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)
Jul 11, 2018, 7:52 pm
#361
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This last time I used Sim2Fly. Ordered on Amazon Japan that arrived in a plain envelope by Japan post. It's a slight hassle as I couldn't specify the actual delivery date or ship to a convenience store, but the hotel did hold it for me - I specified check-in date on the delivery address.
~1500 yen Unlimited (4GB at LTE) 8 days roaming SIM valid in Japan and 13 other Asian countries and territories. It runs on Softbank but speed is real LTE and not slow like any Japan tourist SIM cards.
The SIM can also be purchased in HK at Apliu St as well. In fact I first saw people's posts about this on a HK discussion forum.
Another benefit about this SIM is it can be recharged for roaming when, and only when you need it. The SIM must be kept alive - 5 baht (0.15USD) per month. Charging is a bit tricky but possible online with a foreign credit card.
~1500 yen Unlimited (4GB at LTE) 8 days roaming SIM valid in Japan and 13 other Asian countries and territories. It runs on Softbank but speed is real LTE and not slow like any Japan tourist SIM cards.
The SIM can also be purchased in HK at Apliu St as well. In fact I first saw people's posts about this on a HK discussion forum.
Another benefit about this SIM is it can be recharged for roaming when, and only when you need it. The SIM must be kept alive - 5 baht (0.15USD) per month. Charging is a bit tricky but possible online with a foreign credit card.
Jul 11, 2018, 9:50 pm
#362
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Jul 12, 2018, 1:24 am
#363
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 159
Point being SO-net is the best visitor data card on the market, in terms of reliability, download speed, and non-throttled use.
SO-net can be easily topped up. Can be bought prior to landing on Amazon Japan, delivered to your hotel or a convenience store (including those located in selected airports).
eConnect used to re-sell B-Mobile at 30% more and called it their own.
B-Mobile is one of the worst value these days. Used them between 2011 - 2014 as they were the only card available, with deteriorating download speeds every time I purchased one.
SO-net can be easily topped up. Can be bought prior to landing on Amazon Japan, delivered to your hotel or a convenience store (including those located in selected airports).
eConnect used to re-sell B-Mobile at 30% more and called it their own.
B-Mobile is one of the worst value these days. Used them between 2011 - 2014 as they were the only card available, with deteriorating download speeds every time I purchased one.
Aug 19, 2018, 5:34 pm
#364
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
This last time I used Sim2Fly. Ordered on Amazon Japan that arrived in a plain envelope by Japan post. It's a slight hassle as I couldn't specify the actual delivery date or ship to a convenience store, but the hotel did hold it for me - I specified check-in date on the delivery address.
~1500 yen Unlimited (4GB at LTE) 8 days roaming SIM valid in Japan and 13 other Asian countries and territories. It runs on Softbank but speed is real LTE and not slow like any Japan tourist SIM cards.
The SIM can also be purchased in HK at Apliu St as well. In fact I first saw people's posts about this on a HK discussion forum.
Another benefit about this SIM is it can be recharged for roaming when, and only when you need it. The SIM must be kept alive - 5 baht (0.15USD) per month. Charging is a bit tricky but possible online with a foreign credit card.
~1500 yen Unlimited (4GB at LTE) 8 days roaming SIM valid in Japan and 13 other Asian countries and territories. It runs on Softbank but speed is real LTE and not slow like any Japan tourist SIM cards.
The SIM can also be purchased in HK at Apliu St as well. In fact I first saw people's posts about this on a HK discussion forum.
Another benefit about this SIM is it can be recharged for roaming when, and only when you need it. The SIM must be kept alive - 5 baht (0.15USD) per month. Charging is a bit tricky but possible online with a foreign credit card.
Thanks.
Aug 19, 2018, 9:54 pm
#365
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
I have been keeping this card (Sim2Fly) since my trip last October. Top up minimum 5 THB (0.15 USD) to extend 1 month. Can extend up to 12 months at a time based on my research on expat forums. The 2 cards I bought are still active. Cedit card top up through their website or app did not work. Had to use LINE pay with my credit card.
Aug 20, 2018, 10:13 am
#366
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
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I have been keeping this card (Sim2Fly) since my trip last October. Top up minimum 5 THB (0.15 USD) to extend 1 month. Can extend up to 12 months at a time based on my research on expat forums. The 2 cards I bought are still active. Cedit card top up through their website or app did not work. Had to use LINE pay with my credit card.
