more trust inspiring.
Amazon.co.jp also had a few prepaid sim sms+data sim options like 3 month min 1GB for 3,950 or same seller Rakuten 3GB 1 year 7,860. Other sample. Rakuten 3GB at least might be a seller repackaged shared family plan and if you're new to MVNOs, group plans, and year long plans, this is riskier than directly establishing your own monthly contract with a licensed MVNO. MVNO terms can change and JP (and US) prepaid carriers do cancel service for inappropriate use without refunds. It can be a catch 22 to attempt to login with 2FA to change that lost mobile number.
There's also a few options for those without JP bank accounts which take foreign credit cards like IIJMio or cash payment (Sakura), though possibly requiring ID validation
Not sure what the Data Prioritization QCI levels are for these plans. Billionconnect 5G esim apn is the same as Softbank prepaid's and cheaper direct than on KKday (similar to Klook). I've noticed quite a significant signal strength difference at specific locations when I went to an MVNO Verizon (stronger, mid tier "better" QCI) than Verizon prepaid (weaker lower tier "good" QCI), in addition to better speed and prioritization. One might opine that casual tourists can wait a bit for things to load. If you come from a country with QR payments accepted in Japan like AliPay and PayPay, I could see inferior signal strength & speed being a sore point which will impact people behind you in the checkout queue.