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)
Sep 7, 2022, 2:52 pm
#556
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
IIJMio's eSIMs are available to anyone with a credit card (local or international) and an address in Japan they can write down on the application form, and the minimum contract period is only two months (or to be accurate, the last day of the calendar month following the one you signed up in). I was able to sign up for and activate a Giga Plan eSIM without a residency card or MyNumber. Use the Amazon offer to avoid the usual 3300 yen activation fee if you sign up directly on IIJMio's website and cost performance blows the tourist SIMs out of the water.
Is this the process?
1. Buy esim from Amazon/iijmio for download
2. Activate esim Giga Plan https://www.iijmio.jp/gigaplan/esim/
Plans
- 2 GB 440 yen
- 4 GB 660 yen
- 8 GB 1,100 yen
- 15 GB 1,430 yen
- 20 GB 1,650 yen
IIJMio doesn't seem to offer sms or direct voice on the esim plan https://www.iijmio.jp/simguide/esim/cons.html though the esim can be exchanged for a physical sim? Voice & SMS on Au/Docomo seems to still require a MyNumber/id (should have clarified that) and you're right that various MVNOs do offer contract data only plans which don't require id verification.
From https://www.iijmio.jp/hdc/spec/
Voice SIM/SMS SIM Precautions
Original JP
- ・[Voice SIM] Customers under the age of 18 cannot make a contract.
- ・[Voice SIM] Identity verification documents such as driver's license, Japanese passport ("identification support document" is also required), health insurance card, etc. are required for identity verification based on the Act on Prevention of Unauthorized Use of Mobile Phones. *
- ・Please note that some apps may automatically send SMS overseas.
- ・We have not checked the operation of sending and receiving SMS with various applications. In addition, we have not confirmed the presence or absence of SMS sending and receiving functions on the terminal side. Please contact the device provider.
- *After February 2022, identity verification procedures will be required for SMS SIM contracts to prevent unauthorized use.
- *From March 24, 2022, we will provide a "dangerous SMS rejection setting" function for type D SIM cards with SMS functions or SIM cards with voice call functions. Click here for details
- *From March 24, 2022, customers using a Type A SIM card with SMS function or a SIM card with voice call function will automatically detect suspicious SMS and messages and display a warning. ” app is provided by KDDI and Okinawa Cellular. Click here for details
Original JP
- ・【音声SIMの場合】18歳未満の方はご契約できません。
- ・【音声SIMの場合】携帯電話不正利用防止法に基づく本人確認のため、運転免許証・日本国パスポート(「 本人確認補助書類」も必須)・健康保険証などの本人確認書類が必要です。※
- ・アプリによっては自動で海外へのSMS送信が発生する場合もございますのでご注意ください。
- ・各種アプリによるSMS送受信の動作確認は行っておりません。また、端末側のSMS送受信機能の有無につ いても、弊社にて確認は行っておりません。端末の提供元へお問い合わせください。
- ※2022年2月以降、SMS SIMのご契約においても不正利用防止のため、本人確認手続きが必要となります。
- ※2022年3月24日より、タイプDのSMS機能付きSIMカードまたは音声通話機能付きSIMカードに おいて、「危険SMS拒否設定」機能を提供します。詳細はこちら
- ※2022年3月24日より、タイプAのSMS機能付きSIMカードまたは音声通話機能付きSIMカードを ご利用のお客さまに、不審な SMS やメッセージを自動で検知し警告表示する「迷惑メッセージブロック機能」アプリがKDDI、沖縄セルラーか ら提供されます。詳細はこちら
Sep 7, 2022, 3:08 pm
#557
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Sep 8, 2022, 1:25 pm
#558
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
FYI iPhone 14 US models will have dual esim, not esim + physical sim slot https://forums.macrumors.com/threads...n-u-s.2357198/
US:
- iPhone 14 Model A2649
- iPhone 14 Plus Model A2632
- iPhone 14 Pro Model A2650
- iPhone 14 Pro Max Model A2651
JP/CA
- iPhone 14 Model A2881
- iPhone 14 Plus Model A2885
- iPhone 14 Pro Model A2889
- iPhone 14 Pro Max Model A2893
Sep 8, 2022, 1:51 pm
#559
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: 42,231
I’m guessing the initial pricing of the phone in Japan has already accounted for a 145/$ Yen, so it’s unlikely we’ll find a bargain there, and will only get worse if the Yen recovers.
I had friends in Singapore posting very unhappy comments about the price gouging Apple unleashed for that market for this phone especially given the price never changed for the US market.
I had friends in Singapore posting very unhappy comments about the price gouging Apple unleashed for that market for this phone especially given the price never changed for the US market.
Sep 9, 2022, 1:48 am
#560
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
This one? https://www.amazon.co.jp/Version-Ini...jaz10cnVl&th=1
Is this the process?
1. Buy esim from Amazon/iijmio for download
2. Activate esim Giga Plan https://www.iijmio.jp/gigaplan/esim/
Plans
Is this the process?
1. Buy esim from Amazon/iijmio for download
2. Activate esim Giga Plan https://www.iijmio.jp/gigaplan/esim/
Plans
- 2 GB 440 yen
- 4 GB 660 yen
- 8 GB 1,100 yen
- 15 GB 1,430 yen
- 20 GB 1,650 yen
IIJMio doesn't seem to offer sms or direct voice on the esim plan https://www.iijmio.jp/simguide/esim/cons.html though the esim can be exchanged for a physical sim? Voice & SMS on Au/Docomo seems to still require a MyNumber/id (should have clarified that) and you're right that various MVNOs do offer contract data only plans which don't require id verification.
