Mar 22, 2016, 3:00 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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.

Prepaid SIM discussion (consolidated)

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Dec 15, 2023, 4:35 pm

#751

SugoiHikouki

Join Date: May 2013

Location: SAN, LAX

Programs: JMB, Bonvoy, Hyatt

Posts: 237

I tried Ubigi and it may be adequate for light use but I was in Japan for about 3 days with a relatively big list of errands to run and felt it got in my way other services haven't when I've used them in the past.

Ping in and around Tokyo was upwards of 200ms. Speed can be pretty rough during peak times, probably due to being deprioritized.

Traffic is routed through Singapore, but I'd occasionally be GeoIP'd to France and see French ads. Some sites+apps would not work, possibly due to some of this weirdness.

I've also seen situations where it'd take 5-10 seconds for data to start working again when waking my phone from sleep. This got pretty annoying as I'd sometimes quickly want to check if the right train is in front of me on the platform. I haven't run into this with any other mobile data service in the past.

Dec 15, 2023, 4:47 pm

#752

lrdpenn

Join Date: Mar 2010

Programs: AA, UA, Marriott

Posts: 1,118

I bought a IIJ esim from mobimatter last month and it worked very well. I was happy with the connection availability, speed, and responsiveness (both city and rural)

Dec 15, 2023, 5:59 pm

#753

chokeman

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: SDU, CPH

Programs: A3*G, FB Gold, EB

Posts: 109

I used Mobal sim cards my last two trips to Japan and was very happy with the service, connection speed etc.

Feb 15, 2024, 7:30 pm

#754

paperwastage

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,384

https://pages.pievat.com/esim

Free 1gb data 30day esim for Japan, haven't tried

sydunipete likes this.

Feb 28, 2024, 10:41 pm

#755

Daytona

Join Date: Jan 2006

Location: SFO

Programs: Delta Gold 1MM, JAL JGC Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium

Posts: 395

IIJmio is introducing 30/40/50GB plans for the domestic gigaplans starting March 1st

Pricing for the domestic data-only esim per month:
30GB: 2340 yen
40GB: 2940 yen
50GB: 3540 yen

There is also a promotion of 5 extra GB for 3 months

https://pr.iijmio.jp/gigaplan/large-capacity/

chokeman likes this.

Mar 4, 2024, 2:11 pm

#756

chokeman

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: SDU, CPH

Programs: A3*G, FB Gold, EB

Posts: 109

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daytona

These are really good deals. Mobal, the service I usually purchase, is charging ¥6,490 for a 16 day/50gb sim card.

IIJmio site indicates their sim card is available at Haneda terminal 3 at 株式会社京急ストア. Has anyone purchased this on arrival? I'm used to pre-ordering and having it ready for me when I land. Don't want to risk being offline when I arrive.

Mar 4, 2024, 5:16 pm

#757

Daytona

Join Date: Jan 2006

Location: SFO

Programs: Delta Gold 1MM, JAL JGC Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium

Posts: 395

Quote:

Originally Posted by chokeman

The 30/40/50GB plan I mentioned is NOT FOR THE SIM CARD YOU PICK UP AT THE AIRPORT. These gigaplans are advertised for domestic users (but for data-only esim, a non-Japanese resident can sign up if they are able to navigate through the Japanese registration page)

Mar 5, 2024, 2:48 am

#758

chokeman

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: SDU, CPH

Programs: A3*G, FB Gold, EB

Posts: 109

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daytona

Yes. But they also have a prepaid sim product for travellers. I haven't been able to find the prices though.

https://tr.iijmio.jp/

Mar 5, 2024, 4:31 am

#759

paperwastage

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,384

Quote:

Originally Posted by chokeman

Yes. But they also have a prepaid sim product for travellers. I haven't been able to find the prices though.

https://tr.iijmio.jp/

Prices are msrp so retailers could charge less.. but it's not cheap.https://tr.iijmio.jp/howtorecharge/.

The Lawson esim seems cheaper.

https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/news/pressr...2024/0117.html

Mar 23, 2024, 2:44 pm

#760

freecia

Join Date: Oct 2003

Posts: 2,304

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakazoid

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.

Noticed a few new-to-me voice+sms+data options
GTN pSIM which doesn't require residency https://www.gtn-mobile.com/s/news/de...A00000HOqKR2A1
Mobal's "long term" eSIM seems to be the only option for eSIM voice + sms + data for non-residents https://www.mobal.com/japan-esims/

The rumored 6 month digital nomad visa probably won't provide a residency card so that's not a pathway, either.

freakazoid likes this.

Apr 19, 2024, 3:48 pm

#761

fliesdelta

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: RDU

Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)

Posts: 2,669

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperwastage

https://pages.pievat.com/esim

Free 1gb data 30day esim for Japan, haven't tried

Where do you see the free data offer? All of the plans listed on that page have a cost.

Apr 19, 2024, 6:50 pm

#762

paperwastage

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,384

Quote:

Originally Posted by fliesdelta

Where do you see the free data offer? All of the plans listed on that page have a cost.

I guess the pages updated. Does it still work inside the app, where the cost for 1GB is reduced to zero?

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfi...tjf5hUty.jpeg?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pie-s...060000434.html

fliesdelta likes this.

Apr 21, 2024, 11:56 am

#763

fliesdelta

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: RDU

Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)

Posts: 2,669

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperwastage

I guess the pages updated. Does it still work inside the app, where the cost for 1GB is reduced to zero?

Yes. Thank you.

Apr 21, 2024, 5:11 pm

#764

The _Banking_Scot

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat

Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis

Posts: 17,919

Hi

I got the sim card from Japan experience before leaving the UK and inserted it into my phone once in japan
it was £28for 16days
Generally only using it for maps when sightseeming and surfing when on trains.
wheuseful.at the okura jr htb when th free hotel.wifi drops in the lobby after you sign in at the room

Regards
Tbs