I had been doing top ups via MobileTopup.com but switched to LINE Pay which seems more secure.
Aug 20, 2018, 12:23 pm
#367
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Aug 20, 2018, 12:39 pm
#368
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I have been keeping this card (Sim2Fly) since my trip last October. Top up minimum 5 THB (0.15 USD) to extend 1 month. Can extend up to 12 months at a time based on my research on expat forums. The 2 cards I bought are still active. Cedit card top up through their website or app did not work. Had to use LINE pay with my credit card.
Aug 20, 2018, 12:45 pm
#369
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
The LINE Pay session is initiated from within myAIS app. I don't believe you can do it via regular web.
>> I had been doing top ups via MobileTopup.com but switched to LINE Pay which seems more secure.
Not to mention the processing fee and minimum recharge with MobileTopup.
>> I had been doing top ups via MobileTopup.com but switched to LINE Pay which seems more secure.
Not to mention the processing fee and minimum recharge with MobileTopup.
Aug 20, 2018, 12:55 pm
#370
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
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Australia 14.9 / 3.49 (3G) ; 11.3 / 1.38 (3G)
Singapore 13.3 / 6.16
Taiwan 41.8 / 22.7 ; 37.5 / 24.2
Japan 10.8 / 6.34 (~11pm) ; 2.46 / 2.77 (~11 am)
Aug 21, 2018, 8:57 pm
#371
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These are the two I can find, but one is unlimited (although not really because of throttling) for only 13 countries and the other is not unlimited, just 4GB, in 70 countries.
Last edited by bocastephen; Aug 21, 2018 at 10:04 pm
Aug 22, 2018, 12:30 pm
#372
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
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It's really the same card, just pre-loaded with either the Asian Country pack (~13 countries) or Worldwide pack (~70 countries), sold at different prices. I bought mine on amazon.jp so don't have any non-JP links.
Both packages include unlimited data, but speed throttled after the advertised amount of 4GB is used up.
So you buy depending on what countries you want to use it for the first time. Note that there is an expiry date on the card. You have to activate it before that date.
Actual, up-to-date product description and country list from official AIS website: The ready-to-use SIM2Fly SIM Roaming
Both packages include unlimited data, but speed throttled after the advertised amount of 4GB is used up.
So you buy depending on what countries you want to use it for the first time. Note that there is an expiry date on the card. You have to activate it before that date.
Actual, up-to-date product description and country list from official AIS website: The ready-to-use SIM2Fly SIM Roaming
Last edited by beep88; Aug 22, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Aug 22, 2018, 1:51 pm
#373
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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It's really the same card, just pre-loaded with either the Asian Country pack (~13 countries) or Worldwide pack (~70 countries), sold at different prices. I bought mine on amazon.jp so don't have any non-JP links.
Both packages include unlimited data, but speed throttled after the advertised amount of 4GB is used up.
So you buy depending on what countries you want to use it for the first time. Note that there is an expiry date on the card. You have to activate it before that date.
Actual, up-to-date product description and country list from official AIS website: The ready-to-use SIM2Fly SIM Roaming
Both packages include unlimited data, but speed throttled after the advertised amount of 4GB is used up.
So you buy depending on what countries you want to use it for the first time. Note that there is an expiry date on the card. You have to activate it before that date.
Actual, up-to-date product description and country list from official AIS website: The ready-to-use SIM2Fly SIM Roaming
Also can you post the link to Amazon.jp website so I can either match the listing to the USA site, or have a friend in Japan order and send it to me to make sure I get the right one - the regular Amazon site has too many versions of this SIM with mixed reviews, I assume based on the reseller.
Last edited by bocastephen; Aug 22, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Aug 23, 2018, 1:03 pm
#374
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Sep 10, 2018, 11:44 am
#375
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 326
I got the Asia/Australia AIS Sim2Fly SIM card when I was in Bangkok. I seem to remember having to show them my passport.
For those buying a new SIM in Japan is there a passport check in the app or at any time during activation?
Thanks!
For those buying a new SIM in Japan is there a passport check in the app or at any time during activation?
Thanks!