Recommended Prepaid SIM Card for Travelers to Japan

Updated :2024-03-07

Mobile Wifi

For those planning to travel to Japan, it's just as important to ensure internet connectivity as it is to plan your accommodations and places to visit. While free Wi-Fi is becoming more prevalent in Japan, there are often limitations on usage time and personal authentication is required. Moreover, there are downsides such as low security levels, making it insufficient for Internet usage.

The only ways to ensure a comfortable Internet experience in Japan are to purchase a SIM card or eSIM, or to rent a Pocket Wi-Fi.
The number of eSIM-compatible smartphones is increasing and the number of services offering eSIM is exploding. I checked and found more than 50 eSIM services available in Japan.
This is probably because eSIMs are convenient since you can be purchased anywhere and at any time. However, while there are many services selling eSIMs, there are few plans available.
Physical SIM cards in Japan are currently more varied and cheaper.
This page introduces reliable SIM cards and SIM providers.

To ensure that your SIM card works properly with your smartphone in Japan, please be sure to check the following
1. Compatibility of your device with frequencies in Japan
2. SIM lock:Unlocked .
3. Carrier lock: Unlocked.

How to choose the right SIM card for comfortable communication in Japan

Many people want to buy a SIM card with cheap and unlimited data capacity so that they can use the Internet comfortably in Japan.
While there is no such thing as unlimited, cheap SIM cards with high capacity are available.
However, there are also many inferior products.

To avoid buying shoddy products
If you are thinking of buying a SIM card to use the Internet comfortably in Japan, there are two points to consider when choosing a SIM card. 1. Stable network.
2. Appropriate data capacity.

Stable network

There are four telecommunication companies in Japan, but most of the SIM cards available to visitors to Japan use the docomo or Softbank networks. Choose a SIM card that uses this docomo or Softbank network. docomo has the widest coverage area in Japan and a reputation for stable communications. Softbank is second to docomo in terms of area coverage and stable communication.

Appropriate data capacity

Everyone wants unlimited and unlimited usage. I would like that too. However, even if such a SIM is available, it is sure to be expensive. As introduced in the following page, 830MB of data capacity per day seems to be enough. How much data will I need for my trip to Japan? Pocket Wi-Fi / SIM card (eSIM) 1GB of data capacity per day should be enough for most people. If you will be in Japan for two weeks, then 14 days x 1GB, or 14GB or more, of data capacity should be enough. This will be much cheaper than an unlimited SIM card or eSIM.

How to buy a SIM card at a low price

Those who have traveled to Japan many times know this way.
SIM cards can be purchased at airport stores or from vending machines at the airport, but the prices are high. This is also true for Pocket Wi-Fi, and rental fees are high at the airport. SIM cards can also be purchased at some convenience stores, but at higher prices.

The cheapest way to buy a SIM card is from an online store in Japan.
SIM cards at online stores are less expensive than those sold in stores or at airports, and there is a wider variety. Buy a SIM card with a plan that suits you and have it sent to the post office at the airport. Online stores will send the SIM card to the airport post office or hotel.

This method is the cheapest way to buy a SIM card in Japan.
Buying a SIM card at a low price and receiving it at the airport post office will save you the time of going to a store at the airport to select and purchase a SIM card. You can also pick up your SIM card when you check in at your hotel.

Communication Problems in Japan

Communication becomes impossible

Some smartphones can communicate in Tokyo or Osaka, but lose connectivity in other locations. This is not a SIM card or eSIM problem, but a problem that occurs because smartphones are not compatible with all frequencies in Japan.
There is no way to avoid this problem, so if you are worried about it, rent a Pocket Wi-Fi.

Hotspot (tethering) does not work

Some SIM cards and eSIMs may not allow you to use your phone as a hotspot. If you purchase a SIM card with a large data capacity and want to use your phone as a hotspot, make sure there are no restrictions on the SIM card or eSIM.
Your phone may be restricted from using the hotspot feature.

SIM cards and eSIMs used in Japan are designed to be used with a single device, so if you want to use them to communicate with multiple devices, it is better to rent a Pocket Wi-Fi.

Recommended online stores selling SIM cards - before coming to Japan

This is a list of online stores that sell quality SIM cards that can be picked up at the airport and are inexpensive.

CDJapan
Sakura Mobile
Mobal
B-mobile

Recommend SiM cards - after arrival in Japan

After arriving in Japan, you can buy a prepaid SIM card from Amazon.co.jp at a lower price than buying a prepaid SIM card at the airport.
I did some research about Prepaid SIM card available in Japan on Amazon.co.jp. Prepaid SIM cards sold on Amazon are relatively inexpensive. There are many more Prepaid SIMs listed on Amazon, but I have only highlighted those that seem to have good communication quality.
It is preferable to use the address of the hotel for the delivery address If you buy from Amazon.co.jp, they will deliver in 1-2 days if you are staying at a hotel in Japan. If you are staying at an AirBnB or similar, they will not deliver. I recommend to use the hotel address. Don't forget to confirm in advance, by e-mail or otherwise, that it is acceptable for your SIM card to be delivered to the hotel.