From https://www.iijmio.jp/hdc/spec/
Just asking about sms/phone number since some people still want that for 2FA or local calls.
From https://www.iijmio.jp/hdc/spec/
Just asking about sms/phone number since some people still want that for 2FA or local calls.
Sep 23, 2022, 6:54 pm
#561
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: TXL
Programs: US, LH, HH
Posts: 725
There are services like Hanacell that will provide a Japanese voice/SMS/data number to US residents, but they show no signs of offering eSIM.
Sep 24, 2022, 11:51 am
#563
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: MM / UA 1K
Posts: 473
Do you know of other services that provide a sim card with phone number to foreigners without residency in Japan? Or some keyword to search for it? This offer does look pretty good for my needs (spending 1-2 month/year at a time in Japan), just curious if there are alternatives.
https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/?t=st&/
Interestingly, it looks like HanaCell and Mobal are affiliated: https://www.mobal.com/blog/new-produ...-com-launches/
Last edited by mongobot; Sep 24, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Sep 24, 2022, 4:53 pm
#564
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: TXL
Programs: US, LH, HH
Posts: 725
I've used Mobal a few times in the past. Some of their plans offer a Japanese phone number which you can keep for a monthly fee or cancel later if you like.
https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/?t=st&/
Interestingly, it looks like HanaCell and Mobal are affiliated: https://www.mobal.com/blog/new-produ...-com-launches/
https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/?t=st&/
Interestingly, it looks like HanaCell and Mobal are affiliated: https://www.mobal.com/blog/new-produ...-com-launches/
Sep 24, 2022, 9:55 pm
#565
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
The nice part about HanaCell is that you only have to pay for the months you use it, while keeping the same sim/number/contract. IIRC Mobal used to offer to suspend their contracts, but I can't find anything like that with their current offers. HanaCell does have some bitter pills on their own. You can't port your number to a different provider, their outgoing call rates are expensive and maybe worst of all, you can't use SMS service outside Japan. The latter is especially bad if you want to signup/(re)install apps that require a phone number and you're outside Japan.
Sep 26, 2022, 12:01 pm
#566
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 291
Yes, that's the process, although you can skip "cancel after 2 months" if you're a repeat visitor.
That's the main downside. If you want data without being routed through another country, this is the way to go, but for voice/SMS, you still need to get a physical SIM and you can't sign up without a residence card (it used to be that for SMS+data you didn't need a residence card either, but that changed back in February). There are services like Hanacell that will provide a Japanese voice/SMS/data number to US residents, but they show no signs of offering eSIM.
That's the main downside. If you want data without being routed through another country, this is the way to go, but for voice/SMS, you still need to get a physical SIM and you can't sign up without a residence card (it used to be that for SMS+data you didn't need a residence card either, but that changed back in February). There are services like Hanacell that will provide a Japanese voice/SMS/data number to US residents, but they show no signs of offering eSIM.
I don't see anything on IIJMio's website prohibiting tethering so I assume it's fine, anyone know otherwise?
Sep 26, 2022, 12:20 pm
#567
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,970
Sep 26, 2022, 12:21 pm
#568
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,970
I signed up for IIJMio over the weekend, 20gb for 1650 yen/month is a great price. It was a pain to create the account, but I was able to make it work using my hotels address/phone, and no id verification for eSim-only version. Downloading the eSim was simple. BTW, it's only 550 yen until next month to get the eSim, after that it's ~3000 yen.
Sep 26, 2022, 2:28 pm
#569
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 51
IIJMio's eSIMs are available to anyone with a credit card (local or international) and an address in Japan they can write down on the application form, and the minimum contract period is only two months (or to be accurate, the last day of the calendar month following the one you signed up in). I was able to sign up for and activate a Giga Plan eSIM without a residency card or MyNumber. Use the Amazon offer to avoid the usual 3300 yen activation fee if you sign up directly on IIJMio's website and cost performance blows the tourist SIMs out of the water.
Protip: They have rollover data, so if you're only going for a short trip, sign up for service the month before you go and for about half as much as you think you need. That way you'll take care of one of the two months of the minimum contract period so that you can cancel at the end of your trip without issue.
(to demonstrate the math of doing this compared to a standard tourist SIM, Amazon offer = 330 yen activation fee + 1320 yen for 2 months of the 4GB plan is 1650 yen for 8 GB when I arrive, compared to around 2700 yen for a WirelessGate 7GB tourist SIM from Yodobashi Camera).
This is also handy for repeat visitors because you don't need to get a new SIM every time you go.
Protip: They have rollover data, so if you're only going for a short trip, sign up for service the month before you go and for about half as much as you think you need. That way you'll take care of one of the two months of the minimum contract period so that you can cancel at the end of your trip without issue.
(to demonstrate the math of doing this compared to a standard tourist SIM, Amazon offer = 330 yen activation fee + 1320 yen for 2 months of the 4GB plan is 1650 yen for 8 GB when I arrive, compared to around 2700 yen for a WirelessGate 7GB tourist SIM from Yodobashi Camera).
This is also handy for repeat visitors because you don't need to get a new SIM every time you go.
Last edited by Angusgor; Sep 26, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Sep 26, 2022, 2:31 pm
#570
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 51
I signed up for IIJMio over the weekend, 20gb for 1650 yen/month is a great price. It was a pain to create the account, but I was able to make it work using my hotels address/phone, and no id verification for eSim-only version. Downloading the eSim was simple. BTW, it's only 550 yen until next month to get the eSim, after that it's ~3000 yen.