Last edit by: stifle
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
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
Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated)
#496
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: 42,008
AIS question - I was locked out of my app account and needed to re-register but I need to be able to receive a SMS with the passcode. If I put the SIM into my phone while in the USA, would the passcode come through?
#497
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,345
if I had a valid data subscription, app auto-logs in on my iphone. With valid data subscription but on wifi, app makes me login manually
#499
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Bonvoy Plat,Hilton Diamond,IHG Plat,WOH Glob,Radisson Gold,MGM Gold,Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 215
I'm going to Japan in July for 2 weeks.
I'm flying into HND, will have 9 nights in Tokyo and 5 nights in Osaka, flying back through KIX.
I want 2 data sims (for 2 phones) and would like calling. What are my best options? Speed, cost, reliability, ease to get?
I'm flying into HND, will have 9 nights in Tokyo and 5 nights in Osaka, flying back through KIX.
I want 2 data sims (for 2 phones) and would like calling. What are my best options? Speed, cost, reliability, ease to get?
#500
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,298
Japan prepaid data sims are just that, data. If you want calling you'll either need to use VOIP on a data sim like Google Voice, LineOut, or Skype, Bic Travel Sim w/ Brastel VOIP; roaming sim from US/HK/Thailand/China; or rent/buy a sim from Mobal, Softbank, GAC, JCR. There's very few ways around the residency requirement for JP carrier (non-roaming) voice service and most take some time (plus mailing address) to validate.
Cost, reliability, ease would be T-Mobile US free roaming, followed by Google Fi (better speed, pay $10 per GB). I've read Sprint roaming on Softbank is also good but I wouldn't change carriers for this. These can all be setup in the US. Inside Japan, all the JP MVNO prepaid data sims will be subject to throttling and data caps.
Docomo still offers their Travel Sim until Sept, but are cutting off the application deadline and there's no calling.
Roaming SIM like Thai AIS is also a good choice with details upthread. AIS requires a third party website or Thai CC to top up and while I think using AIS is straightforward, I lent a friend my AIS sims and he was a bit stumped on how to load/check-balance (despite e-mailing clear instructions). AIS also roams in other countries.
AIS https://www.ais.co.th/roaming/sim2fly/en/
Rental Sim options:
Mobal https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/
Softbank https://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/re...n/sim_card.php
GAC https://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/simrent.html
JCR https://jcrcorp.com/japan_mobile/jap..._rental_4g_3g/
$10 per GB is reasonable for Japan. AIS, 3HK per GB roaming is less than that. Most prepaid JP MVNO a bit more.
Cost, reliability, ease would be T-Mobile US free roaming, followed by Google Fi (better speed, pay $10 per GB). I've read Sprint roaming on Softbank is also good but I wouldn't change carriers for this. These can all be setup in the US. Inside Japan, all the JP MVNO prepaid data sims will be subject to throttling and data caps.
Docomo still offers their Travel Sim until Sept, but are cutting off the application deadline and there's no calling.
Roaming SIM like Thai AIS is also a good choice with details upthread. AIS requires a third party website or Thai CC to top up and while I think using AIS is straightforward, I lent a friend my AIS sims and he was a bit stumped on how to load/check-balance (despite e-mailing clear instructions). AIS also roams in other countries.
AIS https://www.ais.co.th/roaming/sim2fly/en/
Rental Sim options:
Mobal https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/
Softbank https://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/re...n/sim_card.php
GAC https://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/simrent.html
JCR https://jcrcorp.com/japan_mobile/jap..._rental_4g_3g/
$10 per GB is reasonable for Japan. AIS, 3HK per GB roaming is less than that. Most prepaid JP MVNO a bit more.
#502
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Texas
Programs: AA, USAir
Posts: 228
Has anyone tried Japan Rail Pass data SIM? Starting at 8 days of unlimited data for $20. Free delivery within the US.
https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/services/simcard
They do not guarantee speeds but looks like it has good reviews.
https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/services/simcard
They do not guarantee speeds but looks like it has good reviews.
#503
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA MM, Hilton-Dia
Posts: 1,480
OK I found a workaround - the email "fail" from mobiletopup suggested I try ding.com, and by going through Paypal, it worked - the downside, the minimum top-up seems to be THB101. In this case it's not the end of the world because I will be buying the Sim2Fly 4GB top-up for THB299 in early Feb, so I will need the value anyway, but after that trip I will need a different strategy to keep the chip alive because spending US$4 a month to do it long term makes no sense.
Mobiletopup did say that any Visa card issuer that does not work with, or blocks, 3DS like Chase will prevent the card from being accepted on their site.
Mobiletopup did say that any Visa card issuer that does not work with, or blocks, 3DS like Chase will prevent the card from being accepted on their site.
I just topped up my Sim2Fly via mobiletopup using my CapOne MC. As noted above, LinePay doesn't work for USA accounts anymore (I used to use this successfully) and cc payments through the MyAIS app did not work for me.
#505
#506
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,760
#507
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 182
Read quite a bit of this thread, and I'm being dense, but I'm not quite understanding how the Sim2Fly top up works...let's say I buy an eSIM but I need 14 days of usage...when exactly can I load up my 299Baht top ups? Do I have to wait til the 8 days or 5GB of data are over? Or can I "prebuy" top ups and just enter it into my account? Just want to buy one or two top ups before I leave and "set it and forget it," basically. Thanks
#508
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,345
Read quite a bit of this thread, and I'm being dense, but I'm not quite understanding how the Sim2Fly top up works...let's say I buy an eSIM but I need 14 days of usage...when exactly can I load up my 299Baht top ups? Do I have to wait til the 8 days or 5GB of data are over? Or can I "prebuy" top ups and just enter it into my account? Just want to buy one or two top ups before I leave and "set it and forget it," basically. Thanks
You can reload money onto the card at any time. Each reload just updates the balance and extends the expiry a little (up to a year)
You can leave the balance there until you need it. When you need it, just activate the relevant package (299baht 8day/4GB) via sms shortcode or the app.
When I run out of data faster than 8days, I can activate another 8day/4gb package as long as I have enough balance, new package has proper expiry date (always T+8 days after activation of thstt package)
Last edited by paperwastage; Sep 24, 2019 at 6:23 am
#509
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,298
One thing to ask about the esim is how it can be transferred from phone to phone. If youre going to keep sim2fly active for multiple trips and need to transfer the esim to a new phone, will the reseller be able to help so you can keep the active credit?
#510
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 165
The best part is that this is an unlimited plan meaning unlimited worldwide calling, data and text for only the $5 add on. I had my doubts due to the lack of details on the plan literature, but I chatted with an international Sprint customer care agent and she confirmed that it's an unlimited plan while in Japan on Softbank.
What data speeds are people getting with the Sprint $5 add on Japan plan? One poster on Howardforums says they did not get above 500kb in Tokyo. That part would suck, but for $5 and unlimited everything else, it may the price we pay.
What data speeds are people getting with the Sprint $5 add on Japan plan? One poster on Howardforums says they did not get above 500kb in Tokyo. That part would suck, but for $5 and unlimited everything else, it may the price we pay.
I've seen claims like https://www.reddit.com/r/Sprint/comm...ing_plan_2018/ saying high speed data is now included. I started a chart with Sprint CSR and had to wait forever (over 20 minutes). Finally, someone is on but they seem totally clueless just regurgitating marketing BS including stuff about Mexico and Canada. I'm not going there. I'm going to Japan.
In the end, their answers were useless and I was redirected to chat w/an international service rep. Alas, they were closed.