Please see the page below for instructions on how to purchase a SIM card from Amazon in Japan and have it delivered to your hotel.
How to buy from Amazon in Japan and pick up at the hotel
Some Prepaid SIM Cards below are available for international delivery from Amazon. You can receive it before coming to Japan.

Data Communication quality
Although rough, the communication quality can be expressed as below.
Pocket wi-Fi
Rental SIM
Prepaid SIM Card/Prepaid eSIM
Pocket Wi-Fi & Rental SIM
The network of Pocket Wi-Fis and rental SIMs are well-controlled because Japanese people use on a daily basis. As usage increases, bandwidth improves, so slow speeds are rarely a problem.
Prepaid SIM Card
On the other hand, since the Prepaid SIM network is intended for temporary use, it is difficult to stabilize communications when the number of users or communications increases rapidly at once. Depending on the time of use and the time of year, slow communication speed can be a problem.

Recommended prepaid SIM cards available at Amazon Japan

Prepaid SIMs that are inexpensive and have unlimited data usage may have problems such as slow communication speeds or other issues.
The following prepaid SIM cards are all products of good quality and proven performance.
Prices are lower and data capacities are higher than SIM cards sold at airports.
You can order from Amazon Japan and have them delivered to the hotel where you are staying. (It is not possible to have them delivered to the airport.) Since they are Prepaid SIMs, it is possible that the communication speed may be slow depending on the time or period of use.

Updated : Feb 15, 2024

Brand DATA Network Period(day) price Purchase
DHA 90GB docomo 60 ¥7,980 Amazon.co.jp
50GB docomo 180 ¥7,980 Amazon.co.jp
30GB docomo 180 ¥4,980 Amazon.co.jp
20GB docomo 365 ¥5,980 Amazon.co.jp
15GB docomo 180 ¥2,980 Amazon.co.jp
135GB docomo 90 ¥9,980 Amazon.co.jp
10GB docomo 180 ¥2,680 Amazon.co.jp
DXHUB 50GB docomo 30 ¥4,880 Amazon.co.jp
50GB docomo 60 ¥5,780 Amazon.co.jp
100GB docomo 180 ¥13,880 Amazon.co.jp
100GB docomo 365 ¥15,086 Amazon.co.jp
EasySim 10GB Softbank 180 ¥2,300 Amazon.co.jp
KNTBROS Unlimited docomo 30 ¥3,590 Amazon.co.jp
10GB Softbank 180 ¥2,590 Amazon.co.jp
Mewfi 5GB KDDI 15 ¥1,580 Amazon.co.jp
3GB KDDI 15 ¥1,280 Amazon.co.jp
20GB docomo 30 ¥3,150 Amazon.co.jp
20GB KDDI 30 ¥2,980 Amazon.co.jp
COMST 300MB/day docomo 30 ¥3,400 Amazon.co.jp
2GB docomo 30 ¥2,500 Amazon.co.jp

Prepaid SIM cards are appropriate for stays of 30 days or less in Japan.
We recommend to use Pocket Wi-Fi or Rental SIM, If you need more than 30 days.

As a matter of course, deliveries to hotels must be made to the correct address or they will not be delivered.
Please see the page below for instructions on how to purchase a SIM card from Amazon in Japan and have it delivered to your hotel.
How to buy from Amazon in Japan and pick up at the hotel

The following services verify that the shipping address on all orders is correct and will notify you prior to delivery if there is a mistake in the address to avoid non-delivery. Lightpocket

Japan eSIM

Japan eSIM

There is also an eSIM available for use in Japan. Network is either Softbank or KDDI, but we recommend KDDI's network is stronger when traveling to places like Okinawa.

Precautions for Prepaid SIM

Data only
Anyone 18 years visiting Japan can buy a prepaid SIM card from SoftBank and various MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) of docomo and KDDI with a restriction. The restriction is that visitors to Japan cannot buy voice-enabled SIM cards without a Japanese Residence Certificate. you can only buy data-only SIM cards in Japan.

Speed may slow depending on the period or time
The communication speed of a Prepaid SIM card may be slow depending on the time of day and the time of year .
If you want to share your communications with family and friends, or if the quality of your communications is important to you, Please rent a Pocket Wi-Fi or Rental SIM.

About me

I am Momo. I'm Japanese and I work in the telecom industry, so I'm familiar with the telecom situation, services and products in Japan, such as SIM cards and Pocket WiFi, and I'm running this website in the hope that my knowledge will be useful to visitors to Japan.

I translate from Japanese to English using ChatGpt and DeepL because I am not so good at English. so my expressions may be rude or hard to read. if you find any inappropriate expressions, please let me know the correct English expression.