Mar 22, 2016, 3:00 am
Last edit by: RichardInSF
Japan - Prepaid Data SIM Wikia
1) get a SIM before the trip, activate it when you land. you can find japan-specific prepaid SIMs on ebay/amazon/... .Some countries have providers that offer good roaming rates in other countries(eg Starhub in Singapore, Ais Sim2Fly available globally)
2) preorder it, delivered to your hotel
3) preorder it to airport post office, can pick up when you land
4) preorder it, pickup at some airport counter/store
5) at airport/city, find an store/kiosk/vending machine and buy from them
6) Use an app such as Iijmio, Airalo or Ubigi to buy an e-SIM if your phone supports it
If you are arriving at Haneda international terminal without a SIM: Exit customs, turn right, and continue to the BIC camera store on the left side. Ignore any other places and vending machines that will sell you a SIM. BIC has a good selection at regular camera store prices.
1) get a SIM before the trip, activate it when you land. you can find japan-specific prepaid SIMs on ebay/amazon/... .Some countries have providers that offer good roaming rates in other countries(eg Starhub in Singapore, Ais Sim2Fly available globally)
2) preorder it, delivered to your hotel
3) preorder it to airport post office, can pick up when you land
4) preorder it, pickup at some airport counter/store
5) at airport/city, find an store/kiosk/vending machine and buy from them
6) Use an app such as Iijmio, Airalo or Ubigi to buy an e-SIM if your phone supports it
If you are arriving at Haneda international terminal without a SIM: Exit customs, turn right, and continue to the BIC camera store on the left side. Ignore any other places and vending machines that will sell you a SIM. BIC has a good selection at regular camera store prices.
Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated)
Nov 7, 2016, 7:59 pm
#271
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 268
UMobile update - the kiosks (cash only) are available to the far left when you exit customs (Terminal 1). Look at the Narita Express/Hotel bus desks, turn left and walk all the way down the hall until you see the machine. Right before the machines, hidden behind the escalator is a 7-11 bank ATM for taking out money to buy the card. The blue UMobile machine is next to the far more expensive Docomo version, but UMobile also runs on the Docomo network, just with 4G instead of LTE.
Speed and coverage were perfectly fine for most needs including VOIP, and the 200MB daily cap is a huge benefit vs the far more expensive cards with 100MB caps.
Speed and coverage were perfectly fine for most needs including VOIP, and the 200MB daily cap is a huge benefit vs the far more expensive cards with 100MB caps.
https://umobile.jp/d/lp/prepaid/eng.html
Correction---sorry, I am looking for KIX (Osaka Airport) info instead of Narita :-(
Last edited by luv2fly4free; Nov 7, 2016 at 10:46 pm
Nov 8, 2016, 4:09 am
#272
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
I've never succeeded at finding umobile at the airport. I've always ended up picking it up at yodoboashi the next day.
PS bmobile going ok so far. I like the much more flexible cap and cheaper price. I've had a couple of coverage gaps, but I've been in places new to me, so I don't know if umobile would have been better.
PS bmobile going ok so far. I like the much more flexible cap and cheaper price. I've had a couple of coverage gaps, but I've been in places new to me, so I don't know if umobile would have been better.
Nov 8, 2016, 5:40 am
#273
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London
Posts: 203
U-mobile looks interesting and their web site says they are available at Haneda Airport but the outlet they name appears nowhere on the HND site. Has anyone managed to purchase on arrival there, and if so where?
Nov 8, 2016, 9:01 am
#274
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,222
Thank you so much for the update! So the official shop listed for them on the umobile website is no longer an option and only the kiosk is available? Nano size SIMs available that you recall? Were the APN settings clearly and accurately (actually valid?) stated on the packaging? 30 day ones available and pricing just like on the website?
https://umobile.jp/d/lp/prepaid/eng.html
Correction---sorry, I am looking for KIX (Osaka Airport) info instead of Narita :-(
https://umobile.jp/d/lp/prepaid/eng.html
Correction---sorry, I am looking for KIX (Osaka Airport) info instead of Narita :-(
Nov 8, 2016, 9:51 am
#275
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 268
How about at KIX? Knowledge of the kiosk or shop location that carries it?
Nov 8, 2016, 10:50 am
#276
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Nov 8, 2016, 1:53 pm
#277
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 268
http://japanshopping.org/archives/shop/5333
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/service/rental/
However, I also see a Terminal 2 mention (Also alongside 1F) at the bottom...
They don't mention a kiosk however. It looks like you can only call the above shop domestically for some reason to verify the details. :-(
Nov 11, 2016, 9:04 am
#278
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
Can you do some speed tests at various times of the day, if you're still using it?
Beware that it does use up to 80MB of data if the speed is high. Thanks.
I was using So-Net and Yodobashi over the last few weeks. Both run on Docomo but the yodobashi SIM had really awful speeds. It is cheap but won't buy again.
Nov 11, 2016, 2:58 pm
#279
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
Yep it's the "unlimitted" one. For the record, there is a soft-cap at 1GB over 3 calendar days in the fine print.
I'm near the end of my trip, so I'll try a speed test or two. I'm in Tokyo today, but might go to five lakes later.
I'm near the end of my trip, so I'll try a speed test or two. I'm in Tokyo today, but might go to five lakes later.
Nov 11, 2016, 4:10 pm
#280
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,222
I'm going to give the B Mobile SIM a try when I get back to Tokyo after next week...has anyone tried setting up an iPhone hotspot with this SIM? I recall being able to do that with the U Mobile SIM, but not sure about the B Mobile version.
Nov 12, 2016, 12:17 am
#282
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
Thanks. Speeds at places like Kawaguchiko will be a bit slower. Those using cheap pocket wifi don't even get coverage there.
Nov 12, 2016, 3:38 pm
#283
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
I'm going to Tokorozawa-shi later today and I'll do a test there, then a test from Downtown tokyo later or tomorrow when I'm closer to leaving.
Nov 14, 2016, 3:06 pm
#285
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
Thanks. So it is a basic unlimited card for those who don't stream or download much. A good value card for true tourists. VoIP may be iffy and video calling is probably out.
Cheaper and apparently better than the more expensive Yodobashi card.
Cheaper and apparently better than the more expensive Yodobashi card.