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16 June 2026
A Japanese phone number is the quiet key to your first month. You need one to open a bank account, sign an apartment lease, register at the ward office, and receive verification codes for almost every app you'll use. This guide walks through exactly how to get a SIM card in Japan as a foreigner in 2026 — the documents required, the foreigner-friendly providers, the eSIM you can switch on the moment you land, and the order to do it all so nothing blocks anything else.
Just landed, no residence card yet
Best option: eSIM (Ubigi, Airalo, Sakura Mobile)
Why: Works instantly, no Japanese ID needed, buy before you fly
Student or worker staying 1+ year
Best option: Sakura Mobile, GTN Mobile, or IIJmio
Why: English support, foreigner-friendly sign-up, real monthly plan
Want the cheapest long-term plan
Best option: IIJmio, povo, LINEMO
Why: Budget MVNO data + voice from ¥850–¥2,000/month
Want big-carrier speed, online only
Best option: ahamo (docomo), povo (au)
Why: 20–30 GB on the main networks, English-capable apps
No Japanese bank account or credit card yet
Best option: GTN Mobile, Sakura Mobile
Why: Accept overseas cards / cash; built for new arrivals
The single most important thing to understand: most Japanese carriers require a residence card (在留カード, zairyū card) to issue a contract SIM. The residence card is the photo ID you receive at the airport (at major airports) or at your ward office shortly after arrival. Until you have it, a contract SIM is usually off the table — which is exactly why an eSIM bridges your first days.
For a standard contract SIM you'll typically be asked for:
Residence card (zairyū card) — your visa status and address must be valid.
Passport — for identity verification.
A payment method — a Japanese credit/debit card or bank account for most carriers; foreigner-focused providers also accept overseas cards or cash.
A Japanese address — your registered or temporary address. Some providers will ship to a hotel.
If you don't yet have a residence card or a Japanese payment method, skip to the foreigner-friendly providers below — Sakura Mobile and GTN Mobile are built precisely for that gap.
Sequence matters in your first weeks, and connectivity sits near the front because so much depends on it.
Before you fly: buy an eSIM (Ubigi, Airalo, or Sakura Mobile's arrival eSIM) so your phone has data the second you clear customs — for maps, ride apps, and translation.
Day 1–3: collect your residence card at the airport or ward office and complete your move-in registration.
Week 1: sign up for a contract SIM with a real Japanese number — you'll need it for the bank and the apartment.
Week 1–2: use that number to open a bank account and finalise housing paperwork.
Trying to do it in the reverse order — bank first, SIM later — is the classic trap: many banks ask for a contactable Japanese phone number, so the SIM should come first.
Sakura Mobile — fully English sign-up and support, accepts overseas credit cards, ships to hotels, offers both eSIM and physical SIM. The default safe choice for your first contract.
GTN Mobile — run by Global Trust Networks (the same company behind a major foreigner guarantor service). Accepts applicants without a Japanese credit card, supports multiple languages, and can bundle with rental guarantor services.
Mobal — English support, no long lock-in, voice + data plans aimed at residents and long-stay visitors.
IIJmio — one of the most reliable low-cost MVNOs; plans from around ¥850/month for small data. Sign-up is Japanese-language but well documented.
povo (au) and LINEMO (SoftBank) — online-only, no monthly base fee on povo's topping-up model; strong value once you can navigate the app.
ahamo (docomo) — ~30 GB on docomo's network, app-based, popular with residents who want speed without a shop visit.
Rakuten Mobile — unlimited-ish data on its own network with low-cost roaming behaviour; coverage is improving but check your area.
An eSIM is a digital profile you install by scanning a QR code — no plastic, no shipping, active in minutes. It's ideal for your first days because you can buy it abroad and it needs no Japanese ID. The catch: most arrival eSIMs are data-only and don't give you a Japanese phone number for SMS verification.
A physical contract SIM (or a contract eSIM from Sakura Mobile/GTN) gives you a real Japanese number — the thing banks, landlords, and the ward office actually need. The clean approach is to run a data eSIM on arrival, then layer a contract SIM with a number on top within your first week.
Arrival data eSIM (Ubigi/Airalo)
Typical monthly cost: ¥1,000–¥3,000 per top-up
Phone number? No (data only)
Budget MVNO (IIJmio, povo)
Typical monthly cost: ¥850–¥2,000
Phone number? Yes
Foreigner-friendly (Sakura, GTN, Mobal)
Typical monthly cost: ¥2,000–¥4,000
Phone number? Yes
Big-carrier online (ahamo)
Typical monthly cost: ¥2,970 (~30 GB)
Phone number? Yes
Signing a 2-year lock-in at an airport kiosk. Tourist data SIMs at airports are convenient but pricey and rarely give you a usable number — fine for a week, wrong for a resident.
Waiting for the SIM before getting an eSIM. You'll be offline for navigation and translation when you most need them.
Assuming your home number works for SMS codes. Many Japanese services only send verification to Japanese numbers.
Forgetting MNP. If you switch providers later, ask for a My Number Portability (MNP) reservation number so you keep the same phone number.
Can I get a SIM card in Japan without a residence card?
Not a standard contract SIM — those require a zairyū (residence) card. But you can use a data-only eSIM (Ubigi, Airalo, or Sakura Mobile's arrival eSIM) immediately, with only your passport, until your residence card is issued.
Do I need a Japanese bank account to get a SIM?
For most carriers, yes — or at least a Japanese credit card. Foreigner-friendly providers like Sakura Mobile and GTN Mobile are the exception: they accept overseas cards or other payment methods, which is why they're popular with brand-new arrivals.
What's the best SIM card for foreigners in Japan?
For a first contract with full English support, Sakura Mobile or GTN Mobile. For the cheapest long-term plan once you're settled, IIJmio or povo. For big-carrier speed, ahamo.
Can I keep my phone number if I switch providers?
Yes. Request an MNP (Mobile Number Portability) reservation number from your current provider before switching, and give it to the new one within its validity window (usually 15 days).
Will my foreign phone work in Japan?
If it's unlocked and supports Japanese network bands (most modern phones do), yes. iPhones and recent Android flagships are generally compatible. Carrier-locked phones from abroad must be unlocked first.
How much should I budget per month for a phone plan?
A realistic resident plan with a Japanese number runs ¥2,000–¥3,000/month for moderate data. Budget MVNOs go as low as ¥850 for light use. Add this to your monthly costs — our Budget Calculator includes a mobile line so you can see the full picture.
Can I order a SIM before I arrive in Japan?
Yes. Sakura Mobile and Mobal let you order before departure and pick up at the airport or have it waiting at your hotel. eSIMs can be purchased entirely online and installed before you board.
Is unlimited data available in Japan?
Rakuten Mobile offers effectively unlimited data on its own network, and some big-carrier plans offer very large allowances. True nationwide unlimited at low cost is still limited by coverage, so check that your area and commute are well served before committing.
Sort connectivity early and the rest of your arrival unlocks: bank, apartment, ward office, apps. Start with an eSIM before you fly, collect your residence card, then lock in a contract SIM with a real number in week one. From there, see what else belongs in your first two weeks with our Path Finder, and plan the monthly cost with the Budget Calculator.
Authoritative references: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (telecoms); provider terms vary — confirm current pricing and document requirements directly with the carrier before signing.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Carrier plans, prices, and document rules change; verify the latest details with the provider and official sources before you commit.